Prediction: Man City vs Brighton

Prediction: Man City win & both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: bet365

The Premier League returns this weekend, with one of the most intriguing matches that is set to take place being Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion. While a lot of fans will write this David vs Goliath clash off as a bit of a waste of time, we think there’s a lot of intrigue behind the clash. City need to ensure that they can keep up the pace with Liverpool after dropping points a few weeks back, whereas Brighton want to prove that they aren’t going to be relegation fodder this season.

Manchester City

The Premier League champions have had a strong start to the campaign, but as we noted in the introduction, the draw against Tottenham leaves them a few points back from Liverpool. While that isn’t the worst case scenario at such an early point of the season, there are a lot of fans wondering whether or not this City side will be able to do what very few teams before them have done – and that is win the Premier League title for three consecutive years.

Team News

Mendy and Jesus aren’t expected to return until after the international break, with Stones’ fitness also being a doubt. Leroy Sane is the club’s only long-term injury concern.

Brighton

Ever since the introduction of Graham Potter, there seems to have been an increasingly positive atmosphere around the Amex. This comes just a matter of months after the Seagulls came within inches of dropping back down to the Championship, but thankfully for them, they were able to survive. They’ve got a strong core to their squad and while many pundits continue to try and write them off, it seems as if they’ve got a drive that is able to get them out of some sticky situations.

Team News

Murray is expected to be dropped down to the bench after featuring against Bristol City, with Andone being suspended after his red card last weekend.

Factors to Consider

• In their last meeting back in May, Man City beat Brighton 4-1 to win the Premier League title.
• Man City have won two and drawn one of their Premier League games this season.
• Brighton have won one, drawn one and lost one of their Premier League games this season.
• Man City have scored 10 goals and conceded three in the PL this season.
• Brighton have scored four goals and conceded three in the PL this season.

Conclusion

Manchester City are almost certainly going to do some damage to Brighton this weekend, regardless of the improvements that the Seagulls may have made in the last few months. However, we do believe that the visitors are going to score at the Etihad. Both Tottenham and Bournemouth were able to score past City despite being largely dominated by the champions, and while Brighton aren’t the most prolific of teams, we think they can get themselves on the scoresheet.

Prediction: Man City win & both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: bet365