Manchester City v Brighton preview: Can the Seagulls gain immediate revenge?

Manchester City host Brighton on Saturday, just three days after knocking Fabian Hürzeler's side out of the Carabao Cup on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the Etihad.

Brighton left Manchester frustrated after creating more chances in the cup tie, finishing with 2.06 expected goals compared to City's 0.87, but ultimately losing the shootout.

Brighton remain third in the Premier League despite their recent 2-0 defeat to Liverpool and their first game without a goal. 

City, meanwhile, look to respond after Aston Villa ended their 100% league record last weekend.

Hürzeler said: "Success is the only revenge you can take."

The German felt Brighton's display deserved more: "My players did everything to win this game."

His side have the numbers to back up that confidence.

Brighton have scored 23 goals in eight Premier League matches this season while conceding just seven.

The Seagulls have the most clean sheets in the league.

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca expects another difficult encounter.

Maresca said: "They are in a brilliant moment. They are winning games. They are scoring goals."

He also expects Brighton's aggressive style to remain unchanged:” They always go front foot. They always go man-to-man, so they're going to be the same on Saturday."

Team News:

Several of City's biggest names missed Wednesday's meeting.

Erling Haaland, Rúben Dias, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Josko Gvardiol and Elliot Anderson were all rested for the cup tie and are expected to return on Saturday.

Maresca defended his decision to rotate:” I was happy with the way we planned the game with the rotation."

Haaland's return could be particularly significant.

The Norwegian leads the Premier League scoring charts with nine goals, while City have won all four home league matches this season.

The champions also boast a strong record against Brighton at the Etihad, remaining unbeaten in their last 10 home meetings, winning seven.

Brighton received positive news this week. Mats Wieffer returned midweek after being out since August, while Stefanos Tzimas is back on the training pitch as he continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury. 

Manchester City are without Matheus Nunes due to physical discomfort, while Antoine Semenyo sustained a leg injury and is expected back in mid-December 2026.

One area Brighton may look to exploit is City's goalkeeper. Since arriving last season, Donnarumma has made three Premier League errors that led directly to goals, the joint-most among top-six goalkeepers during that period.

The cup tie showed Brighton can cause City serious problems, and the question now is whether they can do it again against a side likely to welcome back Haaland, Dias and Donnarumma.

For Brighton, Saturday is a chance to gain revenge and strengthen their growing credentials as genuine European contenders.

For City, it is a chance to remind everyone why they remain among the favourites for another Premier League title.

Predicted line-ups:

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Khusanov, Guéhi, Dias, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernández; Ndiaye, Cherki, Doku; Haaland

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Vušković, Dunk, Boscagli, De Cuyper; Hinshelwood, Ayari; Gómez, Groß, Hadjam; Kostoulas.