Manchester City vs Brighton Predictions

• Manchester City have won each of their last 13 home league games
• Both teams have scored in all eight of Brighton’s league fixtures this season
• Both teams have scored in four of the last five meetings between the pair

Citizens can get their title defence back on track

Having suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats against Wolves and Arsenal, Manchester City will be desperate to get the show back on the road against Brighton.

The Citizens had won their opening six games, conceding only three goals during that period, but they have been found out on their last two away trips.

Crucially, however, the international break came at a perfect time for Pep Guardiola and he is able to welcome back influential trio John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Rodri, who returns from a three-game suspension.

City are a different beast with defensive protector Rodri in the starting line-up and his inclusion means they are expected to return to winning ways.

Since making his debut in the 19-20 campaign, Rodri has missed only 15 Premier League games, which includes recent outings against Wolves and Arsenal, and City have lost five of those fixtures.

But with the slick Spaniard dictating the midfield, City have lost only 19 of their 144 outings, which highlights how vital he has been to their success.

Kevin De Bruyne remains out but that didn’t halt them from winning their opening six games, which includes all three home outings this season with Newcastle, Fulham and Nottingham Forest.

In fact, Manchester City have won each of their last 13 home league games and they are often at their most dangerous following a setback.

The goals have dried up for Erling Haaland, who has failed to score in his last three City starts, although a brace for Norway in Cyprus last week may have refocused him.

Brighton, on the other hand, are also in need of a mood change after failing to win any of their last four matches in all competitions.

Sloppy Seagulls may be punished

The Seagulls have rightly been praised for their pretty football and positive tactics under Roberto De Zerbi, but they have been shipping goals all too freely.

Brighton snatched a 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool in their final league game before the international break but that came on the back of a 6-1 hiding at Aston Villa, who cut them open all too easily.

That means De Zerbi’s men have conceded 16 goals in eight league games and they still await their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Those defensive flaws are sure to be punished by a City side determined to get back to winning ways, although the visitors will pose their problems on the counter-attack.

Brighton are league’s leading scorers with 21 goals from eight outings, with both teams scoring on every occasion.

Both teams have also scored in eight of their last nine away league games, although they have gone on to lose five of those matches.

So City are taken to maintain their Etihad dominance in an entertaining affair and correct-score punters should opt for a 3-1 home win, which was the scoreline in this fixture last season.