By Manchester City visit Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon with Pep Guardiola’s side seeking to avoid losing four consecutive games for the first time under his management, as both teams aim to rebound from recent setbacks.
City’s unprecedented slump has seen defeats to Tottenham Hotspur (EFL Cup), Bournemouth (Premier League), and Sporting Lisbon (Champions League), marking their first three-game losing streak since April 2018. The 4-1 Champions League defeat ended City’s record 26-game unbeaten run in European competition.
“We’re in a dark place,” midfielder Bernardo Silva acknowledged, though Guardiola has countered this assessment while embracing the “tough challenge” ahead. Victory would briefly return the champions to the Premier League summit, pending Liverpool’s evening clash with Aston Villa.
The hosts enter Saturday’s match following consecutive losses to Liverpool in cup and league competition. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler saw his side slip to eighth place despite a spirited performance at Anfield that saw them take the lead through Ferdi Kadioglu’s first goal for the club.
Team News:
Brighton’s injury list includes Solly March (ACL), James Milner and Adam Webster (thigh), while Lewis Dunk (calf) and Yankuba Minteh (muscle) face late fitness tests. Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley could return from ankle injuries.
City continue without Rodri (ACL) and Oscar Bobb (leg fracture), while Ruben Dias, John Stones, and Jack Grealish remain doubtful. Kevin De Bruyne, recently returned from a nine-game absence, is expected to feature from the bench as he builds fitness.
Probable Lineups:
Brighton (4-4-2): Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Mitoma; Rutter, Welbeck
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Savinho, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Historical Context:
City have dominated this fixture historically, collecting 37 points from a possible 42 against Brighton in the Premier League (W12 D1 L1). However, Brighton remain unbeaten in five home matches this season, their best start to a top-flight campaign since 1982-83.
The match kicks off at 3 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET) at the Amex Stadium, where both teams’ attacking philosophies and recent defensive vulnerabilities suggest potential for a high-scoring encounter.
