Manchester City vs Brighton preview, predictions & possible XIs
Manchester City will be looking to keep up their early pressure on Liverpool when they face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
The defending Premier League champions are currently two points behind Liverpool at the top of the table after three games, but will not want to slip any further away before the international break.
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City remain unbeaten in the league with two wins and a draw but face a Brighton side that will want to get back on track after a first defeat at the weekend.
Graham Potter’s men followed up their four points from the opening two games of the season with a 2-0 defeat at home to Southampton, a match they would have hoped to win based on both side’s respective starts to the season.
So, can Brighton spring a shock or will Man City’s unbeaten start continue?
Read on for our predictions, key players, TV info and team news ahead of Man City vs Brighton.
When is Man City vs Brighton and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Date: Saturday, 31 August
Kick-off: 3 PM BST
TV coverage (UK): N/A
Last five meetings: Man City vs Brighton
12 May 2019: Brighton 1-4 Man City
6 April 2019: Man City 1-0 Brighton (FA Cup)
29 September 2018: Man City 2-0 Brighton
9 May 2018: Man City 3-1 Brighton
12 August 2017: Brighton 0-2 Man City
Aggregate score: Man City (WWWWW) 12-2 Brighton (LLLLL)
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Ones to watch
Man City: Raheem Sterling
Carrying on from where he left off last season, Raheem Sterling has been in fine form for Manchester City. The Englishman has been getting into more goalscoring positions than before and looks to have improved on his finishing. Sterling already has five goals in three games, coming from 12 shots – an impressive conversion rate of 62.5%.
Key stat: No player has scored more goals than Raheem Sterling (5) in the Premier League this season.
Brighton: Leandro Trossard
A summer signing, Leandro Trossard is already looking like a good deal for Brighton, bringing in more attacking threat from out wide. The Belgian has already got off the mark in the Premier League, scoring against West Ham while also seeing another effort ruled out due to VAR. But Trossard does not only bring goals, he is also eager to set up any team-mates capable of finishing.
Key stat: Leandro Trossard (7) has created more chances in the Premier League than any other Brighton player this season.
Team news
Man City
John Stones is a doubt with a thigh injury and may not be risked in order to fully recover over the international break. City are also without Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Benjamin Mendy.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Rodri, David Silva; Bernardo Silva, Aguero, Sterling.
Brighton
Brighton will have to make do without Florin Andone after his red card against Southampton over the weekend, while Jose Izquierdo, Yves Bissouma and Ezequiel Schelotto are also still out injured.
Predicted XI (5-4-1): Ryan; Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Burn, March; Maupay, Propper, Stephens, Trossard; Murray.
Squawka Prediction
Man City haven’t lost playing against Brighton in their past five games – scoring 12 goals – and will expect more of the same this weekend. Despite improvements under Graham Potter, Brighton have shown themselves to be unpredictable. If the wrong Brighton turn up, this could be a rout.
Man City 5-0 Brighton
