Manchester United to host Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in Carabao Cup third round on Sept 17

Manchester United will host Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in Manchester, England in the third round of the EFL Cup 2026-27 (Carabao Cup) on Thursday, September 17, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 a.m. IST.

The Red Devils arrive on the back of a defeat in the Manchester Derby and are described as not being in top form; Michael Carrick’s men will be seeking to return to winning ways. Manchester United are aiming to secure a place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, a task the preview characterises as likely to be challenging against Brighton & Hove Albion. The fixture at Old Trafford is set up as a potentially entertaining clash between host and visitor.

Manchester United are urged to control the tempo from the outset and apply pressure to disrupt Brighton’s play. Maintaining early dominance and intensity is presented as a necessary approach for the hosts in this cup tie. The preview frames those tactical requirements as central to United’s chance of progressing.

Brighton & Hove Albion, led by Fabian Hürzeler, are noted for performing well while adopting an attacking approach. The Seagulls will aim to reproduce that style in an away setting at Old Trafford. Observers in the preview expect Brighton’s offensive tendencies to be a defining feature of the match.

Recent results for Brighton are referenced in the preview, which states the Seagulls have lost only one of their last five matches. That run is cited as part of Brighton’s momentum heading into the EFL Cup tie. The club is described as being keen to secure a win in the competition.

Broadcast arrangements listed in the preview indicate fans in India can watch the match live on FanCode, with the FanCode app and website carrying all matches. Viewers in the United Kingdom can tune into Sky Sports, Sky Sports+ and ITV for live coverage. In the United States, the fixture is available on CBS Sports.

The third-round tie at Old Trafford carries progression implications: the winner will secure a place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Manchester United and Brighton will contest that advancement when they meet on September 17.