[Albion] Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion *** Official Match Thread ***

[Dick Head]

Man City v Albion

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: Etihad Stadium
Date: Saturday 22nd October 2022
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Marc Perry, Scott Ledger
Fourth Official: Tony Harrington
VAR: Lee Mason
Additional VAR: Ian Hussin
​

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City defender John Stones has returned to full training after five games out with a hamstring injury.

Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips are recovering from surgery.

Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi said "there is some fatigue in the squad" but did not mention specific players.

Defender Levi Colwill could return after an ankle injury, while winger Kaoru Mitoma will also be assessed ahead of the game.

Defender Jan Paul van Hecke might feature after being an unused substitute in midweek.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Brighton have never won an away league match at Manchester City in 12 attempts (D2, L10).
• Manchester City are on a run of eight successive home league wins against Brighton, including all five in the Premier League.

Man City

• City's 21-match unbeaten league run was ended by Liverpool last weekend. They haven't lost consecutive top-flight games since December 2018.
• Pep Guardiola's side have won their past nine Premier League home fixtures, scoring at least three goals each time.
• No side has scored three goals or more in 10 straight top-flight home matches since Aston Villa's run of 15 from December 1930 to September 1931.
• Phil Foden has managed five goals in his past four league appearances against Brighton.
• Erling Haaland has scored in each of his past six home games in all competitions, with 13 goals in total.
• Kevin De Bruyne has created 33 chances and provided nine assists, more than any other Premier League player this season.

Albion

• Brighton are winless in four league matches (D2, L2) and haven't scored in the last three.
• The Seagulls have had 54 failed attempts on goal across those past three fixtures.
• Roberto De Zerbi is the first Brighton manager to remain winless in each of his first four league games in charge since Barry Lloyd in 1987. Lloyd had to wait 13 matches for his first victory.
• After winning their first two Premier League away games this season, the Seagulls have earned just one point from the subsequent three.
• Albion are one short of 100 top-flight wins.

Roberto De Zerbi's Man City Press Conference

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Back to bed, Head, you lunatic!

 

[Mortdecai]

 

[Eeyore]

Back to bed, Head, you lunatic!

I think the thread is timed for release at 0300, when all are in bed. Well, most.

Anyway, I'll take a 3-0 defeat here and now and run.

 

[Dick Head]

Back to bed, Head, you lunatic!

I can sleep when I'm dead, man.

 

[Jeep]

Haaland knows he'll never be able to get past Lewis Dunk.

 

[Foul Play Rocks]

Wheel loose but wheel make lots of noise and have a good day out anyway!

 

[Zeberdi]

Guardiola discusses City's Brighton preparations

Pep Guardiola said City have made the most of the rare week-long preparation for Saturday's Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.

www.mancity.com

 

[Icy Gull]

I fear this could be a “Welcome to the PL” match for RDZ

Don’t be annihilated please!

 

[Guinness Boy]

Haaland 8 Brighton 0

My mojo is at rock bottom right now. I'll probably go out for a walk or clean the house at 3.

 

[Brok]

THREE points today please lads, no excuses

 

[Stat Brother]

Haaland knows he'll never be able to get past Lewis Dunk.

Fairly certain today Haaland will provide an assist for the captain.
Sanchez won't have a chance.


Begging the question 'why am I just about to head off to North North Arundel?'

 

[Zeberdi]

… one of the strategies might be to shut De Bruyne down before Haaland even gets a touch

 

[Perfidious Albion]

It is hard to be optimistic in the face of stats like the above… but , so what? I will enjoy following the game and I am sure those hardy souls who make the trip North will have a good day out. You know, since we are probably going to lose anyway it may not hurt to experiment and give Undav and Encisio a go?

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited (to be looking at my match ticket unused as Avanti are shite)

 

[pasty]

One of those rare games where, as long as we don’t get humiliated, I’m not going to be that bothered about losing.

 

[wellquickwoody]

I genuinely fear for both our goal difference, and for the confidence of our defenders afterwards.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Just have a feeling about today

 

[Mustafa II]

Anything other than 0 points would be a miracle today.

We just won't be able to contain Haaland in particular.

I think we can score against them. Maybe even more than one. The problem is they will score more than we do, and then some more after that.

I'm just hoping for a good performance and a respectable scoreline.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Anything other than 0 points would be a miracle today.

We just won't be able to contain Haaland in particular.

I think we can score against them. Maybe even more than one. The problem is they will score more than we do, and then some more after that.

I'm just hoping for a good performance and a respectable scoreline.

Nice to have you back.

Being realistic, we need to stop Haaland scoring a hat-trick because he is going to score today whatever. Maybe play 5 at the back with a player doing a man-2-man job on him?