Manchester City will endeavour to climb back into the top four of the Premier League table when they welcome high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Citizens will be seeking revenge against the Seagulls after suffering a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture at the Amex Stadium four months ago.
Match preview
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Man City missed the opportunity to leapfrog Nottingham Forest into third place after they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the City Ground last weekend, with the largely uneventful contest decided by a strike from Callum Hudson-Odoi seven minutes from time.
The Citizens have now lost nine Premier League games this season, the joint-most league defeats that Pep Guardiola has ever suffered in a single campaign in his managerial career (also nine in 2019-20). Not since 2015-16 have City lost 10 PL matches in one season and defeat on Saturday would see them become the first reigning champions to lose at least 10 times in the same season since Chelsea in 2017-18.
Sitting fifth in the table after 28 games, two points behind Chelsea in fourth and only five points ahead of Fulham in 10th, Man City are now preparing for "10 finals" in the Premier League according to Guardiola, whose team are involved in a hotly-contested battle to secure Champions League football for next season.
The Citizens usually welcome a return to the Etihad, but they have failed to win four of their last eight PL matches on home soil (W4 D1 L3). After losing 2-0 to leaders Liverpool last time out, City are now bidding to avoid losing consecutive home league games for just the second time under Guardiola, last doing so in April/May 2021.
Man City will take some comfort from the fact that they have never lost a home match against Brighton in their entire history (W12 D2), winning each of the last 10 in a row, and this is the most times that they have faced an opponent at home without ever losing in their league history (14).
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Since being put the sword 7-0 by Nottingham Forest at the beginning of February, Brighton have responded in some style, winning each of their last six games in all competitions including each of their last four in the Premier League - the longest ongoing run of any team in the division.
Six days after securing their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 extra-time win at Newcastle, Brighton came from behind again to secure three valuable Premier League points in a 2-1 home victory over Fulham last weekend, with Joao Pedro netting a 98th-minute winning penalty.
Fabian Hurzeler hailed Brighton's "deserved" victory after the match and although his team sit in seventh are only three points behind the top four, the 32-year-old has insisted that qualifying for next season's Champions League is "not in the discussion" at the club.
Brighton have never won away at Man City in 14 previous attempts, but the Seagulls travel to the Etihad this weekend having made themselves difficult to beat on the road in recent months, losing just two of their last 11 away fixtures in all competitions (W6 D3).
Both of Brighton's PL home victories against Man City have been from behind - only Man United (three) have won more games against Guardiola despite trailing in the division. After coming from behind to beat City 2-1 in November, the Seagulls are now looking to complete their first-ever league double over the Citizens in what is the 15th different campaign in which they have met.
Team News
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Man City are still having to cope without Rodri (ACL), Nathan Ake (foot) Manuel Akanji (abductor), John Stones (thigh), while it remains to be seen when Oscar Bobb (ankle/fitness) will make his long-awaited first-team return.
Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are all expected to keep their places in the back four, while Guardiola will weigh up whether to recall Rico Lewis at right-back or stick with Matheus Nunes.
Phil Foden has scored more goals against Brighton (eight) than any other team in his career, but the out-of-form playmaker is at risk of being replaced in the starting lineup, potentially by either Omar Marmoush or Kevin De Bruyne, the latter has contributed to five goals (two goals, three assists) in four home meetings with the Seagulls.
As for Brighton, Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Igor Julio (thigh), James Milner (hamstring) and Jason Steele (shoulder) all remain sidelined, while captain Lewis Dunk (rib), Joel Veltman (knock) and Matt O'Riley (knee) are all closing in on a return and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Tariq Lamptey is available to return, though, after served a one-match suspension last weekend and he is in contention to start at right-back, which could allow Jack Hinshelwood to move into centre-midfield to partner either Carlos Baleba or Yasin Ayari.
Danny Welbeck, who has never scored a PL goal against Man City in 20 attempts, will be pushing for a recall in attack, but Hurzeler may decide to stick with Georginio Rutter in behind Joao Pedro, who has scored in each of his last three league matches.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Gundogan; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Webster, Estupinan; Hinshelwood, Baleba; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro
We say: Manchester City 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Goals are to be expected on Saturday; while Brighton have scored in 26 of their last 29 matches across all competitions, netting at least twice in their last four league games, Man City have scored in all 15 PL meetings with the Seagulls, but have kept just six clean sheets in their last 30 fixtures this season.
Considering their impressive form and the inconsistency of Man City, Brighton will arguably view this contest are their best opportunity to claim their first-ever away win over the Citizens. However, we feel that the hosts may take advantage of Brighton's high defensive line and will ultimately find a way to come out on top.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
