Manchester City face Brighton in a blockbuster showdown at the top of the Premier League.
Victory will keep Man City top of the table until at least Sunday evening, whilst Brighton can stay third and move to within two points of City with a win.
Team News
Matheus Nunes is a doubt for Man City after he failed to recover from a groin injury in time to feature in their midweek Carabao Cup win over Brighton on penalties in the fourth round.
Antoine Semenyo remains absent with a knee injury.
Brighton will welcome Chema Andres and Ferdi Kadioglu back into contention after the pair missed the cup tie due to hip injuries.
Charalampos Kostoulas was rested in that fixture but will be involved in this match.
Zadok Yohanna (unspecified), Pascal Struijk (thigh), Stefanos Tzimas (knee), Femi Azeez, Kaoru Mitoma (both hamstring) and Evan Ferguson (ankle) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Brighton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 31 October at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City are winless in their last four league meetings against Brighton (D2, L2).
- Brighton are winless in nine previous Premier League visits to Man City (D2, L7).
- This is Man City’s first meeting against Brighton on Halloween in all competitions.
- Man City have kept a single clean sheet at home in the top flight this season (W4).
- Brighton have kept clean sheets in four of their last five league matches (W4, L1).
Prediction
Having rested several regulars for their cup clash in midweek, City should be much stronger with Josko Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson and Erling Haaland amongst those returning, but their defence is still vulnerable as Brighton twice exposed efficiently on Wednesday evening.
Brighton though will have some of their regulars back in contention but their priority has to be on the defensive tightness once in front, particularly because they could of won the cup tie if they hadn’t switched off on two separate occasions which they can’t afford to do with Haaland back for City.
I am therefore expecting a tough test given Brighton’s recent form against City and both teams will of sussed each other out a bit during their cup clash, but there are some returning regulars for this clash which is must win for Brighton if want to cut the gap at the summit.
City’s depth and quality though might just be the difference here but it will be a tough battle nevertheless.
Prediction: Man City 2-1 Brighton
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