Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City FC, English Premier League 2024-25, Today Match Prediction

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Brighton were set to move into third last week, courtesy to Kadioglu’s 16 yard screamer, but instead occupy 8th spot because of 2 quick Liverpool goals. For 70 minutes of last week’s game at Anfield, murmurs were heard of Brighton entering the title race conversation. The youngest manager at 31 to grace the Premier League, Fabian Hurzeler is doing an incredible job and has the Seagulls dreaming even more. 

Brighton have had more different goalscorers than any other side in the Premier League this season (9). They have netted roughly 3 goals more than expected. This front footed approach should make for quite the spectacle at the Amex on Saturday. 

Man City lost in the Premier League. That is good enough to make headlines because of how rare it is. This was the first time since 6th December 2023. They hadn’t lost successive matches since September 2023. To add to those woes, defeat against Sporting Lisbon means it was only the second time they have lost 3 on the bounce in a single season. 

Amorim’s thrashing of City was the heaviest defeat City have had to endure since September 2020. The tussles between incoming manager Ruben Amorim and Pep Guardiola will surely be entertaining, but for now City have to deal with their injuries and, most importantly Brighton. 

Head-to-Head Record : Both teams have played each other 25 times. The home side has won on 4 occasions. The reigning champions won 17 with 4 games ending in a draw.

Current Standings : Brighton are currently in 8th spot on 16 points. Man City sit in second, 2 points shy of Liverpool with 23.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Brighton & Hove Albion Preview

The Seagulls have conceded more Premier League goals against Man City than they have against any other opponent (40), failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their 14 such matches. Brighton are unbeaten in their 5 Premier League home games so far this season (W2, D3) - only in 1982-83 have they had a longer run without a home defeat from the start of a top-flight campaign (7). 

Only Leicester City (55%) have converted a higher share of their big chances in the Premier League this season than Brighton (46% - 12/26). We know Brighton have the firepower to get on the scoresheet. But it’s usually protecting leads that are troublesome for the Seagulls. 

They have now dropped 10 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, only 4 fewer than they did in the whole of 2023-24. Indeed, both of the Seagulls’ defeats this term have come after they’ve taken the lead (2-4 vs Chelsea, 1-2 vs Liverpool).

Brighton’s Danny Welbeck has either scored (3) or assisted (1) a goal in each of his last 4 Premier League games - he’s never registered a goal involvement in 5 consecutive matches in the competition before. The ex-Manchester United man will want to inflict hurt as he previously did during his time up north. 

Injury list - Matt O’Riley, Joao Pedro, Solly March, James Milner, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk and Yakumba Minteh are all ruled out. 

Brighton Probable Starting Lineup -  Verbruggen (GK), Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan (DEF), Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Ayari, Mitoma (MID), Welbeck, Rutter (FWD).

Manchester City FC Preview

The Cityzens have taken 37 points from 42 available against Brighton in the Premier League (W12, D1, L1), with their only dropped points coming at the Amex Stadium (2-3 in May 2021, 1-1 in May 2023). Unfortunately for Man City dark clouds loom large. Their 32-game unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end at Bournemouth last time out. 

Only in October 2023, December 2018 and December 2016, have they lost  consecutive league games under Pep Guardiola. City have also conceded the first goal in 5 of their 10 Premier League games so far this season - it’s the first time they’ve done so in as many as half of their opening 10 games in a campaign since 2006-07 (also 5). 

73% of Man City’s goals have come in the first half (8/11), the highest share in the division this term. Four of these have come in the opening 15 minutes - only Ipswich and West Ham (5) have conceded more, while it’s the highest proportion for any side (36%).

Man City’s Phil Foden has scored more Premier League goals against Brighton than he has against any other opponent, netting eight goals in just seven starts against the Seagulls. However, Foden has failed to score in any of his seven Premier League games this term, last having a longer run of appearances without a league goal between May 2019 and March 2020 (15).

Injury list - Oscar Bobb, Rodri, Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and John Stoned are all receiving treatment. 

Man City Probable Starting Lineup -  Ederson (GK), Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol (DEF), Kovacic, Foden, Silva, Gundogan, Nunes (MID), Haaland (FWD).

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs MANCHESTER CITY FC
Winning Prediction

Knowing how good Brighton are going forward, we know they will score. The question that needs addressing is whether they can hold on to a lead. Man City will be themselves. If they lose this one, they go straight into the record books and down the table. 

Injuries have been a massive talking point for Pep, and this would be a great time for every team to exploit City at their most vulnerable. The Spaniard will be looking forward to returning to winning ways with a much needed International break cropping up next week. 

We Predict a Draw (2-2)

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