In this interrupted Premier League season it is Manchester City’s away form which has cost them a shot at the title.
Manchester City have had a poor run of away form – suffering defeats in their last three away Premier League fixtures. In fact they have not won on their League travels since February.
To find a time when City scored more than one goal away from home then you have to go back even further to January. That seems almost a lifetime ago.
The struggles on their travels have led to Pep Guardiola having his worst run of away form since becoming a manager. So, is this the game where fortune changes?
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City are likely to field another heavily rotated team as they search for a way to keep the team as fresh as possible for the remaining Cup competitions. Pep will know that in the League games he has to acquire just another point to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Even a heavily rotated City side should be too strong for Brighton, who were defeated by the Champions in mid week.
City will be without Sergio Aguero who underwent knee surgery in Barcelona and Ben Mendy who continues to recover from what is described as ‘muscle fatigue’. Otherwise there is a strong selection to choose from, supplemented by youth players Tommy Doyle and Jaden Braaf.
There is hope amongst the City fans that Guardiola will use these remaining League games to provide experience for youth players, but there is not much evidence of this so far beyond late run outs.
It is most likely Guardiola will go strong rather than rely upon youth. Although the high performing David Silva may well be rested, possibly alongside Kevin de Bruyne.
This will be another game for Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva to stake their claims.
A win here allows City to really rest players in the remaining League fixtures and that may give us the greatest hope in the challenges to come.
Predicted Starting XI
Ederson
Zinchenko, Laporte, Stones, Cancelo
Gundogan, Bernardo, Foden
Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez