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Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion: Key stats and talking points

Top-flight leaders Manchester City were given an almighty scare at home by third-placed Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday but they have won their past 10 league games on Halloween.

After making a combined 16 changes to their starting line-ups in midweek, which City won on penalties, both sides will be back to full strength for Saturday's rematch in the league (15:00 GMT).

Moving on from Pep Guardiola was never likely to be easy for Manchester City but their status as league leaders and Carabao Cup quarter-finalists shows they remain an excellent side.

Nonetheless, City's 100% winning league record this season was ended by Aston Villa last Saturday and they were rattled by visitors Brighton in midweek before winning a penalty shootout.

One weakness of Enzo Maresca's City is that they can be open in midfield and invite pressure. They have faced nine shots from counter-attacks across their past five games in all competitions, compared to five in their first nine fixtures.

While just one counter-attack has led to a goal, City have followed a run of five clean sheets in six matches by conceding 11 times in five subsequent outings.

Only five teams in Europe's five biggest leagues have a worse recent defensive record in all competitions over that period.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler felt Manchester City "had the luck" during Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie, adding: "We have a great chance on Saturday to take revenge."

He has elected to keep his squad in the north-west in-between successive visits to the Etihad Stadium, which come amid a sequence of five away matches in a row. Brighton are winless from the first three, each in a different competition.

Albion, though, remain the league's top scorers and a point this weekend would give them their highest tally after nine games of a top-flight season.

They are unbeaten in four league matches against Manchester City, including back-to-back draws at the Etihad, but have never won away in this fixture in 16 attempts.

It's the most times Brighton have faced a league opponent away without ever winning, as well as being Manchester City's longest unbeaten home record against a team without ever losing.

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