Manchester United will be hoping to put their recent domestic struggles behind them when they face Brighton

 

Manchester United will be hoping to put their recent domestic struggles behind them when they face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.

Michael Carrick's side have made a difficult start to their Premier League campaign, winning just one of their opening four matches, a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town. A late draw against Everton, alongside defeats to Hull City and Man City, leaves United 13th in the table with just four points.

United's last appearance in the Carabao Cup ended in disappointing fashion, as they suffered a penalty shootout defeat to League Two outfit Grimsby Town. Brighton will also provide a reminder of another recent cup disappointment, having eliminated United from last season's FA Cup earlier this year.

Despite beating Sabah FK 4-0 in the Champions League less than a week ago, there is still a sense of concern surrounding Old Trafford. Wednesday's meeting with the Seagulls has consequently become one of the highest-stakes matches of Carrick's tenure so far.

Progression to the next round could provide United with the perfect opportunity to change the mood around the club and build some much-needed momentum. However, another early cup exit, combined with back-to-back defeats at Old Trafford, would undoubtedly see pressure begin to mount on Carrick and his players.

The last time United lost back-to-back games at Old Trafford was actually a run of three losses on the bounce in December 2024, when they fell to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Newcastle under Rúben Amorim.

The game against Brighton, due to kick off at 20:00 BST at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening, gives Carrick a great chance to avoid the fate of his predecessor, and he's expected to still field a strong team.

The Carabao Cup offers a great chance for the United boss to gain momentum and possibly challenge for a trophy.