Darren Fletcher’s first game in charge as interim head coach saw BTTS as Man United drew 2-2 with Burnley - marking the fourth occasion across their last five matches where United have seen BTTS. The only game in which they managed to keep a clean sheet in this period was a 1-0 win over Newcastle, with that being just their second shut out of the Premier League season so far.

Man United had 30 shots in that draw against Burnley, suggesting that Fletcher is setting up the side in a similar mould to United sides of the past - with the team focused on fast and direct attacks. This leaves them vulnerable at the back, opening up the door for BTTS in this FA Cup third round clash.

Brighton saw BTTS in their most recent assignment as they earned a point at the Etihad in a 1-1 draw. BTTS landed in the earlier meeting between these sides in the Premier League, too, with United running out 4-2 winners on that occasion.

I’d anticipate more chaos here, with Darren Fletcher showing no signs of going with a conservative approach. Each of the last three head-to-head meetings between these sides have seen BTTS, with Brighton notably winning two of these games.

Senne Lammens has had a turbulent start to his United career, he’s certainly a more calming presence than Onana was in the United net - but he’s suffering a little as a result of the overall approach of his team.

Lammens has only kept two clean sheets in the Premier League across his 15 matches. This initially reflects quite poorly on the keeper, but he’s not being afforded much protection, with United regularly involved in end-to-end matches.

The 21 goals he’s conceded in the Premier League lines up pretty well with the xGOT he’s faced (21.4). Lammens still has managed to come away with a positive goal prevention tally (0.52), despite failing to keep clean sheets. These underlying numbers tell us that a better defensive structure around Lammens will bring out the best in the keeper.

Lammens has been forced into making 33 saves across his 15 appearances in the Premier League this term (2.20 per 90). He was forced into making three stops in United’s 4-2 win over Brighton earlier in the season, and can be tested by the Seagulls to a similar degree here.

Benjamin Sesko is getting better with every game in a United shirt, and comes into this cup tie having netted a brace against Burnley last time out. Sesko had seven shots on target in that clash - the most of any player in a single Premier League match this season.

It’s also worth noting that Sesko had four shots on target in United’s last game at Old Trafford as they drew 1-1 with Wolves. It goes without saying that Sesko should be putting more of these chances away, but for the purposes of our selection here, the fact that he’s getting so many opportunities in front of goal makes him extremely backable for a singular shot on target here.

Man United had 30 shots in that 2-2 draw with Burnley, so it’s clear that we are going to see a very open style of play under Darren Fletcher. Sesko has had 38 shots across his 11 Premier League starts this term (3.29 per 90), with 19 of these efforts finding the target (1.64 per 90).

These numbers are a little inflated by his recent performances, but I think Sesko will continue to develop into a top Premier League striker, with the forward set to benefit from United going with a very positive approach under the interim boss.

Yasin Ayari is maturing into a really solid Premier League midfielder, and has started in each of Brighton’s last five games, completing the entire 90 in four of these. This shows that Hurzeler trusts the Swedish midfielder, who has shown promise when it comes to winning fouls.

Ayari was fouled once in the league meeting between these sides earlier in the season, with United committing just four fouls on that occasion. This is well below their usual average (10.4 per game), so it would be a surprise to see a repeat of that low foul count here.

Ayari has won 21 fouls across his 16 starts in the Premier League this term, working out to an average of 1.24 fouls won per 90. Ayari is also averaging 2.31 tackles per 90 and 4.73 duels won per 90, he regularly gets stuck into battles in the midfield.

His main opponents here are likely to be a combative duo of Casemiro and Ugarte. The United pair combine to commit 4.33 fouls per 90 in the Premier League this season, they are the perfect opponents to drag Ayari down at least once here.