Must-Read: Paul Merson Reveals Manchester United's Crucial Need Amidst Glazers Situation

Paul Merson urges Manchester United to cease using the Glazers situation as an excuse and instead implores the players to take responsibility as they get ready to face Brighton in a pivotal Premier League encounter at Old Trafford this Saturday. Currently placed 11th, Manchester United trails league leaders Manchester City by six points following a tumultuous beginning to the season.

Erik ten Hag's team, who have not earned any points on the road in the league this season, used the international break to contemplate their six-point tally from the first four matches. This puts them in a position where they are already behind the teams they aspire to compete with at the upper echelons of the table.

In his most recent skysports.com column, Merson delves into the current situation at Man Utd just before a significant series of matches in the Premier League and Champions League.

'Stop hiding behind Glazers situation'

There are plenty of issues at United at the moment.

The season hasn't started well, with a series of disappointing results. While there were losses in north London, Wolves had the potential to secure something at Old Trafford, and Nottingham Forest encountered some misfortune as well. Additionally, there are ongoing concerns surrounding Jadon Sancho and the noise surrounding Harry Maguire. Moreover, the transfer window also yielded less than ideal outcomes, thus adding to the pressure mounting on Ten Hag.

In my opinion, Ten Hag must find solutions on the field. Winning football matches is imperative and he is well aware of that. Being Manchester United, it is essential to secure a position in the top four.

Currently, it seems that everyone is using the Glazers as an excuse to hide.

They are constantly being criticized for various issues, even though they are not directly involved in the game. While it's true that they could invest in improving the stadium, a modern and advanced facility alone cannot enhance the performance of the players. Burnley, for example, may not have a posh venue like Turf Moor, but they still manage to perform admirably.

Hiding behind the Glazers every time there is a defeat needs to stop. It's time for the players to stand up, be counted and get results.

'Man Utd face huge game against Brighton'

Manchester United require a positive outcome in their match against Brighton. This is a crucial game for Ten Hag and his team.

The beginning hasn't been smooth for United, yet they were incredibly close to a decent start with Alejandro Garnacho's offside goal at Arsenal.

United's opening four matches have yielded a solid nine points, even considering the challenging away fixtures against Arsenal and a formidable Tottenham side. We would be singing United's praises if luck had been on their side during their clash with Arsenal.

However, this scenario highlights the narrow margins at play. Garnacho's late goal was disallowed, and late strikes from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus added to the pressure on United, who have achieved two victories and suffered two defeats in their initial four games.

'United cannot afford another defeat at this stage'

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Marcus Rashford rues a missed chance against Spurs

When your targets at the start of the season include the Premier league title, you cannot afford three defeats in your opening five games.

That is why the Brighton game is such a big one for United.

A loss at home against Brighton means another year lost in the title race. At this point, the focus is on securing second, third, fourth, or fifth place. It's only September, and the competition is already intense as other teams have also strengthened their squads. The fight to secure a top-four position is going to be a massive challenge.

'They have the ability to turn things on'

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Bruno Fernandes celebrates winner for Man Utd against Nottingham Forest

Brighton possesses a remarkable team and possesses the knowledge of triumphing at Old Trafford.

They astonished United at the commencement of the previous season, inflicting a dreadful initiation for Ten Hag's tenure at United.

United, despite facing adversity, have the ability to step up and perform at crucial moments.

Ten Hag's main aim is to motivate his players and secure a positive outcome that ignites their season, as they have important league matches on the horizon.

'Hojlund a bright spot for Man Utd'

A bright spot for them at the Emirates was the cameo of striker Rasmus Hojlund.

It was only 20 minutes or so that he was on the pitch but he showed plenty.

He was physical and got the better of Arsenal defender Gabriel on more than one occasion.

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Rasmus Hojlund in action against Arsenal. However, the pressure on him will be different if he begins the game. It's worth recalling the impressive performance of Mykhailo Mudryk during his Chelsea debut against Liverpool. He showcased immense skill and energy in the last 20 minutes at Anfield. Unfortunately, we haven't witnessed any noteworthy performances from the Ukrainian player since then.

That's the task facing Hojlund as he prepares to compete against the reliable Premier League player, Lewis Dunk. Dunk displayed an impressive performance for England against Scotland in the previous week, which will undoubtedly boost his confidence going into this match.

It will be intriguing to witness how Hojlund handles this challenge, yet I must say that I have been impressed with his performances thus far.

'Games coming up United should be winning'

Man Utd need a good week. Ten Hag needs a good week, especially in the Premier League.

A visit to Bayern Munich, where Harry Kane plays, appears to be a challenging task currently, heightening the importance of the Brighton game even further. Should Ten Hag's team suffer losses against Brighton and Bayern, the pressure on him will undoubtedly increase.

He is not deluded. His performance at Old Trafford was commendable, clinching the Carabao Cup, securing a top-four position, reaching the FA Cup final, and delivering a respectable run in European competitions. However, he acknowledges the necessity to continue achieving victories.

Upcoming league matches seem very favorable for them to win, but a failure to triumph over Brighton on Saturday would transform those games into challenging encounters. Following the Brighton match, they will face Burnley, and their mood will either be euphoric as if soaring high or despondent as if walking in despair.

The Bayern match will pose a challenge. I predict that Man Utd will struggle to achieve success in Munich. However, the upcoming matches against Brighton and Burnley are ones that Man Utd should be able to win.

Join our live blog for the Man Utd vs Brighton match starting at 1.30pm on Saturday, with the kick-off at 3pm. Additionally, watch the match highlights for free from 5.15pm.