Brighton 0-0 Manchester United LIVE: Antony and Kaoru Mitoma go close for both sides early on

 Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the Premier League clash between Brighton and Manchester United. 

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10min: De Gea stayed down for a good five minutes after that brave save – but after concussion checks he is ok to continue.

Fast start to this game, now Bruno Fernandes fires over for the visitors.

5min: Now there is an even better chance at the other end! Victor Lindelof plays a hospital pass across his box for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but it only allows Kaoru Mitoma to steal in and run in on goal before blasting his shot straight at David de Gea.

De Gea, for his troubles needs treatment now – having had to save the ball with his face. Who’d be a goalkeeper?

2min: What a chance for United in the opening moments. After United win the ball inside the Brighton half, the Seagulls’ centre-backs are split by a through ball that Antony runs onto, only to fire his shot wide of the post.

A reminder of how both teams line-up as the sun sets on the south coast:

Brighton: Steele, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan, Enciso, Gilmour, Caicedo, Mitoma, Mac Allister, Buonanotte, Welbeck.
Subs: Sanchez, Colwill, March, Undav, Ayari, van Hecke, Peupion, Offiah, Moran.

Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot, Casemiro, Fred, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Martial.
Subs: Maguire, Malacia, Eriksen, Sabitzer, Sancho, Weghorst, Pellistri, Butland, Williams.

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)

Here is how the Premier League table looks. Brighton’s European dream will go on until the final day but if they want the jackpot of a Champions League place this is a must-win.

By contrast, three points tonight for United and you feel they are just about over the line for a return to Europe’s elite.

I changed the four players because Gross is not available to play,’ the Brighton boss told Sky Sports. ‘The others, MacAllister, Mitoma, Caicedo, they are used to playing in the first XI. This is not a problem. [Gross} small muscular problem, but I hope he can play the next game on Monday.

‘When we play against this level of team, it is a very tough game, very tough to win the game, but we are a tough team we are playing well, we want to achieve our target, today we play against Man United but in our head nothing changes.’

‘We have to focus on this game today,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘It’s a massive game for us. Every game now until the end of the season is a massive game for us.

‘The next one is always the most important. We have to focus on Brighton. Tottenham, the last away game, we had the game in our hands and we let it slip from us.

‘Today will be a different game we have to approach in a different way. It’s a completely different game to the FA Cup semi final today is a league game, we know what to expect from Brighton they have very good players.’

Both sides are now warming up at the Amex Stadium. A few pantomime boos for the United players as they made their way out. The home fans look like they could be up for this…

Anyone remember the reverse fixture for this clash?

I can forgive you if you didn’t, it was so long ago that even Cristiano Ronaldo was playing for Manchester United!

It was the opening day of the season and Erik ten Hag was in charge at United for the first time – but he couldn’t prevent his side from slipping to a 2-1 defeat. 

Graham Potter was in charge of Brighton then (what a wild year he has had) but can the Seagulls deliver another blow to a big six side this term?

Brighton defeated Wolves 6-0 at the weekend but still make four changes as Alexis Mac Acllister, Kaoru Mitoma, Moses Caicedo and Facundo Buonanotte come in for Joel Veltman, Pascal Gross, Solly March and Deniz Undav.

United also make four alterations as Tyrell Malacia, Marcel Sabitzer, Christian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho make way for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Anthony Martial and Antony.

Let's go! 😁 Here's your team to face @ManUtd. 📝https://t.co/S3j1TIeLz3 // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/wAVHm4YKfC

Up the Reds! ✊🔴#MUFC || #BHAMUN

Cliff…

Anyway, less jokes and more team news on the way next as fans arrive at the Amex…

Man United hit rock bottom when Ralf Rangnick’s no-hopers crashed 4-0 at Brighton a year ago… plenty of those players are still there, but Erik ten Hag has restored the fear factor as they look to finally win at a full Amex

ADAM SHERGOLD: It was the afternoon Manchester United bottomed out. Interim manager Ralf Rangnick had long since given up and so had most of the players as they crashed 4-0 at Brighton in May last year.

If Brighton are to snatch the most unlikeliest of Champions League places then they will have to win tonight realistically – and boss Roberto De Zerbi is already at the Amex Stadium where it has been a marvellous sunny spring day.

Not quite for me. I won’t go as far as saying there is still a long way to go. But it is still not total fantasy that either Liverpool or even Brighton & Hove Albion could still have a say in this and keep Newcastle United and Manchester United on edge in the top four.

And would you look at that. On this very Thursday night we have just the ticket that will play a huge role in how the top four could pan out as I welcome you to our live coverage of  Brighton vs Manchester United.

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