Venue: Etihad Stadium
Local Kick-off Time: Oct 31, 2026 3.00pm
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Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Manchester City
Form & Tactical Outlook:
For the second time in four days, Premier League leaders Manchester City host third-placed Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium. In Wednesday's EFL Cup fourth-round tie, a heavily-rotated City side came from behind twice in a 2-2 draw before securing progression via a penalty shootout, where Geronimo Rulli made two crucial saves. Following their first league defeat of the season (2-1 at Aston Villa last weekend) that halted a seven-game winning start, Enzo Maresca's side now sit atop the table on goal difference as Arsenal pulled level on points. Defensive issues remain a concern, with City shipping 11 goals across their last five matches in all competitions and conceding at least twice in three of them. Failing to keep a clean sheet on Saturday would match their six-game run without a shutout between January and February 2025. However, City have lost only one of their last 22 Premier League home fixtures (W18 D3) and have never lost at home to Brighton in 18 competitive meetings (W14 D4).
Team News:
Antoine Semenyo (knee) is City's only confirmed absentee through injury, while Matheus Nunes remains doubtful after missing the last two fixtures with an unspecified muscle issue. Maresca confirmed Gianluigi Donnarumma will return in goal ahead of Rulli, with captain Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson, and Erling Haaland all set to be recalled after being rested midweek. Teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is pushing for a start; his inclusion could push Enzo Fernandez into a more advanced role at the expense of Rayan Cherki, who has featured in 13 of City's 14 fixtures this season.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Form & Tactical Outlook:
Brighton enter Saturday's encounter winless in their last three matches across three competitions since beating Crystal Palace 5-0 nearly two weeks ago. Fabian Hurzeler's men remain third in the Premier League, five points behind City, and lead the division in scoring with 23 goals. Saturday marks the fourth consecutive away match in an 11-day period for the Seagulls, who have suffered both of their Premier League defeats this term on the road (against Liverpool and Chelsea) and have lost four of their last six top-flight away games. Historically, Brighton have taken just two points from a possible 27 at the Etihad Stadium as a Premier League club, their worst record at any ground in the division, though they did draw their last two league trips to Manchester.
Team News:
Kaoru Mitoma, Femi Azeez, Pascal Struijk (all thigh), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Stefanos Tzimas (knee), and Zadok Yohanna (knock) remain sidelined. Ferdi Kadioglu and Chema Andres are expected to return from hip issues that kept them out midweek, with Kadioglu in line to start at right-back and Andres potentially partnering Pascal Gross in central midfield. Team top-scorer Charalampos Kostoulas (five goals) was rested in the EFL Cup and is set to replace Georginio Rutter up front, while Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer are fit to be named on the bench after recovering from their respective injuries.
