📊 Form Guide

Manchester City

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Manchester City prepare for this fixture coming off the back of a 1-1 Premier League drawn game against Chelsea.

In that game, Manchester City managed 58% possession and 14 shots on goal with 3 of them on target. The only player to score for Manchester City was Tijjani Reijnders (42'). On the other side, Chelsea got 8 attempts on goal with 4 on target. Enzo Fernández (94') was the scorer for Chelsea.

Their most recent results show that there has been much resilience in the Manchester City rearguard. Manchester City have kept it tight, seeing the tally of goals that have gone in at their end during their past six outings standing at 2.

Brighton & Hove Albion

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Brighton will come into the meeting after a 2-0 Premier League win to beat Burnley in their previous outing.

In that match, Brighton & Hove Albion managed 60% possession and 15 attempts at goal with 4 of them on target. For Brighton & Hove Albion, the goalscorers were Georginio Rutter (29') and Yasin Ayari (47'). On the other side, Burnley had 5 shots at goal with 3 on target.

Fabian Hürzeler's Brighton & Hove Albion have fired home 6 times throughout their previous 6 matches. The overall goals that they have conceded during those same clashes adds up to 7.

🤜🤛 Head to head

Looking at the statistics for their head to head meetings stretching back to 24/05/2023, there has been little between the sides with Manchester City winning 2 of those games, Brighton 2 and 2 being drawn in normal time.

A sum of 19 goals were scored between the two sides during those clashes, with 11 for The Citizens and 8 coming from The Seagulls. The average number of goals per game works out to 3.17.

The previous league encounter between the two was Premier League match day 3 on 31/08/2025 when it ended Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Manchester City.

On that day, Brighton & Hove Albion managed 36% possession and 12 shots on goal with 7 on target. The goals were scored by James Milner (67') and Brajan Gruda (89').

Manchester City got 12 shots at goal with 3 of them on target. Erling Haaland (34') scored.

The match was refereed by Darren England.

📰 Team News: Manchester City

Oscar Bobb (Hamstring injury), John Stones (Thigh problems), Rúben Dias (Hamstring injury), Mateo Kovacic (Ankle injury) and Josko Gvardiol (Broken tibia) won’t be available for Manchester City gaffer Pep Guardiola.

In all likelihood, The Citizens will possibly use the 4-3-2-1 system with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nathan Ake, Nico O'Reilly, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland.

ℹ️ Team News: Brighton

Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler has to choose from a squad that has some fitness concerns. Yankuba Minteh (Hamstring injury), Mats Wieffer (Toe injury), Solly March (Fitness), Adam Webster (Cruciate ligament injury) and Stefanos Tzimas (Cruciate ligament tear) miss out here.

We’re of the thinking that The Seagulls seem most likely to play in a 4-2-3-1 lineup, starting Bart Verbruggen, Joel Veltman, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood, Yasin Ayari, Diego Gomez, Georginio Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck.

🔮 Prediction

We feel that Brighton & Hove Albion have it within them to put one past this Manchester City lineup, although it may not be enough to avoid a loss.

We can see a 2-1 advantage for Manchester City by the time that the referee blows the final whistle. Definitely a tough call.

Renata Leite, 19:01 07/01/2026