Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City return to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night with a clear objective: close the gap on league leaders Arsenal and restore momentum.

Standing in their way are Brighton & Hove Albion – a side comfortably placed mid-table in the Premier League but still capable of unsettling even the most controlled opponents when rhythm and space align.

Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea felt like a missed opportunity for Manchester City, who took a deserved lead just before half-time through Tijjani Reijnders, smashing a powerful finish past Filip Jörgensen from a tight angle after sustained pressure.

Chelsea – under interim head coach Calum McFarlane following Enzo Maresca’s departure – grew in belief as the second half wore on. Pep Guardiola’s side lost control, decision-making faltered, and injuries at centre-back further destabilised them.

Deep into added time, Malo Gusto’s cross caused panic in the City box, and Enzo Fernandez forced the ball home after an initial attempt was repelled by Gianluigi Donnarumma. The draw leaves City six points behind Arsenal – a gap that is not decisive, but undeniably damaging.

Pep Guardiola’s team did not do enough to turn territorial dominance into decisive advantage. As Arsenal continue to accumulate points, margins for error are thinning. Victory over Brighton would at least apply immediate pressure before the Gunners host Liverpool.

Historically, the setting favours City; unbeaten in 15 home league matches against Brighton, and Wednesday fixtures have been particularly kind. City have won their last 22 Premier League matches played on a Wednesday – a competition record on a specific day.

Patterns, of course, do not guarantee outcomes, but Pep Guardiola has long been one to respect underlying trends when building rhythm across a season.

Brighton arrive having ended a brief winless run with a 2-0 victory over Burnley, and a rare win at the Etihad Stadium would draw them level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea. Defensive fragility away from home remains a concern for the Seagulls, conceding at least twice in each of their last three away league matches – a run not seen since the 2022/23 campaign.

Here is how we think Manchester City will line-up against Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton on a bitterly cold evening at the Etihad Stadium!

Predicted XI

For Manchester City, the primary concern lies at the back. Injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol against Chelsea have forced a rethink. Dias will be out of action for four to six weeks with a hamstring injury, while Josko Gvardiol will remain sidelined for months with a tibial fracture to his right leg – joining a lengthy absentee list.

In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to continue. Aside from his shot-stopping skills, his distribution will remain a key component in Manchester City’s build-up phase, particularly against a Brighton press that looks to force hurried decisions rather than sustained pressure.

Across the back line, Matheus Nunes should retain his place at right-back. His role is now well-defined: step inside during build-up, protect central spaces in defensive transition, and provide security rather than width.

The central pairing is likely to be Nathan Aké alongside Abdukodir Khusanov. The former, despite limited game-time, brings familiarity with Pep Guardiola’s positional demands, while Khusanov offers physical presence and recovery pace.

It is a pairing less inclined to aggressive stepping into midfield than Ruben Dias or Josko Gvardiol, which may see Manchester City protect central zones more conservatively, particularly against Brighton’s runners between the lines.

On the left flank, Nico O’Reilly’s inclusion offers balance. The academy graduate has shown maturity beyond his years, comfortably holding a conservative position while still stepping into midfield when the shape and situation demand it.

With Nico Gonzalez returning from a knock, Rodri may continue to anchor midfield. His return against Chelsea coincided with a noticeable increase in control. His positioning and ability to intercept and break down opposition play will be crucial in limiting Brighton’s ability to counter through the centre, especially when City commit numbers forward.

Ahead of him, the balance leans towards control. Tijjani Reijnders is expected to start, offering vertical running and late arrivals into the box. His goal against Chelsea underlined his value when City struggled to break lines with passing alone.

Phil Foden, meanwhile, continues to evolve into a complete midfielder, drifting wide or central as the structure shifts, without sacrificing work rate or positional discipline.

Rayan Cherki’s inclusion feels increasingly non-negotiable. His creativity between the lines has become central to Manchester City’s chance creation, but just as significant is his improved off-ball contribution. Pep Guardiola has consistently demanded greater defensive responsibility from his wide and attacking midfielders, and Cherki has responded.

Erling Haaland leads the line, still searching for a goal after three successive league starts without scoring. Another blank would mark the first time in his career he has gone four Premier League matches without finding the net.

Brighton’s recent defensive record suggests opportunities will come, and Manchester City’s approach is unlikely to change. The emphasis remains on chance volume rather than individual shot selection.

The main selection question in the attacking unit surrounds Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku. With the latter now fully fit, this feels like a natural point to reintroduce him from the start.

His directness offers a different problem for Brighton’s full-backs, particularly against a defence that has struggled in wide one-on-one situations away from home. Bernardo Silva’s influence remains significant, but rotation here aligns with both physical management and tactical variation.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly; Rodri, Reijnders, Foden; Cherki, Haaland, Doku.

Substitutes: Trafford, Lewis, Alleyne, Mfuni, Nico, Gray, Bernardo, McAidoo, R. Heskey.