Kaoru Mitoma was in sparkling form on the left flank in Albion’s Premier League opener at Everton last weekend. The 27-year-old winger troubled the Toffees time and time again with his intelligent runs and sharp finishing, and Mitoma is likely to be a real nuisance again against United.

Mitoma – who averaged 0.91 shots on target per 90 in the league last term – clocked four shots overall at Goodison Park on the opening weekend, three of which found the target. One of those efforts flew past Jordan Pickford, so expect Mitoma to be brimming with confidence after his impact.

Brighton’s shrewd recruitment team identified Mats Wieffer as the man to add aggression to their midfield and the Dutchman offered a glimpse into what is likely to bring to the Premier League when he made four tackles and committed two fouls against Everton.

Wieffer, who averaged 1.91 fouls per 90 minutes in the Eredivisie in 2023/24, should have more opportunities to showcase his steely qualities against United on Saturday, so back the 27-year-old to commit at least a single foul in what should be a competitive encounter.

Man Utd were noticeably more forceful in their pressing efforts against Fulham last week and Kobbie Mainoo put the squeeze on the Cottagers more than most. The 19-year-old committed three fouls at Old Trafford and his new more combative remit should put him in the frame to foul at least once again against Brighton.

Mainoo committed just 0.70 fouls per 90 minutes and gave away three free kicks in a single sitting only once (vs Luton) in the Premier League last season. He’s already matched that after one outing in 2024/25, so back the England starlet to be involved in at least one skirmish against the Seagulls.

With Rasmus Hojlund injured and Joshua Zirkzee not quite fit enough to start, Bruno Fernandes has been operating in an advanced position for United in the campaign’s early exchanges and his shooting stats from matchday one were notably high as a result.

Playing as a false nine, United’s skipper had six attempts and three shots on target against Fulham and the Portuguese midfielder really should have found the net with at least one of his chances. The 29-year-old had at least one shot on target on each of his last three runouts at the Amex Stadium and pushed further forward than usual at that venue, he offers top value to match that output again.

Despite some improvements to their structure out of possession, United still conceded plenty of territory to Fulham in their slender 1-0 win over the Cottagers and their visitors dominated the corner count at Old Trafford (8-7) as a consequence.

The story was similar for United last season, whose lack of control in fixtures routinely allowed their opponents to lodge high corner tallies against them. In fact, United conceded more corners per 90 than any other outfit in the Premier League in 2023/24.

The pattern was similar when the Red Devils visited the Amex Stadium to play Brighton in May when they won just six corners to Albion’s eight. We’re tipping United to fall on the wrong side of the count at the same venue again on Saturday.

Casemiro provided plenty of goal threat from midfield against Fulham last week and the 32-year-old racked up three attempts against the Cottagers, a tally bested only by his more advanced teammate, Bruno Fernandes.

The Brazilian, who averaged 1.77 shots per 90 minutes in the league last season, rarely hesitates when offered a chance to let fly from distance, while his uncanny knack for winning the first contact from deliveries in the box also contributes to his surprisingly high shooting stats. Casemiro had two shots against Brighton at the Amex Stadium in May and he can match that haul against Albion again here.

The evergreen Danny Welbeck scored a stunning goal with one of his two shots against Everton at Goodison Park last weekend and the 33-year-old has more than enough in his locker to be a potent threat in the final third against his old club on Saturday.

No former player has scored more goals against United in the Premier League era than local lad Welbeck (three) and the veteran could excel against his ex-employer again this weekend. Welbeck averaged a healthy 0.85 shots on target per 90 last season and he looks primed to perform in the same market on Saturday.

A new high-pressing strategy out of possession for United was evident in their campaign opener against Fulham last week and their final count of 12 fouls against the Cottagers was already a step up from last season’s average in that department (10.60).

United also topped last season’s average for tackles attempted per 90 (17.80) against Fulham (21), so it’s logical to expect their approach to be similar against Brighton.

The Seagulls were one of the division’s most-fouled teams last term, indeed, they drew 14 fouls from United when the sides last locked horns in May and the factors suggest the Red Devils’ foul count could be in the same ballpark on Saturday.