PREVIEW: Manchester United seek fifth straight FA Cup Win against Brighton | OneFootball

Manchester United welcome Brighton to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon for a third-round FA Cup clash, looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

The Red Devils come off a thrilling 2-2 draw with Burnley, overseen by former United midfielder and U18 coach Darren Fletcher.

United have had their ups and downs since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, with ten managers attempting to restore consistency.

Despite that, the FA Cup has been a source of optimism for the club, with their last third-round exit coming against Swansea City in 2013.

They remain unbeaten in their last six FA Cup meetings with Brighton, including a dramatic 7-6 penalty shootout win in the 2022/23 semi-final.

Midfield talent Kobbie Mainoo will be pushing for a start, while Matheus Cunha will aim to make an impact in his fifth FA Cup appearance.

United last faced Brighton in October, claiming a 4-2 victory, and hold the overall head-to-head advantage with 29 wins to Brighton’s 17, with just three draws from 49 encounters.

Manchester United welcome back Harry Maguire, though minutes may be managed, while Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are available for selection.

Matthijs de Ligt remains out with injury, while Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are absent due to taking part in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fans at Old Trafford can expect an intense clash as the Red Devils look to continue their strong cup form and build momentum for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, Brighton head into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

The Seagulls have won one in their last eight matches since the beginning of December.

Fabian Hürzeler’s side have collected a handful of draws and suffered narrow defeats against Arsenal and Liverpool, highlighting both their resilience and their struggles for consistency.

Brighton have shown they can be dangerous on their day, particularly against stronger opponents, making them a threat United cannot afford to underestimate.

However, the Seagulls have failed to defeat United in the two times they’ve faced each other in this competition.

Their last league victory at the venue came in January last year, a memorable 3-1 triumph over Manchester United.

The Seagulls will be without Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer and Solly March due to injuries.

The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and will kick off at 4:30pm.