The kids got us through on Wednesday, now the big guns are back. Our Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton for Saturday’s Premier League rematch has Erling Haaland, Gianluigi Donnarumma and three more rested regulars straight back in, with up to eight changes from the side that won the shootout.
City host Brighton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 31 October, with kick-off at 3pm UK time. It is the second meeting between the clubs in four days, and this one matters a lot more: first plays third, with City top on goal difference from Arsenal, both on 21 points, and the Seagulls five points back on 16.
Enzo Maresca rotated heavily for the Carabao Cup tie, and City needed penalties to get past Brighton after a 2-2 draw, as we covered in our report on Rulli’s shootout heroics. Sports Mole expect him to go strong again for the league, and so do we.
Who returns for the Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton?
Maresca rested five of his best players for the cup tie: Haaland, Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Elliot Anderson. None of them were injured, and all five are set for a recall after a three-day break.
The goalkeeping debate is already settled. Gerónimo Rulli saved Brighton’s last two penalties on Wednesday, but Maresca made his call straight after the game. “He is working well but Rulli knows exactly his role, there is no doubt about that. Saturday it will be Gigio plus 10,” the City boss said, as we reported in Maresca’s Donnarumma verdict.
Maresca also left the door open for some of the midweek starters. “Some of them are not playing many minutes and it is important that when we need them they are ready and tonight they were all ready,” he told the Manchester Evening News after the shootout.
Man City injury news before Brighton
The injury list is short. Antoine Semenyo (knee) is the only confirmed absentee and is facing around eight weeks out, with Sports Mole pencilling in a return against Hull City on 19 December.
Matheus Nunes is a major doubt with a muscle problem that has kept him out of the last two games, so he is not in our XI. Iliman Ndiaye’s cramp at Villa Park was nothing serious, and he was an unused substitute on Wednesday. City have nobody suspended. The full picture, including return dates, is in our Man City injury list for Brighton, and Maresca’s Friday press conference should bring an update on Nunes.
Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton (4-2-3-1)
Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol, Anderson, Bouaddi, Foden, Fernandez, Doku, Haaland
Gianluigi Donnarumma: “Gigio plus 10”
Donnarumma watched the shootout from the stands, and now he walks straight back in. The Italian has made several errors in recent weeks, the costliest at Villa Park, so Maresca’s public backing is a big show of faith. A clean, calm afternoon against the league’s top scorers is exactly what he needs.
Abdukodir Khusanov: Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton right-back
With Nunes still doubtful, Abdukodir Khusanov looks the man at right-back. He came off the bench for Rico Lewis in midweek, so he has had a light week. Lewis started on Wednesday and is the alternative if Maresca wants more control on the ball.
Ruben Dias: the captain is back
Dias was one of the five rested on Wednesday and returns to the heart of the defence. City have conceded 11 goals across their last five games in all competitions, so the skipper’s organisation is badly needed. Brighton have 23 league goals, the most in the division.
Marc Guehi: keeping his place in the Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton
Guehi captained the young side on Wednesday, but Sports Mole still have him partnering Dias. Maresca singled him out afterwards: “Marc, the captain after two complicated games, I think he was very good.” Vitor Reis scored his first City goal in midweek and pushes him hard, though.
Josko Gvardiol: fresh legs at left-back
Gvardiol sat out the cup tie and comes back in on the left of the back four. Nico O’Reilly started there on Wednesday and Rayan Aït-Nouri got 45 minutes, so Gvardiol is the obvious pick for a game of this size.
Elliot Anderson: Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton midfield anchor
Anderson was the fifth of the rested regulars and slots straight back into the base of midfield. He gives City the legs and the bite they lacked for long spells on Wednesday, when Brighton had 17 shots to our 13.
Ayyoub Bouaddi: the teenager keeps knocking
Bouaddi has made a real impression whenever he has been given a chance, and Sports Mole have him alongside Anderson. He was taken off at half-time in the cup tie, so 45 minutes should leave him fresh enough. It is a bold call, but one I like.
Phil Foden: Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton on the right
Foden played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday, scored the first penalty and was one of City’s best players. He could still keep his place on the right side of the attack. On his current form, I would not leave him out.
Enzo Fernandez: pushed into the No.10 role
Picking Bouaddi could see Enzo Fernandez move into the advanced central role. He came off the bench and scored his penalty in midweek, so he is sharp. The catch is who makes way for him.
Jeremy Doku: Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton left wing
Doku came on around the hour mark on Wednesday and gave City far more drive, then scored his penalty. He is expected to replace Allan on the left. Allan started the cup tie and has just earned his first Brazil call-up, despite only 10 Premier League minutes.
Erling Haaland: the goal machine returns
Erling Haaland had a full rest in midweek and leads the line again. He has 13 goals in 11 appearances across all competitions this season, and seven goals in as many games against Brighton. That record alone makes him the man to watch on Saturday.
Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton: who drops to the bench?
The big call is Rayan Cherki. He has played more games than any other City player this season, 13 out of 14, and he was our best player on Wednesday, assisting Reis and scoring the winning penalty. If Sports Mole are right, he starts on the bench to make room for Fernandez in the No.10 role.
Cherki led the huddle and the comeback against Brighton, so leaving him out will feel harsh. Ndiaye, Lewis, Reis, O’Reilly and Mateo Kovačić should all be among the options from the bench.
Brighton team news
Fabian Hurzeler is expected to make wholesale changes of his own. Ferdi Kadioglu and Chema Andres missed the cup tie with hip problems but are expected to return, and Charalampos Kostoulas, who has a team-high five goals, should lead the line in place of Georginio Rutter.
Kaoru Mitoma, Femi Azeez, Pascal Struijk (all thigh), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Stefanos Tzimas (knee) and Zadok Yohanna (knock) all remain out. Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer are fit again but likely to start on the bench.
Man City vs Brighton prediction
The Etihad record is on our side. City have lost just one of their last 22 Premier League home games, and Brighton have never beaten us here in 18 attempts, picking up only two points from 27 as a Premier League side. They have drawn their last two league visits, though, and 10 of the last 12 meetings in all competitions have seen both teams score.
Sports Mole back City to win 3-2 in a five-goal thriller. I can see it going the same way: Brighton will create chances against our leaky back line, but with Haaland back and the regulars rested, I think the Blues have enough to stay top.
Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol, Anderson, Bouaddi, Foden, Fernandez, Doku, Haaland
