Brighton & Hove Albion will face Manchester City at the American Express Stadium for Round 29 of the Premier League on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 19:00 UTC.
Brighton & Hove Albion Form
Amid uncertainties surrounding the future of head coach Roberto De Zerbi and ongoing injury setbacks, Brighton's performance has declined since the start of the year. They are now playing catch-up in the race for European football next season, having secured only three wins in their last 13 Premier League matches in 2024. The team has struggled, failing to win any of their last four games, with their latest result being a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Burnley.
Despite securing a sixth-place finish in the previous campaign, they currently sit in 10th position in the table. They are trailing Manchester United and Newcastle United by six points with six games left to play.
The team is hopeful as they have four home matches out of their remaining six fixtures. They have had a strong record at the Amex Stadium, having lost only one of their last 15 home games in all competitions, which was against Arsenal in their most recent home game on April 6.
However, Brighton faces a tough challenge against Manchester City on Thursday, as they have lost 11 of their last 13 Premier League encounters with them. Despite this, Brighton has managed to secure four points in their last three home games against City, including a memorable 1-1 draw last season where Julio Enciso scored a remarkable long-range goal that was voted Goal of the Season.
Manchester City Form
Just three days following their agonizing Champions League elimination on penalties against Real Madrid, Manchester City clinched a spot in the FA Cup final for the second consecutive year, narrowly defeating Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Despite Chelsea's numerous missed opportunities, Manchester City, appearing fatigued, secured victory six minutes from the end when Bernardo Silva's shot deflected in at the near post, maintaining their pursuit of another domestic double and setting a new club record for unbeaten matches.
A Manchester derby FA Cup final looms on May 25, yet City must refocus on the Premier League title race. They currently sit third in the table after Arsenal and Liverpool both won over the weekend. Arsenal could extend their lead to four points with a win over Chelsea on Tuesday, but City will have the advantage of two games in hand.
Seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, Manchester City have enjoyed a record-breaking 42-game unbeaten streak at the Etihad Stadium across all competitions. However, they now face a run of four away league matches in their next five, starting with Thursday's clash against Brighton.
Interestingly, Manchester City's only two failures to defeat Brighton in the Premier League occurred in midweek fixtures at the Amex Stadium - a 3-2 loss in May 2021 (on a Tuesday) and a 1-1 draw in May 2023 (on a Wednesday).
Despite these setbacks, Guardiola's team approaches Thursday's match with confidence, boasting an impressive record of winning 17 of their last 19 midweek Premier League fixtures and earning 19 points from their last seven away games. Moreover, they have scored in all 13 of their top-flight meetings with Brighton, facing only Bournemouth (14 times) with a perfect scoring record.
Head to Head
Date
| Home Team
| Away Team
| Result
| Competition
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
October 23, 2021 | Brighton | Man City | 1-4 | Premier League |
April 21, 2022 | Man City | Brighton | 3-0 | Premier League |
October 22, 2022 | Man City | Brighton | 3-1 | Premier League |
May 25, 2023 | Brighton | Man City | 1-1 | Premier League |
October 21, 2023 | Man City | Brighton | 2-1 | Premier League |
Team News
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton continues to grapple with the absence of key players due to long-term injuries. Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma, and Jack Hinshelwood are still sidelined, while James Milner, Adam Webster, and Tariq Lamptey are not expected to return for Thursday's match due to various fitness issues.
Pervis Estupinan picked up an ankle injury during last week's draw with Burnley and is uncertain for the upcoming game. Additionally, Julio Enciso, Evan Ferguson, and Billy Gilmour are doubtful due to respective knocks. In case Estupinan is unavailable, Igor Julio or Valentin Barco, previously linked with Manchester City, could fill in at left-back. Upfront, Ansu Fati, who scored in the previous encounter against City, faces competition from Simon Adingra, Facundo Buonanotte, Adam Lallana, and Joao Pedro for a starting spot.
Manchester City
Manchester City is facing concerns regarding the fitness of their top scorer, Erling Haaland, who missed the FA Cup semi-final due to a lingering muscle issue. It's likely that Julian Alvarez will retain his position upfront in his absence.
Pep Guardiola is anticipated to rotate the squad where possible, considering the fatigue among some players. Despite admitting to needing a rest, Rodri may still be chosen to start in midfield. Bernardo Silva, who expressed discomfort in his left hamstring and right calf after the FA Cup semi-final, will undergo assessment before the match.
John Stones and Ruben Dias had their playing time managed in the previous fixture, each featuring for 45 minutes against Chelsea. However, they remain contenders to start against Brighton, along with Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, and Kevin De Bruyne, who have recovered from minor injuries.
Predicted Lineup
Brighton & Hove Albion possible lineup:
Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Igor; Gross, Baleba; Adingra, Lallana, Pedro; Welbeck
Manchester City possible lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Doku; Alvarez
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City Prediction:
Brighton has had ample time to recuperate and prepare for Thursday's crucial match, aiming to enhance their European aspirations. However, despite their efforts, they face a challenging task in containing the threat posed by title-contending Manchester City, who cannot afford to drop points at this crucial juncture of the season.
Expectations include goals, considering that in eight of the last 10 Premier League encounters between these teams, the net has bulged at least three times. Despite Brighton's recent struggles, City holds the upper hand in their head-to-head record and are seen as clear favorites, even if Erling Haaland remains unavailable, against a depleted Seagulls side.