Now, City didn't do so hot last weekend. They lost to Nottingham Forest, which was a bit of a shocker. That loss means Pep Guardiola's had as many league losses this season as he's ever had in his career. If they lose again, it'll be the first time since 2015-16 they've lost ten league games in a season. And, get this, they'd be the first defending champs to lose that many since Chelsea a few years back.
Basically, City's in a tight spot. They're fifth, trying to grab a Champions League spot, and Guardiola's saying every game's a final from here on out. They usually do well at home, but they've been a bit shaky lately. On the bright side, they've never lost to Brighton at home, so that's something.
On the other side, Brighton's been on fire lately. They've won their last six games, including four in the league. They just beat Fulham, and their manager's pretty happy with how they're playing. They're aiming high, but they're trying to keep their feet on the ground.
Brighton's never won at City, but they've been tough to beat away from home recently. They've also shown they can come from behind and win against City, which they did earlier this season. So, they're definitely going to give City a run for their money. It's going to be a good one!
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Man City's got a bit of an injury headache, it seems. They're definitely missing Rodri, Ake, Akanji, and Stones, which is a real blow to their defense and midfield. And they're still waiting to see when Oscar Bobb will be fit again.
Looking at their likely lineup, it seems like Khusanov, Dias, and Gvardiol are pretty much guaranteed to be in the backline. The big question is whether Guardiola goes with Rico Lewis or sticks with Nunes at right-back.
Up front, Foden's in a bit of a tricky spot. He's got a fantastic record against Brighton, but his recent form hasn't been great. So, he might get benched, with Marmoush or De Bruyne potentially stepping in. And then you've got Savinho, Doku, and Grealish all fighting for those attacking spots. Of course, Haaland's going to be leading the line, and he's got a record in his sights.
Now, Brighton's got a whole heap of injury problems. Kadioglu, Julio, Milner, Veltman, Steele, Dunk, and O'Riley are all out. But they're getting Lamptey back from suspension, which is a boost. He could go straight into the starting eleven. That could mean that Hinshelwood moves into the midfield.
Up front, Welbeck's pushing for a start, but Rutter might keep his place behind Joao Pedro, who's been on fire lately. He's also trying to make his own premier league record. So, it's setting up to be a really interesting game, with both teams dealing with some big challenges.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Gundogan; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Webster, Estupinan; Hinshelwood, Baleba; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester City 2-1 Brighton
