City need to get back to winning ways

Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City Preview

Pep Guardiola’s side need to get back to winning ways after a difficult encounter against Spurs last time out.

Author | Macca

Stadium | Amex Stadium

Brighton beat City last season

Both reeling from 2-0 defeats in the second gameweek of the 2025-26 Premier League season, Brighton and City have mistakes to rectify heading into Sunday's battle. 

Last weekend, Man City were unable to shake the Tottenham Hotspur Etihad hoodoo, as Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha fired the Lilywhites to a statement 2-0 victory.

Who could be key for City in this match?

Many supporters see Matheus Nunes as an “almost certain” starter. The Portugal international has yet to begin a league match for Pep Guardiola’s side this season, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4-0 opening victory against his former club Wolves and remaining on the bench during that 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham last weekend.

Signed by City as a midfielder in 2023, Nunes has been used as a makeshift right-back since the start of the year and is now competing with Rico Lewis for a place in defence.

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City’s high defensive line, often criticised for lacking pace, regularly pushes up at the last moment to catch opponents offside, but Spurs exposed the tactic last weekend by attacking effectively down both flanks.

Lineup prediction from the fans

One City supporter said: “Perhaps it’s because the defence looks a bit slower. Either way, I think Nunes will start this one. His pace will be crucial against the trickiness of Mitoma. He has always caused City a lot of problems.”

Another fan added: “I am expecting changes. I think we will see a more pragmatic side than the one that faced Spurs. I don’t think Cherki will be starting.”

A closer look at the opposition

Brighton were one of the most fluid sides in the Premier League last season, using six different formations over the course of the campaign.

4-2-3-1 was the most common, with former England and Manchester United man Danny Welbeck leading the line and a varied supporting cast behind him. They have maintained a similar approach to that this season.

Like City, their start to the season has been mixed. They had the honour of being the first competitive visitors to Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium home last weekend, but they were unable to spoil the Toffees party, succumbing to goals from Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner in a 2-0 loss to David Moyes's men.

However, Fabian Hurzeler's side restored a slice of parity in the EFL Cup, mercilessly putting six past Oxford United without reply to cruise into the third round.