MY ACCOUNT
Manchester City will have been disappointed that their midweek meeting with Arsenal was called off, with Pep Guardiola’s men desperate to get back on track after last weekend’s defeat at Anfield.
But now they welcome Brighton, who will be cursing their luck that it is they who must bear the brunt of the Citizens’ frustrations.
Roberto De Zerbi’s brief time on the south coast has offered an odd mixture of encouragement and irritation, with the Seagulls playing well but collecting just two points from his four games in charge.
That run includes a draw against Liverpool at Anfield and performances that deserved a return of more than a draw and two defeats.
However, there is a danger for De Zerbi that an unlucky run of results might turn into something more serious if confidence is dented. With matches against Manchester City and Chelsea to come, the Italian urgently needs a change in fortune.
Team news
Manchester City look set to be without a trio of England internationals this weekend.
Midfielder Kalvin Phillips and right-back Kyle Walker are both ruled out and are in a race against time to regain fitness in time for the World Cup. While John Stones is close to returning from a hamstring strain, the England centre-back is unlikely to return this weekend.
Brighton have lost Enock Mwepu from their squad following his untimely retirement, while Jakub Moder is not expected back until February.
Winger Kaoru Mitoma is out for a couple of weeks with an ankle injury, young centre-back Levi Colwill picked up a knock and is expected to miss out, and Dutch youngster Jan Paul van Hecke missed out in midweek and again looks set to be absent.
The stats
Manchester City have not suffered successive defeats in the Premier League in nearly four years, with the last coming 134 games ago in December 2018.
During that run, City have lost 20 league games, and after only one of those did, they fail to win the next match.
Brighton will not be encouraged by their away record at Manchester City, as they have lost each of the last eight visits and have failed to score in their previous four trips to the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens’ Premier League home record this term is equally intimidating, with Guardiola’s men winning all five games by scorelines of 6-0, 6-3, 4-0, 4-0 and 4-2.
Prediction
While there was obvious disappointment in both the dropping of points and the level of performance at Anfield last weekend, Guardiola will not be overly concerned that his team narrowly slipped up in what remains City’s toughest fixture of the Premier League campaign.
However, the City manager will demand that his players put that performance behind them with a show of strength against Brighton, and that could spell trouble for De Zerbi’s men.
Their inability to turn possession and chances into goals is a serious problem away at the Etihad, where City will control much of the game and restrict the visitors’ opportunities in front of goal.
Guardiola’s men will be out to prove a point, and if the Seagulls’ waning confidence leads to a disappointing performance, then the visitors could quickly find themselves overwhelmed. The 13/10 available with LiveScore Bet for Manchester City -2 goals on the spread looks a good price.
