Manchester United will be bidding to bounce back from their opening-weekend defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion when they resume their Premier League campaign against Brentford in Saturday’s late start.

The Red Devils lost 2-1 at home to the Seagulls in their campaign opener last Sunday, while Brentford came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Leicester City in their first match on the same afternoon.

Man United would have been looking to get off to the best possible start in their season opener against Brighton last weekend, but the Red Devils suffered a 2-1 defeat, with Pascal Gross‘s first-half double proving crucial for the Seagulls, who were deserving of the three points in Manchester.

There is now pressure on new head coach Erik ten Hag to deliver a positive result on Saturday, especially as this match comes just nine days before a home fixture against Liverpool in the Premier League.

Man United had a largely impressive pre-season, but their issues from last term were on display again against Brighton, and there will need to be huge improvements if they are to challenge for a return to the top four, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all winning last weekend.

All three of their new signings, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Eriksen, were involved against Brighton; the club continue to work on more new additions, with Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot and PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo the latest players to be linked with switches to Old Trafford, but there remains uncertainty surrounding the future of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Man United have not lost to Brentford since February 1938, winning both of their Premier League encounters, and Ten Hag will surely have his troops motivated for this contest, as another defeat would leave the team in a very difficult spot ahead of their next game against bitter rivals Liverpool.

Ten Hag has a huge decision when it comes to Ronaldo, who featured off the bench against Brighton, and it would certainly not be a surprise to see the Portuguese start, especially with Martial still on the sidelines.

Ronaldo could potentially come in for Scott McTominay, with Eriksen moving back into a deeper area, while Raphael Varane and Malacia are also pushing for spots in the starting side, but Luke Shaw should retain his spot at left-back, with Martinez joining club captain Harry Maguire in the middle.

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Hickey, Jansson, Mee, Henry; Janelt, Norgaard, Dasilva; Mbuemo, Toney, Wissa

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, L Martinez, Shaw; Eriksen, Fred, Fernandes; Sancho, Ronaldo, Rashford