Premier League: Manchester City Plot a Top 4 Return

Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Manchester City will likely cede the Premier League title to Liverpool this season. However, all is not lost for Pep Guardiola’s side, as they can secure a Top 4 berth and maybe win silverware in the FA Cup.

The Sky Blues are fifth in the English top-flight standings with 47 points, trailing only two points against fourth-seeded Chelsea. Manchester City are coming off a 1-0 league loss against Nottingham Forest, and they aim to return to the win column when they host Brighton at the Etihad Stadium this Saturday.

Brighton are also making a run for a Top 4 spot. Fabian Hurzeler’s men are seventh in the standings with 46 points, and they’re coming off a 2-1 win against Fulham to extend their winning streak to four matches.

The Seagulls defeated the Sky Blues the last time these two teams met. Will lightning strike twice for the visitors or will the hosts get one back?

 

Talking Points

Manchester City need healthy bodies

Pep Guardiola faces a lineup dilemma since he doesn’t have a full squad again. Nathan Ake, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Rodri, and Oscar Bobb remain long-term absentees. Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne, Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovacic, and Rico Lewis aim to start after coming off the bench against Nottingham Forest. Guardiola has had to deal with an injury crisis for the first time in a long while.

Manchester City will likely stick with the back four of Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Matheus Nunes, with Erling Haaland in the final third. All eyes are on the Norwegian striker, one of the frontrunners for the Golden Boot award, as he didn’t find the back of the net last time out.

The Sky Blues have alternated wins and losses in their last six league games. They are also eliminated from the Champions League after losing to Real Madrid in the Round of 16. With the Premier League title looking increasingly out of reach, their best chance of winning a trophy this season is via the FA Cup. Manchester City must be more consistent in the upcoming weeks to close out their 2024-25 campaign on a high note.

 

Brighton’s offence is humming

An embarrassing 7-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest must’ve lit a fire under Brighton, as Fabian Hurzeler’s men won four consecutive league games and are also through to the FA Cup quarter-finals. The Seagulls plundered 11 goals and conceded only twice during their four-game winning streak to put them back in contention for a European football berth.

Eight players found the back of the net during this run. Joao Pedro notched three goals, and Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh had two goals. Georginio Rutter, Jack Hinshelwood, Danny Welbeck, and Jan Paul van Hecke had one goal each.

Pedro is now the team’s leading scorer and playmaker with eight league goals and six assists, so he’ll be the one to watch if you’re Manchester City. The Brazilian striker came up clutch last weekend by converting the winning penalty kick against Fulham during stoppage time.

 

History

Manchester City and Brighton will meet for the second time this season. Brighton won 2-1 in the reverse fixture at the AMEX Stadium last November, as Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley nullified Erling Haaland’s 23^rd-minute goal late in the second half. The Seagulls aim to complete their first league double over the Sky Blues.

Brighton are the most in-form team in the English top-flight with four straight victories – their longest winning run since April 2017 in the Championship (W5) and joint-longest ever in the Premier League (also W4 from April to May 1981). Both of their Premier League wins over Manchester City have been from behind.

However, Manchester City have never lost a league home match against Brighton (W12, D2), including a 10-game winning streak.

 

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2025 odds back the hosts to take three points this weekend. Manchester City are 1.67 favourites to win, whereas Brighton are 4.11 underdogs, and a draw is pegged at 3.87 in the 1X2 market.

Both teams are expected to create new Premier League 2025 highlights this Saturday, with the Sky Blues likely to score more goals. Besides our recommended bet, SBOTOP bettors can also go for alternatives like Over 3.00 at 1.75, Over 3.25 at 1.99, Over 3.50 at 2.21, and even Total Goals 4-6 at 2.45.

However, if you fancy the Seagulls’ chances to complete a league double over the Sky Blues, check out the Correct Score of 2-1 in their favour – the result of the reverse fixture – with its mouthwatering 15.00 offer.

   

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