Manchester City’s trip to the Amex Stadium on Saturday will be a crucial one as they seek to avoid losing four consecutive matches under Pep Guardiola for the first time.
After a poor run across multiple competitions, including a 4-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon and defeats to Bournemouth and Tottenham, City will need to rediscover their form quickly.
On the other hand, Brighton & Hove Albion are also desperate to get back on track after suffering two straight losses to Liverpool in both the EFL Cup and Premier League. Although they played well at Anfield, a second-half collapse saw them fall short against Liverpool once again, leaving them eighth in the league with plenty of work to do.
Match Preview
For Manchester City, their three consecutive defeats have left them reeling. The last time City suffered such a run of losses was back in April 2018, and as Bernardo Silva put it, the club is in a “dark place.” However, manager Pep Guardiola remains optimistic, confident that his team can bounce back and start their recovery at Brighton. A victory on Saturday could propel City back to the top of the Premier League, even if only temporarily, as Liverpool’s match against Aston Villa could change the standings by Saturday evening.
Despite the challenges, City has dominated Brighton in recent years, winning 12 of their last 14 Premier League meetings and collecting 37 points out of a possible 42. This strong record will give Guardiola’s side hope that they can turn things around, even with a depleted squad.
Brighton’s Challenge:
Brighton will be looking to bounce back after their defeat to Liverpool, and while they’re playing well, they’ve dropped points in key moments this season. Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton’s manager, will be urging his team to play at their best against the top sides, and they certainly have the talent to challenge City. With six goals in his first 10 Premier League games, Danny Welbeck will be crucial up front, alongside Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma.
Brighton’s home form has been solid, remaining unbeaten in their last five games at the Amex (W2 D3), and they will hope to extend this run on Saturday. However, their recent record against City has been poor, with Brighton losing 13 of their last 15 meetings with the Premier League giants, including a 4-0 defeat in April.
Team News and Lineups
Brighton will be without key players, including Solly March (ACL) and James Milner (thigh), while the status of Lewis Dunk (calf) and Yankuba Minteh (muscle) will be assessed closer to kickoff. Midfielders Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley could return to the squad, adding some depth to the team.
Manchester City also have several injury concerns. Rodri (ACL) and Oscar Bobb (leg fracture) remain long-term absentees, while Ruben Dias, John Stones, and Jack Grealish are all doubts. Kevin De Bruyne, who has just returned from injury, may feature off the bench again, as Guardiola continues to manage his fitness. City’s defensive options are stretched, and Guardiola will have to make key decisions, including whether to start Kyle Walker or Rico Lewis at right-back.
Brighton & Hove Albion Possible Starting Lineup:
Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Mitoma; Rutter, Welbeck
Manchester City Possible Starting Lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Savinho, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Prediction
Both teams are attack-minded and have shown vulnerabilities at the back this season. Brighton has conceded more goals to Manchester City than any other Premier League opponent, while City have struggled to keep clean sheets, with just five in 17 competitive matches this season. City, despite their recent slump, have the firepower to get back to winning ways, but with their current injury crisis and Brighton’s solid home form, this could be a tricky clash.
Man City cannot afford to slip further behind league leaders Liverpool or allow Arsenal to close the gap, but with a jaded squad, they may be forced to settle for a share of the points on Saturday.
