📅 September 16, 2026
Manchester United v Brighton Preview: The First Trophy Route, Three Days After the Derby
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Manchester United play Brighton in the Carabao Cup third round at Old Trafford tonight, 8pm in the UK and 3pm Eastern. It is the third home game in eight days, it comes three days after losing the derby to ten men, and it is the first competition this season United can actually win.
Carrick was asked about that on Tuesday. “For me, trophies represent the beauty and the true feeling of victory. This is the reason we play football and take part in sport, and it is certainly the reason I am at this club, to fight to win.” On the derby, he was shorter: “We have to get over it and move on. We must keep on achieving victories, because the current points tally is not what we aspire to and we do not hide behind that.”
Who is out
Amad Diallo is not close. Matthijs de Ligt is still working back from a back problem, though he is described as edging nearer. Manuel Ugarte remains long-term after knee surgery. Carlos Baleba, signed from Brighton in the summer, misses the club he left. United say he is closing on a return, with the international break the likelier landing point.
Luke Shaw is the one genuine question. “Luke could possibly be fit for Brighton but we’ll see,” Carrick said. “It’s not clear cut but it’s a matter of a few days.” Shaw has not been in the last two squads at all, so even a place on the bench would be news.
The academy story hanging over the night is JJ Gabriel, who asked to leave on Tuesday. He had been in line to be involved tonight before the request.
What the team might look like
Rotation is coming, the only question is how much. Sports Illustrated’s predicted side is Darlow; Mazraoui, Yoro, Heaven, Shaw; Tielemans, Santos; Mbeumo, Mount, Dorgu; Sesko. That is a reasonable read: cup goalkeeper, two centre-backs who need minutes, and the striker who has scored in each of his last two starts.
Karl Darlow is the tell. He signed from Leeds in July, he is 35, and he has not played a minute yet. A third-round tie is exactly the game a second goalkeeper is signed for, and he told the match programme he wants to “do myself justice on the pitch when I’m asked to play”.
The counter-argument is momentum. United have four points from four league games, and a manager who needs a win might reach for a stronger side than a third-round tie usually gets.
Brighton are not a soft draw
They are fifth in the Premier League, they are the division’s top scorers, and they put five past Coventry on Sunday. They have scored 17 goals through eight different scorers already this season, having lost Danny Welbeck, Jan Paul van Hecke, James Milner and Baleba in the summer.
Fabian Hurzeler will rotate too. His absentee list is long: Kaoru Mitoma, Yankuba Minteh, Jack Hinshelwood, Mats Wieffer, Evan Ferguson and Zadok Yohanna are all out, with Stefanos Tzimas suffering a setback. Georginio Rutter is close and Femi Azeez, the deadline-day signing from Millwall, was to be assessed in training.
The bigger warning is the venue. Brighton have won at Old Trafford more than once recently, including the FA Cup tie in January that knocked United out at the first hurdle. Last season’s three meetings finished 4-2 to United at home, 1-2 to Brighton in the cup, and 3-0 to United at the Amex on the final day.
The numbers behind the tie
- 38 meetings in all competitions: United have won 22, drawn six, lost ten.
- This is the fourth League Cup meeting. The last one was a 3-0 United win at the Amex behind closed doors in 2020.
- United’s 112th League Cup tie at Old Trafford. The first 111 produced 81 wins, 14 draws and 16 defeats.
- Six League Cups, the most recent in 2023. United went out at the first hurdle in both domestic cups last season.
- Bruno Fernandes has six goals against Brighton, more than any United player in the fixture’s history.
There is more in our read of tonight’s matchday programme, including the Baleba feature and Darlow’s first long interview since signing.
What would count as a good night
Win, obviously. Beyond that: minutes for Sesko against a back line that has been rebuilt, a clean sheet for whoever plays in goal, and Shaw getting through some part of the game. United have conceded in every league match so far. A 1-0 would do more for the mood than a 4-3.
The other thing worth watching is who gets the last 20 minutes. Carrick has a squad full of players pushing for league starts, and this is the night he can look at them without risking a point.
How to watch in the US
Kick-off is 3pm Eastern, noon Pacific. The Carabao Cup is on Paramount+ in the United States. In the UK it is on ITV1 and Sky Sports Main Event, with Sky Sports Football also carrying it.
Sources: Carrick’s quotes and the injury list from Goal and Man Utd News, which blocks automated fetches and so is not linked (press conference, 15 September 2026). United’s own write-up is here. Predicted line-ups, Brighton’s league position and broadcast details from Sports Illustrated. Brighton’s absentee list and Hurzeler’s approach from The Football Faithful. Head-to-head, League Cup and Bruno’s record from United Review, Vol 88 Issue 04. The Gabriel request from GiveMeSport and ESPN, which refuses automated fetches and so is not linked. Accurate as of Wednesday morning, 16 September 2026.