Manchester City host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, four days after defeating the Seagulls on penalties in the fourth round of the League Cup. The Premier League leaders twice came from behind in a 2-2 draw before goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli made two decisive saves in the shootout.

Brighton, third in the table, will seek revenge in the league, although City remain top on goal difference after Arsenal’s third consecutive victory brought the champions level on points. Brighton are five points behind.

The result ended a difficult sequence for Enzo Maresca’s side, whose perfect start of seven wins from seven league matches was halted by a 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa at Villa Park last weekend. Defensive concerns remain, with City conceding 11 goals in their past five matches in all competitions and at least twice in three of those games. They have not gone six successive matches without a clean sheet since January-February 2025.

City’s home record offers encouragement. They have lost only one of their past 22 Premier League matches at the Etihad, winning 18 and drawing three, and have never lost to Brighton there in 18 meetings, with 14 victories and four draws.

Brighton have not won in their past three matches in three different competitions since beating Crystal Palace 5-0 almost two weeks ago. They had not previously endured four games without a victory since January-February, when the run lasted six matches.

Fabian Hurzeler said he was “disappointed” by the two “unlucky” goals Brighton conceded in midweek. After the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool last weekend, he said his players had been the only side “trying to create and win”, despite recording just one shot on target from 17 attempts.

This will be Brighton’s fourth away match in 11 days. Both of their league defeats on the road have come against Liverpool and Chelsea, while they have lost four of their past six away league games. Their 23 goals are the most in the Premier League, and they drew on their last two league visits to the Etihad, but have taken only two points from a possible 27 there as a Premier League club.

Team news

Antoine Semenyo is Manchester City’s only confirmed absentee with a knee injury. Matheus Nunes, who missed the last two matches with an unspecified muscle problem, is doubtful.

Gianluigi Donnarumma will return in goal despite Rulli’s League Cup heroics. Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson and Erling Haaland are also expected to return after being rested. Ayyoub Bouaddi is pushing for a start, which could move Enzo Fernandez forward and leave Rayan Cherki out; Cherki has played 13 of City’s 14 matches this season.

Brighton remain without Kaoru Mitoma, Femi Azeez and Pascal Struijk (thigh), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Stefanos Tzimas (knee) and Zadok Yohanna (knock). Ferdi Kadioglu and Chema Andres should return from hip problems, while Charalampos Kostoulas, the club’s leading scorer with five goals, is expected to replace Georginio Rutter. Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer are likely to start on the bench.

Predicted line-ups

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Bouaddi; Foden, Fernandez, Doku; Haaland.

Brighton: Verbruggen; Kadioglu, Dunk, Vuskovic, Boscagli; Gross, Andres; Gomez, Ayari, De Cuyper; Kostoulas.

Both teams have scored in 10 of the past 12 meetings in all competitions, with at least four goals in six. Brighton can exploit City’s defensive weakness, but the prediction is for a narrow Sky Blues win in a five-goal match.

Betting tips: City to win and over 2.5 goals (1.86); City to win and Haaland to score (2.10); Rayan Cherki to score or assist (1.70).

Manchester City Premier League form: VVVVVD. All competitions: VDVVDN. Brighton Premier League form: NVVVVD. All competitions: VVVNDN.