Predicted Man Utd line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Brighton, Sesko starts

WHAT HAPPENED
Manchester United host Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup third round tonight, looking to respond after a 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City last weekend. The tie represents an opportunity for United to reach the competition’s fourth round, but they face a Brighton side that have enjoyed recent success at Old Trafford.

A predicted 4-2-3-1 XI circulated by EyeFootball keeps Senne Lammens in goal and proposes several defensive tweaks, with Benjamin Sesko pencilled in as the central striker in place of Matheus Cunha.

KEY CONTEXT
- United’s recent Premier League loss to local rivals Manchester City sets the immediate context: the squad will be eager for a rebound in cup competition.
- Brighton arrive with a strong recent record at Old Trafford, having won four of their last five visits to the ground, which underlines the challenge for the home side.
- Goalkeeper Senne Lammens has started every game since making his debut and, according to the source, is expected to continue between the posts.
- Defensive selection is in question following difficult performances: Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu were singled out for poor showings against City, with Dorgu identified as partly culpable for the goal conceded. EyeFootball suggests Noussair Mazraoui could replace Dalot, while Luke Shaw is reported to have recovered from a fitness issue and may return at left-back.
- Midfield appears settled on paper: Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo are projected to retain their central roles.
- Attack: the main alteration in the predicted front line is the inclusion of Benjamin Sesko as the lone striker, with Bryan Mbeumo and Marcus Rashford on the flanks and Bruno Fernandes in the number 10 role.

WHY IT MATTERS
Selection choices will shape United’s approach to a fixture where the opponent has recent success at the venue. Defensive changes could be a direct response to the errors that cost United against City, while maintaining continuity in midfield suggests the coaching staff (as reported) want stability in that area. The switch to Sesko as the centre-forward is the headline tactical adjustment in the predicted XI and could alter how United look to break down Brighton.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Will Senne Lammens start as expected and continue his run of appearances since his debut?
- Will Diogo Dalot be replaced by Noussair Mazraoui, and will Patrick Dorgu be omitted after his involvement in the City goal?
- Is Luke Shaw fully fit to be reintroduced at left-back?
- Does Benjamin Sesko begin up front in place of Matheus Cunha, and how that change affects United’s attacking shape.
- The outcome will determine whether United progress to the Carabao Cup fourth round.

KEY FACTS
- Competition: Carabao Cup third round, Manchester United vs Brighton.
- United lost 1-0 to Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend.
- Brighton have won four of their last five visits to Old Trafford.
- Predicted formation: 4-2-3-1; predicted XI: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Tielemans, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Sesko.
- Defensive changes and a striker swap (Sesko for Cunha) are the main proposed adjustments.