Manchester United host Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday night, picking up the pieces from a controversial derby defeat to Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City. Erling Haaland’s second-half strike condemned United to a 1-0 loss over the weekend, extending an inconsistent start to the 2026/27 campaign. Manager Michael Carrick faces critical selection questions in attack after opting to start Matheus Cunha against City to maintain a quicker, more dynamic frontline, leaving £74m striker Benjamin Sesko on the bench until the 67th minute. Facing a Brighton side that has triumphed on four of its last five visits to Old Trafford, United can ill afford another sluggish opening period without a clear aerial focal point in the box.
Carrick’s hesitation to unleash Sesko from the opening whistle has raised eyebrows across English football. Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer expressed bafflement at the notion that the Slovenian international is primarily an impact substitute, highlighting that eight of his 14 goals in United colors have come when starting. Across 37 appearances, Sesko boasts an efficient rate of one goal every 139 minutes, having already found the net against Brentford, Sunderland, and Azerbaijani outfit Sabah FK in the Champions League. Despite early-season struggles against Nottingham Forest that drew fierce criticism from Gary Neville, and former striker Wayne Rooney asserting that INEOS must sign a new elite striker, Carrick demonstrated his backing at full-time following the derby, putting an arm around the 21-year-old to assure him of his central role in the club’s long-term project.
Squad rotation will feature heavily for United as Carrick manages physical demands amidst key absences. Defensive reinforcements are set to take center stage, with youngsters Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven tipped to start at centre-back alongside Diogo Dalot. Luke Shaw missed the Manchester derby with a minor injury, and Carrick will make a late assessment on the England defender, while Amad Diallo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Carlos Baleba remain sidelined. Meanwhile, 16-year-old prospect JJ Gabriel will not feature for his senior debut amid reports that he has requested to leave the club. Brighton arrive in Greater Manchester boasting a formidable lineup that includes Bart Verbruggen, Lewis Dunk, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Pascal Gross, and Charalampos Kostoulas, aiming to exploit United’s defensive reshuffle.
With Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford competing for midfield and wide positions, United possess ample technical quality to unlock Brighton’s setup. However, late cameos from Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee against City failed to overturn the deficit due to delayed introductions. Starting Sesko gives United a direct outlet capable of testing Brighton’s backline early. If United can deliver accurate service to their forward, the Slovenian offers the physical presence and direct threat needed to keep their domestic cup ambitions alive at Old Trafford.
