Manchester United's quest for a much-needed piece of silverware this season begins in earnest this afternoon as they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round. With their Premier League campaign faltering, the historic competition represents the club's last realistic hope for a trophy in the 2025/26 season.
Fletcher's Moment in the Spotlight
The build-up to this cup tie has been dominated by managerial uncertainty at United. Following the shock departure of Ruben Amorim on Monday, Darren Fletcher has been placed in interim charge on a short-term basis. The former United midfielder now has a golden opportunity to state his case for the role until the end of the season.
It is understood that the club has held talks with both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick regarding the caretaker position. However, a convincing performance and result against a tricky Brighton side could significantly boost Fletcher's hopes of securing the job on a more permanent temporary basis.
A Tough Opponent and Key Match Details
United will need to be at their best to progress. While they produced one of their finest displays of the season to beat Brighton at Old Trafford back in October, Fabian Hurzeler's Seagulls did the league double over the Red Devils last season. The German coach will be confident of causing another upset in cup competition.
The match is scheduled for a 4:30pm GMT kick-off on Sunday, 11 January 2026, at the Theatre of Dreams. For fans unable to attend, the action will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with streaming available via the Discovery+ app and platform.
Elsewhere in the FA Cup
In other third-round action taking place today, Arsenal have established a strong position away at Portsmouth. As of 3:05pm, the Gunners lead 3-1 at Fratton Park, with Gabriel Martinelli on the scoresheet.
Stay with us for all the crucial pre-match build-up, confirmed team news and starting lineups, followed by comprehensive live goal updates and minute-by-minute commentary from this all-Premier League FA Cup clash.
