Pep Guardiola is in unfamiliar territory after three consecutive defeats across Manchester City’s most recent games in Carabao Cup, the Premier League, and Champions League.
By Ian King
Historic grudge match for those with long memories
There is a little bit of ancient history here, in that City relegated Brighton from the top flight on the penultimate weekend of the 1982/83 season by winning 1-0 at The Goldstone Ground. City might have considered that to be revenge for Brighton beating them 4-0 in the FA Cup earlier that season, but were relegated themselves a week later.
More recently, Albion’s record against City has been atrocious since their 2017 return to the top flight. They’ve only beaten them once, at the very end of the 2020/21 season, with their opponents having already wrapped up the Premier League title for that season. City have won every other meeting between them bar one, when the two teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Amex in May 2023.
The present day
The history books may not be encouraging for Brighton, but current form offers them greater hope. While they may have ultimately lost at Anfield last weekend, this was their first defeat in four, and they’ve already beaten Manchester United, Newcastle and Spurs so far.
Meanwhile, Manchester City need a win. Those hoping that their recent blip had bottomed out with last weekend’s defeat at Bournemouth ended up doubly disappointed after they were well-beaten in their midweek Champions League trip to Lisbon; they’ve now lost three in a row for the first time since 2018. There is a case for saying that City do this at some point every season, but there were few signs of improvement on Tuesday night.
Key players
For Brighton so far this season, Danny Welbeck has indeed been ‘Dat Guy’, with six goals and two assists in his first ten games. But more broadly, the key to the home team’s threat is that it can come from so many sources. Nine different players have contributed to their twelve assists so far.
Injury-ravaged though they are, Manchester City are still glittered with stardust. Phil Foden scored their early opener against Sporting, and they could do with a big performance from him on Saturday evening.
Injury news
City are still in an injury crisis but the pressure is starting to ease slightly, with Kevin De Bruyne making a brief appearance in midweek which has led to speculation that he will soon be returning to the first team. Rúben Dias and John Stones are still missing, though, and the lack of that defensive pair has been hurting them. Brighton could welcome back Yankuba Minteh and João Pedro, though Adam Webster, James Milner and Solly March all remain absent.
Prediction
Brighton’s historical record against City may be dreadful, but so was Bournemouth’s going into their meeting with them last weekend, and we all know what happened there. Should it happen, the return of De Bruyne may give them a little more zest in attack, but Brighton’s array of attacking options will be a tough test for a makeshift defence, so a score draw may be the final outcome.
Prediction: Brighton 2-2 Manchester City
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.