Last updated on August 31, 2025
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Brighton will make this competitive with their pressing and energy, but City’s quality in the final third should tell.
Image credit: Premier League USA
Manchester City arrive at the Amex on Sunday needing balance after a start that has swung between extremes.
A ruthless four-goal win at Wolves underlined their quality, but a flat home defeat to Spurs showed how fragile their rhythm can be this early in the season.
Brighton, meanwhile, are adjusting under Fabian Hürzeler.
The ideas are fresh, the energy is clear, but consistency is still a work in progress.
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This clash is set up as a test of control versus courage: City’s structure against Brighton’s willingness to press and play forward without fear.
Table of Contents
Match Basics
- Date & Time: Sunday, 31 August 2025, 14:00 WAT
- Venue: Amex Stadium, Brighton
Recent Results
- Manchester City: Wolves 0–4 City; City 0–2 Spurs
- Brighton: Brighton 1–1 Fulham; Aston Villa 2–1 Brighton
Form & Context
Manchester City’s season has opened with contrasting tones — a commanding 4–0 win away at Wolves followed by a blunt 2–0 defeat at home to Spurs.
The gap between those two performances sums up an early search for rhythm.
Brighton, under Fabian Hürzeler, are no longer in the “new manager” phase.
The foundations of his approach — energetic pressing, vertical passing, and compact spacing — are in place.
What remains is consistency: flashes of control against Fulham balanced out by lapses at Villa.
The Seagulls look well-drilled, but still vulnerable when stretched over 90 minutes.
Team News
Manchester City
Rayan Aït-Nouri is expected to be available for the match.
The Algeria manager confirmed the injury was not serious and that Aït-Nouri has rejoined full training, with City planning to include him on Sunday.
Savinho, the Brazilian winger, remains a doubt.
He was sidelined with an injury picked up in pre-season and could return before the end of August—but the Brighton game may still come too soon.
Mateo Kovačić continues his recovery from Achilles surgery and is out until at least September or October.
Rodri is progressing but remains monitored carefully after knee issues.
His involvement is uncertain although Pep Guardiola has praised his importance and consistency.
John Stones, Nathan Aké, and Manuel Akanji are all unavailable—out for several weeks—forcing Guardiola to make defensive adjustments.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Georginio Rutter is questionable. He missed the match against Everton after picking up a minor training issue earlier in the week, but remains an option if he passes pre-match fitness tests.
No further absentees have been officially confirmed for Brighton.
Tactical Focus
City’s defeat to Spurs exposed gaps in their structure.
New signings and shaky cohesion turned their build-up into errors.
Brighton press aggressively and break quickly, aiming to disrupt that rhythm.
Hürzeler has kept elements of De Zerbi’s build-up, switching between 4-2-2-2 and 4-3-3.
Forwards drop to draw out centre-backs, creating either wide 1v1s or midfield overloads.
Dunk anchors Brighton’s defence but is often isolated.
Haaland’s movement and City’s supply from crosses and set pieces make this the duel most likely to swing the scoreline.
Potential Line-ups
Brighton & Hove Albion (probable 4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Verbruggen
- Defence: Wieffer (right-back), Dunk, van Hecke (centre-backs), De Cuyper (left-back)
- Midfield (double pivot): Ayari, Baleba
- Attacking trio: Mitoma (left), O’Riley (central), Minteh (right)
- Striker: Welbeck
Alternative possibility: Hinshelwood may feature in midfield or full-back roles if the coach opts for rotation and if Rutter remains unfit.
Manchester City (predicted 4-1-4-1 / 4-1-X-1)
- Goalkeeper: James Trafford (expected starter after impressing vs Wolves)
- Defence: Likely includes Matheus Nunes at right-back (for his pace to counter Mitoma), with Dias and Stones anchoring the centre, and likely Aït-Nouri or stone Ake on the left
- Midfield: Expect a pragmatic setup—Nico González, Reijnders, and Bernardo Silva shaping the center. Foden and Cherki are options depending on rotation, but Guardiola may favour experience here
- Attack: Haaland leads the line.
What Will Decide It
Brighton will make this competitive with their pressing and energy, but City’s quality in the final third should tell.
