Man Utd vs Brighton LIVE: Premier League team news and line-ups as Joshua Zirkzee handed start

Ruben Amorim believes the season will be a “rollercoaster” for Manchester United as he expects they will remain inconsistent, with lots of ups and downs.

Amorim’s sides have secured fine away results against some of the top teams, winning a Manchester derby, drawing at Liverpool and knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup, but have also lost three of their last four matches at Old Trafford.

These two sides have faced each other just 27 times in the past, with United winning 16, Brighton winning eight, and three ending as draws.

Perhaps the most famous meeting between the two was the 2-2 draw in the 1983 FA Cup final – United won the replay 4-0.

Earlier this season, Brighton ran out 2-1 winners over United at the Amex, while the Seagulls also won 3-1 at Old Trafford in September of 2023 when they last visited.

For 80 minutes, all the problems United had suffered during a run of four straight defeats during December resurfaced as a Saints side with only one win all season created the better chances and deservedly led through a Manuel Ugarte own goal late in the first half.

United’s positive momentum from a 2-2 draw away to league leaders Liverpool and an FA Cup penalty shoot-out victory at Arsenal was slipping away until Diallo intervened, levelling in the 82nd minute before scoring again in the 90th minute and the third minute of time added on.

Manchester United will pay tribute to Denis Law with a minute’s silence before today’s game.

Wreaths have been laid at the statue of United’s ‘holy trinity’ of George Best, Bobby Charlton and Law.

It promises to be a sombre occasion for the club and its supporters.

Man Utd XI: Onana, Yoro, Maguire, De Ligt, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot, Amad, Fernandes, Zirkzee

Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk (c), Van Hecke, Estupinian; Baleba, Minteh, Ayari, Mitoma; Joao Pedro, Welbeck

Line-ups should be announced in the next few minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news…

Diogo Dalot is back available after serving a one match suspension for Manchester United, while Luke Shaw is closing in on a return from his latest injury setback. Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte were withdrawn early in midweek with Ruben Amorim suggesting afterwards that this was due to fatigue.

Danny Welbeck, once of Manchester United, made his return from injury off the bench against Ipswich and could press for a start.

Law won two league titles with United and was a member of their European Cup-winning side under Sir Matt Busby in 1968 when they became the first English club to lift the trophy.

A short family statement read: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away.  He fought a tough battle but finally he is now at peace.

Denis Law, the great Manchester United striker who won the Ballon d’Or and European Cup during a legendary career, has died aged 84.

The Scottish forward formed a third of United’s “Holy Trinity”, alongside George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, plundering 237 goals for the club in a glittering career spanning 18 years, which also took in spells at Huddersfield Town, Manchester City and Italian club Torino. He remains Scotland’s joint-highest scorer with 30 goals in 55 appearances for his country, a record he shares with Kenny Dalglish.

Law, the only Scot ever to be named European Footballer of the Year, had been suffering from Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.