Brighton host Manchester City at the Amex Stadium on Sunday 31st August in a Premier League clash that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event at 2pm.
Man City to win & both teams to score (19/10 with BOYLE Sports)
Brighton were excellent against Man City last season, picking up four points across the two clashes, and they’ve got the quality to trouble Pep Guardiola’s side again. However, this City team already look in ominous form, brushing aside Wolves with ease on the opening day of the season.
Brighton have struggled during their start to the season, picking up a point against Fulham on the opening weekend before labouring to a 2-0 loss against Everton last weekend. If Man City find their feet again then could put Brighton to the sword and come away from the Amex with all three points.
Tijjani Reijnders to assist (9/2 with BOYLE Sports)
Tijjani Reijnders already looks like one of the signings of the summer following his superb display against Wolves, where he scored and assisted on his debut. He has so many tools to his game and looks set to cause Brighton a whole host of problems through his movement, vision, and eye for goal.
Reijnders could be pivotal in this encounter with his running from deep opening up space and allowing Man City to continue their free flowing attacking style. If he’s allowed the space to roam by the Brighton midfield he could be very dangerous in the final third and add to his assist tally for the season.
How both teams go into Brighton vs Man City
Brighton will be pleased with their performance against Fulham, but conceding an equaliser in stoppage time will have left them somewhat deflated. Full-backs Maxim De Cuyper and Mats Wieffer shone for the Seagulls, who have now won four and drawn two of their last six league games stretching back to April, and took four points off Man City last season.
They were unable to build on their opening weekend draw, however, losing to Everton 2-0 in the first game at the Toffees new Hill Dickinson Stadium last weekend. It was an abject performance by the Seagulls and one that Fabian Hurzler will be keen to avoid happening again.
Man City endured a terrible 2024-25 campaign by their exceptionally high standards. Still, Pep Guardiola’s troops stormed out of the blocks with a 4-0 obliteration of Wolves, during which Erling Haaland bagged a brace and new recruit Tijjani Reijnders excelled with a goal and an assist on his debut. Title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal will most certainly have taken notice.
They struggled against Tottenham last week, eventually falling a 2-0 defeat to Thomas Frank’s side. Man City were outplayed by their rivals and will want to bounce back with a positive result in this tie to avoid falling further behind their title rivals at the top of the table.
Brighton team news
Adam Webster and Solly March are both out, Jack Hinshelwood will expect to feature as will Man United-linked Carlos Baleba. Georginio Rutter could feature for the first time this season but his inclusion is touch and go.
Man City team news
Phil Foden, Rodri, and Josko Gvardiol will each hope to be available for the trip to the south coast, but Mateo Kovacic remains out.
Brighton vs Man City head-to-head
Brighton claimed a 2-1 win at home to Man City last season after they came from behind to score twice in the last 12 minutes. The teams then played out a 2-2 draw at the Etihad with Brighton again clawing their way back to equalise not once but twice.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 15/03/25 | Man City 2-2 Brighton | Premier League |
| 09/11/24 | Brighton 2-1 Man City | Premier League |
| 25/04/24 | Brighton 0-4 Man City | Premier League |
| 21/10/23 | Man City 2-1 Brighton | Premier League |
| 24/05/23 | Brighton 1-1 Man City | Premier League |