Brighton face a daunting visit to Manchester City on Saturday where a number of records loom ominously over them.
Its 11 months since they last won an away game in the Premier League – away to Swansea on 14 November 2017 when they secured an important 1-0 victory. And its over four years since Manchester City last lost a 3pm Saturday kick off – when they lost 0-1 to Stoke on 30 August 2014.
So far this season Brighton occupy 13th place in the Premier League with a record of played 6, won 1, drawn 2 and Lost 3 – scoring 8 and conceding 11 in the process. Amusingly for Manchester City fans the solitary Brighton victory was against Manchester United.
But Brighton lost just 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield and narrowly lost to Spurs at Wembley. This is a side capable of giving top teams a good go.
Brighton’s indifferent results have not necessarily been related to the efforts the team has made. Some of the Brighton players such as Pascal Gross and Anthony Knockeart have played consistently well and Brighton fan forums are full of praise. Fans though have bemoaned how Brighton have not applied themselves consistently throughout a whole match. In their last match against Spurs, Brighton lost 2:1 but newspaper reports detailed their excellent second half performance. However those same reporters stated Brighton had gone missing in the first half.
In preparation for the Manchester City game, Brighton have confirmed Pascal Gross is likely to undergo a late fitness test and may well not be able to take part. Losing an influential player may effect the game plan for Brighton Manager Chris Hughton but they are heading to the Etihad with nothing to lose. There is no expectation upon them to secure a result.
Manchester City will have one eye firmly on a difficult looking Champions League away game on Tuesday at Hoffenheim. Its imperative City secure a win in that game in order to progress out of the group so Guardiola may well take the opportunity to keep some of his squad fresh by resting some key players against Brighton.
I consider a quick start and playing with speed and intensity will help City breeze past Brighton on Saturday but this may well depend upon unleashing some of our quickest players. I believe Sterling and Sane should be encouraged to fly along the wings and we should start the two Silvas, David and Bernardo in the centre of midfield. The proviso being that Foden should come on as soon as the game is in control.
Defence should be Kompany and Laporte with Walker and Delph as fullbacks. This is an ideal game for the skill and guile of Aguero. Knitting the defenve and midfield should be Fernandinho.
City will need to strike fast and early to settle their nerves and undermine any plans Brighton may have. But Brighton are a quick and skilful side who have the ability to catch City on the break. The game management for City will need to be on point throughout.
Saturday’s fixture looks like a tricky match and will be a good test for the mettle the squad have this season. To put it bluntly anything less than a home win against Brighton significantly undermines any chance of title success.
I believe City will win the game 2-1 but us fans may be in for a nervy match.
How I think City will line up:
Goalkeeper Emerson
Defenders Delph, Walker, Laporte, Kompany
Midfield Silva, Bernardo, Fernandinho
Attackers Sane, Sterling, Aguero