Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion preview, team news, tickets & prediction

Manchester City will return from the international break looking to maintain a good pace in the Premier League title race. Here is a preview.

The resumption of club football in October will see the Premier League table toppers hosting one of the most impressive teams in the division. Manchester City have been near flawless again this season but they will have to show their mettle against Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton who are a delight to watch.

Pep Guardiola’s side are riding on a coast of confidence since their UEFA Champions League triumph made them treble winners, and they are not letting up so far so good. 

City won their first six Premier League games with relative control as Burnley, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Fulham, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest were all beaten. However, it wasn’t seventh heaven for the Sky Blues who went down 2-1 at Wolves.

They will face Arsenal for an early-season indicator of the title race just as the campaign pauses for another international window. The mood against Brighton should be a typically ruthless one regardless of the outcome against the Gunners two weeks earlier.

Although there will surely be some tired legs playing for City following their international exertions, Guardiola is famously not afraid to rotate and should field the strongest possible side. Brighton are expected to hassle the City players with sustained high pressing and try to absorb pressure with the ball in order to create chances for their forwards. 

This end-to-end clash will be one for the neutrals as both teams look to take the initiative and attack their opponents relentlessly. Yet, it is City who have the better record in this game as the Premier League champions have won three of their last five head-to-head fixtures by at least three goals. 

Securing maximum points is all that ever matters to Guardiola’s winning machine and they will put on a masterclass while doing so.

On the other hand, Brighton have maintained their steady ascent into their first-ever season playing European football. 

Just over a year since De Zerbi replaced Graham Potter, he has fostered a superb attacking style that has brought out the best in all of the players as well as made them easy on the eye. Hence, they finished last season with their highest-ever top-flight position and qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

The Sussex side are doing more of the same this term as they sit in sixth position with 15 points from the first seven matches. Brighton showed a sign of what is to come by winning their first two games 4-1 against Luton Town and Wolves.

However, West Ham provided a timely humbling with a 3-1 victory at the AMEX Stadium and Brighton bounced back with another 3-1 beating of Newcastle. The scoreline remained the same in their next two games when Manchester United and Bournemouth failed to stop the rampaging Seagulls. 

Those wins have since been overshadowed by cup defeats to both AEK Athens and Chelsea as well as a shock 6-1 thrashing at Aston Villa. This isn’t an ideal build-up to big games against Olympique Marseille, Liverpool and Man City meaning Brighton will be playing for any result they can get. 

A good performance or indeed a good result against City can never be guaranteed but Brighton know how to frustrate the hosts after ending their 12-game winning run in their most recent meeting thanks to Julio Enciso’s stunning goal that delivered a share of the spoils and confirmed Brighton’s place in the Europa League.

The Albions will have to pay attention to the smallest details which can decide the game either in their favour or City’s.

Match tickets

This game takes place at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, October 21 and it kicks off at 3 PM UK time. It promises to be an exciting game of football and Manchester City vs Brighton tickets are on sale via each individual club’s website but it should be sold out given that City are a must-watch whenever they play. 

Brighton are also expected to have a solid following for the long away trip as passionate fans travel to watch their ever-improving team take on the Champions of Europe and England. With this being an important game for both clubs, tickets on the official channels should now be unavailable.

Supporters will find it very difficult to obtain Brighton away tickets but they may be lucky to find one on a ticket resale site. 

Team news

Zack Steffen and Kevin de Bruyne are ruled out of the game for City as they are in varying stages of rehabilitation from long-term injuries. 

On a positive note, Rodri will be eligible for selection after getting a straight red card against Nottingham Forest while John Stones has recently returned to the fold after being out injured since the Community Shield match.

Jakub Moder and Julio Enciso both have knee injuries that will keep them out for long although the muscular injuries suffered by Adam Lallana and James Milner shouldn’t keep them out for too long. However, Pervis Estupinan is set for up to a month on the sidelines. 

Pascal Gross is another Brighton player yet to return from a muscular injury he picked up in the 3-2 loss to AEK Athens but reports claim he should be fully fit when they face City.

Line-ups

Phil Foden loves a goal against Brighton having found the net six times in their last six games and he should start in attack with the impressive Jeremy Doku playing on the other flank.

Rodri should also return to the base of midfield with his presence a crucial part of the Cityzens team. The Spaniard will be key to disrupting the Seagulls’ waves of attacks.

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Ake; Nunes, Rodri; Foden, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland 

Billy Gilmour has become a mainstay in the Brighton midfield and he potentially plays a key role at the Etihad. 

Elsewhere, Tariq Lamptey should come into the team at left-back having backed up Estupinan recently.

Brighton: Steele; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Lamptey; Gilmour, Groß; March, Welbeck, Mitoma; Ferguson

Prediction

Goals are expected to flow when Guardiola faces one of his disciples who happens to coach the league’s top scorers so far (19 goals). Crucially, the Albions have conceded 14 times in seven games already and any slip-ups will be cruelly punished.

Man City’s long unbeaten record at home is a considerable hurdle for any visiting team and Brighton will hope to outscore the Champions on an off day. 

Man City 3-1 Brighton