Aiming to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season last weekend, Manchester City host a Brighton side who were also on the end of an away defeat in the last round for the second time this week.
Match News and Current Form
A trip to Aston Villa proved to be the first stumbling block of the season for City, who saw their winning seven-game start ended by a 2-1 defeat in the Midlands. Enzo Maresca’s men shouldn’t be disheartened though as they still have more points after eight rounds than they did in each of the eight seasons prior, and maintaining that at home seems like a near certainty. The Cityzens have lost just one of their last 22 home league games (W18, D3), while they incredibly haven’t been beaten in a Saturday-held Premier League match they hosted in this kick-off slot since October 2021!
It’s a second visit to one of the traditional ‘big six’ in as many weeks for Brighton, who went down 2-0 against Liverpool last weekend. That result brought an abrupt halt to an eight-game unbeaten run prior (W6, D2), but with the Seagulls riding high in third place pre-round on 16 points, they can still lay claim to making their joint-best start to a season in Premier League history. A warning sign comes in the fact that both their defeats in the top flight this term came away to sides alongside them in the top five, while four defeats from their last six away league games (W2) are another negative omen for Brighton to contend with.
Head-to-Head History
These sides met in the Carabao Cup in midweek, but Brighton are unbeaten in four Premier League meetings (W2, D2). That’s about as good as it’s got in this match-up for the Seagulls, who have never won an away league H2H before (D4, L11).
Hot Stats and Streaks
City have been fouled 121 times in the Premier League this season, only Arsenal (122) have been fouled more pre-round.
City’s four home league matches this term averaged 2.5 first-half goals per game.
None of Brighton’s last five league games saw both teams score.
Brighton have conceded six of their seven league goals this season before half-time.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
City’s Enzo Fernández has scored a joint-career high three goals against Brighton, all three of which came in home games, while two served as game openers. Diego Gómez has won more tackles than any other Brighton player in the Premier League this season (10) but could make an early attacking impact here having scored his last three top-flight goals inside the opening 30 minutes.
City hope to have Matheus Nunes available here, while Brighton’s Chema Andrés limped off at Anfield.
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Betting Analysis
Brighton may be a surprise package this season, but their away league H2H record is dismal, so City to win and both teams to score could be the best approach to take.
Author: Chris Wilson