Ralf Rangnick explains dropping Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford for Manchester United vs Brighton

Ralf Rangnick dropped Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford to the Manchester United bench for the clash with Brighton on Tuesday night, saying he is looking for fresh legs with Fred and Anthony Elanga.

The Red Devils are coming off disappointing Premier League draws with Burnley and Southampton, so it is no surprise that Rangnick has made changes for the meeting with the Seagulls at Old Trafford.

Pogba has not long been back from a serious groin problem, making his return in the FA Cup against Middlesbrough earlier this month and starting in the games against Burnley and the Saints, so he is being rested for Fred, who is returning from Covid.

Rangnick also says that Rashford is being rested, with Elanga coming back in, although the England forward may have been struggling to keep his place anyway.

‘(The changes) was about fresh legs, Anthony Elanga did well until the last two games he did not start in,’ Rangnick told the BBC.

‘Paul Pogba came back after his long term injury and Fred is fully back in training so I decided to go with that.’

Manchester United can return to the top four of the Premier League with a win over Brighton, but they will have to improve their level of performance after failing to impress in recent matches.

Rangnick has been pleased with his team in parts, but admits that they have not been able to put in a full 90 minutes of impressive play under his management.

Sam Allardyce reveals Man Utd's biggest problem and hails Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

'I could see him going to Chelsea' — Arsenal and Man Utd target backed for Blues transfer

Aguero picks between Lampard, Gerrard and Scholes and answers best PL defender question

‘We have to show for 90 minutes our nice face, in the last games we have seen two different faces