Two key players highlighted in Manchester United Brighton FA Cup semi-final

On Sunday, Manchester United will face Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley with the possibility of completing the domestic double still alive.

Manchester United are aiming to avoid two swift knockout exits after a miserable night in Seville by watching the outcome of Saturday’s second semifinal between Manchester City and Sheffield United.

Given the chances they produced in the first half, Man United should have finished the tie against Sevilla in the first leg, but a late collapse at Old Trafford preceded one of their worst performances of the season.

Read More: Manchester United predicted XI to face Brighton (FA Cup Semi-Final)

Despite two defensive errors from David de Gea and Harry Maguire, Sevilla, a consistent Europa League victor, deservedly won the second leg 3-0 on Thursday. Before and after Loic Bade’s shoulder goal, Youssef En-Nesyri profited from two awful errors.

Erik ten Hag made no apologies for his squad’s dismal performance in Seville, even going so far as to say that his team, who injuries had decimated, was “not ready” for the game as dreams of a continental title faded. The possibility that United will win the EFL Cup and FA Cup double still exists.

Here are the two key players to watch out for ahead of the FA Cup semi-final clash:

Manchester United: Marcus Rashford

The most incredible season of Marcus Rashford’s career is currently underway. The only Premier League player to have scored more than him across all competitions is Erling Haaland with 48 goals. His 28 goals represent a season-high during his time at United.

The only Premier League players with higher goal involvements are Haaland (54) and Mohamed Salah (37) thanks to his eight assists across all competitions for United this season.

Only in 2015-16 (22.2%) did Rashford convert a better percentage of shots than he has in 2022–23 thus far (20.9%), but his minutes per goal ratio (128) is his best ever in a competitive season.

His return to full fitness is vital for United’s offence as they have struggled quite a bit in games where he hasn’t either scored or played. With Anthony Martial being questionable for tonight’s game, Rashford will have to take up the responsibility of creating goalscoring opportunities and chances for United as they aim to complete a domestic double.

He has scored twice in Wembley, one of which was against Newcastle in the EFL Cup Final in February, and the other, against Tottenham in the 2018-19 Premier League season.

Brighton: Kaoru Mitoma

In the 2022–2023 season, Japan international Kaoru Mitoma, has made a stunning impression at Brighton. He joined from Kawasaki Frontale of the Japanese J1 League in August 2021, however, he spent the previous campaign on loan at Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium.

In the first half of the 2022–23 season, he was gradually integrated into the Brighton line-up; but, after the 2022 World Cup break, his form has taken off.

Mitoma is one of Brighton & Hove Albion’s most effective scorers since the team resumed play after the World Cup with eight goals, while only Solly March (14) has contributed to more goals than he has (13). The Japanese winger’s skill to sneak past defenders with the ball at his feet has allowed him to beat opponents with 40 dribbles, far more than any other Brighton player during this time.

Mitoma has either scored or assisted in all four of Brighton’s FA Cup games with two goals and two assists.