Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton is looking for a reaction from his players when the Seagulls host Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
The first Premier League game at the Amex in 2018/19 comes against Jose Mourinho’s men this weekend, and the Albion manager is eager to see his side atone for Saturday's defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road.
He said, “Whenever you lose you’re always looking ahead to the next game and luckily for us, our next one is at home.
“It’s against a big side but in this division, you have to get points – nobody can tell you where they’re going to come from.
“We’ll have to make sure we have a good week now – you can play well and lose but today [Saturday] we didn’t play well and that’s the biggest disappointment.”
The game against the Hornets saw Hughton introduce fellow summer arrivals Yves Bissouma and Alireza Jahanbakhsh during the second period, and he reflected on the thinking process behind involving them within the side at the start of the new season.
“We’ve brought in new faces but by the time the end of the month comes, we will have had faces go out.
“The players have come in at different times and with different circumstances, so for us it’s about managing that.
“We’re no different to anyone else in those respects.”
A brace from Roberto Pereyra was the difference between the two sides in Hertfordshire on Saturday afternoon, and the Seagulls boss emphasised the need for Albion to put in an improved performance given the competitive nature of the squad.
“The players have to perform, and our game is about that with results.
“Everybody has to play with the thought of wanting to stay in the team, so that’s normal.
“I’ll have a decision to make going into Sunday’s game, as I will do for the following game and then every contest after that, and performances gauge that.”
“The players that we have brought in will give us real competition, some have come in on quite big fees, so it gives us a good level to work with overall.”