Brighton will host Man City at the Amex on Saturday in the Premier League matchday 9.
We look at a few stats to predict the match.
It has been a fascinating start to the season for Brighton under Graham Potter. The consistent performances from the team has seen them rise up to fourth position in the table and can very well make them dream for a European qualification spot finish. The Seagulls have failed to win their last three matches with back to back draws and they have to get back to winning ways tomorrow to stick around in the top four but a visiting Manchester City pose a huge challenge in that path.
Brighton have been really compact throughout the season. They have scored eight goals from an xG of 11.36. The Seagulls have underperformed this metric recently which brings back the ghosts from the past. To overcome City at home, Brighton need to get back to scoring goals which they have failed to do in their last two matches. They do possess a very robust defence, the second-best in the league conceding just five. Even if they have failed to score, they have managed to keep the opponents at bay.
Manchester City have been one of the best teams in the world under Pep Guardiola and nothing has changed since the start of the season. They have started the season on the front foot, comfortably sitting in third position with 17 points. They have won three of their last five matches and come into the match on the back of a 1-5 victory over Club Brugge in the UCL. Guardiola’s men would look to continue their winning streak with a win at Amex.
With the second-highest xG of 16.59, Manchester City has been one of the best-attacking teams in the league, scoring 16 goals. They have scored in four of their last five matches. In addition to their attack, Cityzens boast the best defence in the league as well which has just let in a total of three goals so far. When they have failed to score, they have stopped others from scoring and when they have conceded, they have found ways to come back and score goals.
While City loves to have possession and play passes around to create chances, Brighton totally cancels that out with the lowest ppda where they have not given the opponents a lot of time on the ball before they have tried to win it back. When not in possession, City has tried to do the same thing as well registering the third-lowest ppda in the league.
Two talented matches, two attacking playing styles, two of the best defences in the league- the match is certainly going to be a nail-biting one.
Adam Webster, Danny Welbeck and Steven Alzate all remain absent from the squad list due to injuries for the hosts while Ferran Torres is definitely out and John Stones remains a doubt for the visitors.
We predict a 1-2 win for Man City.
Predicted Lineups
Brighton(3-5-2) : Sanchez, Dunk, Duffy, Burn, Veltman, Gross, Bissouma, Lallana, Cucurella, Maupay, Trossard.
Man City(4-3-3) : Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodri, Silva, de Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Grealish.
