Manchester United

United were lucky with their first goal against Liverpool last week because the game should have been stopped, and we've all seen the issues with the Liverpool backline this season too.

So, while I understand why any win for United against their rivals at Anfield is a massive result, it doesn't mean they have cracked it and turned a corner.

They have just managed back-to-back league wins for the first time since Ruben Amorim took charge last November, but I am not looking at them and thinking they will make it a hat-trick on Saturday.

Brighton striker Danny Welbeck impressed me when he came on the Monday Night Club this week and I am backing his boys here.

The Seagulls are always bold under Fabian Hurzeler and they will be fearless at Old Trafford too. I am backing Welbeck to get one of their goals, and haunt his former club.

It is down to United to prove me wrong, and show everyone they do have the consistency they have been lacking, and that may well be part of Amorim's team talk.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he does not care what Liverpool counterpart Arne Slot says about his team and is capable of judging them himself.

In the aftermath of United's surprise 2-1 win at Anfield on 19 October, Slot said United defended in a low block and largely used long ball tactics.

Speaking on Friday, Slot said his comments were supposed to be complimentary but accepted that was not how they had been interpreted.

Asked for his response, Amorim was dismissive.

"Liverpool is in the past," he said. "I don't want to comment.

"I don't care what Slot is saying. Sometimes you need to adapt to the game.

"I don't need anyone to evaluate my team. I can evaluate my team and I am really clear that we should play better with the ball."

Manchester United seek to continue their winning run against Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United's late victory at bitter rivals Liverpool last weekend was undoubtedly one of the standout moments of Ruben Amorim's tenure as he approaches a year in charge of the club.

The result ended a near decade-long winless run at Anfield and brought about back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time under the Portuguese head coach - a statistic that match winner Harry Maguire labelled "embarrassing" in his post-match interview.

"The last three or four years we'd put in a performance like this and the following game we come down again," continued Maguire last Sunday. "We have to start putting a bit more consistency together."

Whisper it quietly, but United's home form is actually quite consistent. Their only home defeat this term was by a single goal to league leaders Arsenal on the opening weekend and they have since won their past three at Old Trafford, scoring two or more goals on each occasion.

The key to another positive result this weekend could well be forward Bryan Mbeumo, who found the net after just two minutes on Sunday and has a goal and an assist in his past two games.

The Cameroon international clearly enjoys facing Brighton and has been directly involved in six goals in his past four starts against the Seagulls.

Brighton are unbeaten in four top-flight matches - winning two and drawing two - and will be confident of extending that form, such is their recent dominance against United.

The Seagulls have triumphed in six of their past seven league fixtures against the Red Devils and could become the first Premier League club to win four in a row at Old Trafford.

The last team to triumph in more successive league matches at the famous stadium was Manchester City, who put together a run of five some 53 years ago.

However, if Fabian Hurzeler's side are to maintain their grip on this fixture then they will need to sharpen up at the back. They have kept just one clean sheet in their previous 20 Premier League games and that was in a 2-0 win at Wolves in May.

One possible reason for that might lie with the German head coach's inclination to tinker. The 32-year-old has overseen 55 Brighton matches across all competitions but he is yet to name an unchanged side.

Hurzeler must be tempted to stick with last weekend's starting XI after their 2-1 victory over Newcastle and one man who should keep his place is former United academy graduate Danny Welbeck.

The striker, who turns 35 next month, found the net twice last weekend and has four goals from his past three top-flight games. Welbeck has also scored six times against his former employers and those of a blue and white persuasion will hope he can add to that tally this weekend.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, PA Media

Manchester United will hold their annual coat appeal at Old Trafford around their Premier League encounter with Brighton on Saturday, to try to help young people affected by poverty over the winter.

United's Foundation has collected a total of more than 4,000 coats in the first two years of the appeal and are urging supporters to drop clean coats - both adult and children's sizes - at the various bag drop points around the stadium.

The club works with a network of 35 high schools, 35 primary schools and eight special schools and say the coats will be distributed "sensitively" to those who need them during the winter.

"It is a big ask but the fans have been amazing for the last two years and hopefully it will be the same again," said Foundation spokesperson Tom Sellers.

"This can have a massive impact on the children we work with."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

I get the strong feeling Ruben Amorim is wary of offering any hint of confidence from the Manchester United camp.

Having been battered and bruised by 11 months of negativity, there has been a rare sense of calm around Old Trafford for three weeks now following successive victories against Sunderland and Liverpool.

It was United club board member Sir Dave Brailsford who coined the "marginal gains" theory within cycling circles. Fine margins is another way of talking about improvement or the small differences between winning and losing.

Amorim measured with his hands the gap between Cody Gakpo's header going in at Anfield last Sunday, or going wide, which is where it eventually went.

He knows only too well that the optimism around the club this week was close to not existing.

Brighton, with six wins from eight against United and three successive victories at Old Trafford, more than virtually any other team, are capable of shoving Amorim's team back in the doldrums.

Amorim really needs to avoid that.

"If you are a manager and don't win a lot of games, people are going to doubt you," he said.

"My point of view is that we need to be clear on our path and not change so much because we win one game by 20cm."

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at Old Trafford (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "The squad is fine, we have some doubts and we had some issues during the week with Harry Maguire and Mason Mount but nothing serious. Lisandro Martinez is out, the rest are ready for the game."

• Amorim believes a "difficult game" is in store for United and he labelled Brighton as "fun to watch, very good in transitions" and a "complete" team. He also said that the Brighton players "believe a lot in what they're doing even under pressure" and he is a "huge fan" of Fabian Hurzeler.

• On building momentum: "We use the spirit of winning games, we know that it was a good weekend for us, but our focus is on the next game. That is in the past and we need to understand that football changes a lot."

• Amorim praised Bruno Fernandes and said the perception he had of him before arriving was different, but called him a "great footballer". Amorim explained that the Portuguese midfielder's "frustration" is because "he wants to help a lot" and while it is not always expressed "in the best way, it comes from a good place".

• On his team adapting to different situations: "We play different games. We have an identity, but we adapt to whatever game we need to play in the moment. You can sense that the first half against Sunderland is not the same as the second half. We know how to manage that. Against Liverpool, we scored right away and then we managed the game, playing in a different style because it was needed, and that is a good thing."

• On Harry Maguire's contract situation: "It is not the time to talk about that (a new contract). That gives the idea that we are thinking so far away. We are really happy with Harry; he is really important for us, but we need to focus on the next game. It was good for him to play with three centre-backs, so sometimes you help players with the way you play. I am really pleased. He is not young, but he can learn a lot. He needs to be better with the ball. He is a massive player for us and he needs to continue."

• On narratives being changed by fine margins: "I don't want to change so much with the difference of 20cm. If [Cody] Gakpo's shot was 20cm different, then the narrative would be different. If you are a manager, you don't win a lot of games. People are going to doubt you. They have reasons for that. My point of view is that we need to be clear on our path and not change so much because we win one game."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Manchester United v Brighton on BBC Radio 5 Live from 17:30 BST on Saturday

This week, Wayne Rooney has some familiar faces alongside him on his podcast.

The former Manchester United striker speaks to the likes of ex-Everton midfielder Darron Gibson and Toffees boxing hero Tony Bellew also makes an appearance.

There's discussion about growing up, jumping naked in the sea, agents and boxing challenges with Joe Calzaghe.

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Manchester United are open to signing two new midfielders in 2026, with Chelsea's 21-year-old Brazil international Andrey Santos among a six-man shortlist that also includes Brighton's 21-year-old Cameroon international Carlos Baleba. (Talksport), external

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford wants to stay at Barcelona beyond his season-long loan. The La Liga club have an option to sign the 27-year-old on a permanent deal at the end of the campaign. (ESPN), external

Joshua Zirkzee will ask to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window, with West Ham currently leading the race to sign the 24-year-old forward. (Mirror), external

Zirkzee would prefer to stay in the Premier League as he looks to earn a place in the Netherlands' World Cup squad. (Star), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Fifteen-year-old Manchester United rising star JJ Gabriel took part in first team training earlier today.

Gabriel has been a regular member of Darren Fletcher's Under-18 squad this season, even though he was only 14 when the campaign started.

He scored seven goals in his opening six matches and such has been the ease with which he has adapted to the higher level and the promise he has shown, head coach Ruben Amorim told the youngster he would bring him into sessions with the senior squad on occasion this season.

This happened for the first time today, with the player himself posting an image on his own social media feed. It is understood Gabriel took part in a full 11 v 11 practice game.

United director of football Jason Wilcox played an active role in persuading Gabriel to remain at the club this season.

Gabriel was invited to sit in the directors' box with his family for the opening Premier League game of the season against Arsenal in August as a further sign of his progression.

Image source, Getty Images

Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher is a target for Manchester United, who view the 25-year-old as a potential replacement for fellow England international Kobbie Mainoo. (Football Insider), external

United are still interested in Germany defensive midfielder Angelo Stiller, but Stuttgart's asking price for the 24-year-old is expected to be more than 50m euros (£43.5m). (Sky Sports Germany), external

France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, is thought to want to leave Crystal Palace, with Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham possible destinations. (Caught Offside), external

West Ham are keen on Joshua Zirkzee and could try to sign the forward on loan from Manchester United in January. (i Paper), external

Harry Maguire could leave Old Trafford for free when his contract comes to an end next summer, with the centre-back yet to be offered a new deal. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter at Oakwell

Image source, Getty Images

Seven days after making his senior international debut for Paraguay, young defender Diego Leon made only his second competitive appearance in Manchester United colours in the 5-2 EFL Trophy group stage defeat at Barnsley.

The 18-year-old moved to United from South America in July but has largely been starved of matches as he has been part of Ruben Amorim's first team squad without making his debut.

After a 45-minute Premier League 2 outing at Liverpool last month, Leon lasted just over an hour at Oakwell, putting in an encouraging display in front of director of football Jason Wilcox.

Playing at left-back in an orthodox four-man defence, Leon surged forward midway through the first-half, trying his luck with a powerful shot from the edge of the area, which was blocked.

More importantly Leon showed excellent recovery skills and positional play to intervene on the edge of his own box as Barnsley countered quickly. He also recovered lost ground and won the ball back after being beaten by a smart turn from inside the Barnsley half Neil Farrugia.

Leon's match fitness levels look to have improved since the Liverpool game, which bodes well for the coming weeks given United have three midweek games from the beginning of December to the first week of January.

His display was one of the bright spots on a night that had started well for United when Jack Fletcher opened the scoring after seven minutes and also featured a goal for Chido Obi.

However, Fletcher was later sent off as veteran forward David McGoldrick scored a hat-trick in what turned out to be an easy win for the hosts, leaving Travis Binnion's side on the brink of elimination.

Manchester United are interested in signing 22-year-old Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson. (Mirror), external

Meanwhile, United boss Ruben Amorim is interested in signing 37-year-old Barcelona and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski next summer. (Star), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater says United finishing in the Premier League's top six should be the "minimum requirement" for Ruben Amorim this season.

The Red Devils' impressive win at Liverpool on Sunday moved them to ninth in the table but just three points behind Manchester City in second.

"With the squad and with performances like that, we could be up there in the top six," Drinkwater told the Devils' Advocate podcast.

"Our squad is good enough to finish top six. It is. That should be the minimum requirement for this season.

"And if we're in the top six and we're looking comfortable and showing that we're capable of never mind back-to-back wins in a row but three or four wins in a row, then who knows where we can finish.

"But, we've not yet proven that we're capable of consistent winning form. Two wins in a row is a great start, particularly when one comes at Anfield which is a ridiculously hard place to win at, but now we've got Brighton next. They are a difficult team.

"You want to play them at Old Trafford and you want to play well and get a result. In the Premier League I don't think United have played too badly.

"Suddenly if you play well and draw that game it isn't a disaster. If they win suddenly you're looking up the table.

"They've had two stinkers against Manchester City and Brentford and deserved to get beat.

"For the rest of the time I don't think they've played horrifically."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Alex Turk
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Is that the noise of turning tides I hear? It is easy to believe so after watching Manchester United defeat Liverpool at Anfield for the first time since 2016.

How about a first Premier League away win since March? Or back-to-back Premier League wins that have not been since before Ruben Amorim took charge?

So the possibility of turning tides is a fair topic to discuss this week.

United rode their luck at Anfield, as every team must to win on the red side of Stanley Park. However, the Red Devils displayed an attacking quality that was non-existent last season, and a defensive resilience that has been just as scarce.

For a second successive win, Amorim proved he could tweak his tactics to undo the opposition. Benjamin Sesko's exclusion in a game where United were certain to go long was a surprise. Some were acceptant of another miserable Sunday on Merseyside.

Yet it was a genius ploy to ensure that Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate won Senne Lammens' impressively long kicks so that the energetic Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes could sweep up second balls.

It created the second-minute opener and left Arne Slot scrambling - moments after he moaned about the fact Sesko was not starting before kick-off, as if that is what he had been preparing his champions for all week.

This is a good look for Amorim. He was a coach who lit up European football at Sporting and this was the type of team performance many expected him to orchestrate instantly.

But I must emphasise the use of 'possibility' in paragraph three. United host Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday, a fixture they have lost in the past three seasons.

Perhaps that is the true test of whether this is, indeed, the noise of turning tides - or merely crashing waves in a familiar sea of misery.

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

Matheus Cunha "has got the aura of Eric Cantona," says former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock.

"He has got the weight of the shirt and he loves it," said Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club

Reflecting on his performance in Manchester United's 2-1 win at Liverpool, Warnock added: "Near the end of the game, he had three players around him and he was not fussed at all.

"I was purring in commentary."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool versus Manchester United was a cracker, filled with incidents, effort and talking points.

‌Are Liverpool in crisis? Is that really Mo Salah out on the wing and are they a group of individuals not a team?

Was the referee harsh on them for the first goal? Has Arne Slot destroyed a squad that was so successful? And so on...

‌The United questions are just as obvious: is this a turning point? Why don't they show that level of desire every week? Were they actually just a bit lucky as Liverpool hit the post three times? And if the famous 3-4-2-1 system can win at Anfield, can it succeed everywhere?

‌Tempting though it is to answer all of these after one pulsating match, or in Liverpool's case four defeats in a row, it's still nothing more than guesswork this early in the season.

‌My guess is that Liverpool will be fine, they are still making plenty of chances and there are some very good players who will improve and definitely learn to work better together.

‌Manchester United are harder to read. Under Ruben Amorim they have had more false dawns than a Scottish winter. If they are still within striking distance of the top four by Christmas then acceptable progress will have been made.

In the meantime, United fans must celebrate a famous, rare victory at Anfield - and then hope it isn't a one off.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim is looking to strengthen his midfield and Sporting's Morten Hjulmand is on the list as a contender. (Team talk), external

The 26-year-old Danish footballer, has emerged as Manchester United's prime target to strengthen their midfield and the Premier League club are optimistic of securing the Dane for about £50m.

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column.

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"We have seen [Benjamin] Sesko playing the last three, four, five, six times, and they come to Liverpool and change the line-up. This is not for the first time when we face teams."

The words of Liverpool boss Arne Slot to Sky Sports before Sunday's match against Manchester United.

Amorim's decision to drop Sesko, who had scored in his previous two outings, raised eyebrows but the brilliance of Matheus Cunha rendered it an excellent decision.

On paper, Cunha was down as Sesko's replacement at centre-forward. At Anfield, the Brazil forward was anything but on the day.

Amorim knew that even Sesko - who is more than capable in the air - was going to struggle against Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate who rank seventh and 11th respectively for aerial duel win percentage in the Premier League this season.

Cunha also knew he would not be able to compete with the pair and opted to drop deeper, interchanging with Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount to help United move the ball forward.

That had the secondary effect of handing United an extra body to help with midfield battles, and Cunha won five duels in the game.

It was when Liverpool started to ramp up the pressure in the latter stages of the second half that Cunha's performance went from solid to something outstanding, and is surely his most impressive showing so far in his short United career.

Now operating on his favoured left side, Cunha relished in the chaos, running at Liverpool without fear and refusing to let their physicality rid him of the ball.

He combined excellently with substitutes Sesko and Patrick Dorgu, keeping United high up the pitch and away from Senne Lammens' goal as much as possible.

United's number 10 is probably desperate to score his first goal as a red, but there was no sign of any individual aims at Anfield - his performance was selfless and sacrificial for the good of the team.

Lots was made about Cunha's 'walking stats', external when he arrived at Old Trafford, but it felt like he covered every blade of grass on Merseyside.

As an attacker, you do not need to score or assist a goal to make an important contribution - and Cunha's performance against the champions was the epitome of that.

Image source, Getty Images

Jay Motty from The Stretford Paddock says Manchester United's 2-1 win over Liverpool should not be "sugarcoated" but hopes the winning performance can be "a bit of a turning point" for Ruben Amorim's side this season.

It is the first time United have won consecutive games in the league since the end of the 2023-24 season and moved them ninth in the early standings.

"It is somewhat ridiculous that we've had to wait so long for back-to-back Premier League wins," Motty admitted on BBC Radio 5 Live. "So we can't sugar-coat it and pretend everything's fine now, because there are still going to be some questions - but Amorim needed that.

"We've taken wins this season against Sunderland, Burnley and Chelsea - when they went down to 10 men - but you would've expected Manchester United to win those games.

"Those didn't show any turning point, but going to Anfield and taking three points does. It has been almost 10 years since we last won there.

"I liked that the manager did things other managers wouldn't have done, like dropping Benjamin Sesko and changing the way we set up - and it worked.

"We had a game plan, we stuck to it and it was effective. You cannot ignore the fact that these are the league champions and we've gone there and got a win after nine and a half years.

"I've said this a few times, but I'm hoping we can build on this now. Hopefully this can be a bit of a turning point because it should give the players confidence and give Amorim critics something to think about."

On the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast, the team discuss Manchester United's victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater praises the performances of Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha, adding that this could be a "turning point" for Ruben Amorim's side.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot is relieved his team-mates have started to show their training ground form on a match day.

Head coach Ruben Amorim promised supporters his side would be better this season after last term's dismal 15th-placed finish.

It has been a long time coming, with the shock EFL Cup second round defeat at League Two Grimsby the low point of a disappointing start that saw United lose three out of their opening six Premier League games.

However, they have now followed up a solid victory against Sunderland just before the international break with a first triumph over Liverpool at Anfield since 2016 to move to within touching distance of a European place, which is the stated aim for the season.

"I've been here long enough to understand everyone will have opinions," said Dalot. "Everyone will have something to say about Manchester United. You just have to be ready for that because you're playing for the biggest club in the world.

"Sometimes, especially this season, we've been doing really well in training but then the results are not coming on and that's what everybody sees.

"Ultimately, they will judge what you do on the pitch on the weekend, so we have to win games. That has to be the mindset."