Premier League champions Manchester City will look to keep the title race in their hands when they face Brighton this week.
City have the advantage over Arsenal and Liverpool, but their schedule means they could be four points behind by the time they play.
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Pep Guardiola’s side have been out of the Premier League for over a week due to their FA Cup semi-final commitments at Wembley.
In their absence, Arsenal and Liverpool have overtaken them in the table by beating Wolves and Fulham respectively.
Both teams are also in action this midweek, meaning even a City win won’t automatically take them back to the top – although they would still have a game in hand.
Brighton v Man City: Foden flying
Phil Foden is closing in on an all-time goalscoring record in the best individual season of his career.
The 23-year-old has played for City throughout his career, going from fan to academy product to making history as a three-time winner.
However, Kevin De Bruyne’s serious injury early in the current campaign allowed him to emerge as the team’s superstar.
Oasis legend Noel Gallagher has previously told talkSPORT that Foden will soon be named as Guardiola’s biggest legacy at City.
The England international is closing in on his 50th Premier League goal before meeting up with favorite opponents Brighton.
Against no team has Foden scored more goals in the Premier League than against Brighton.
He has scored six in his last seven appearances against the Seagulls, although he suffered a rare blank in front of goal in the 2-1 win in October’s reverse fixture.
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- Seven of Kevin De Bruyne’s nine Premier League goals for Man City this season have come in his six away matches (all 3 goals, plus 4 assists). He averages a goal or assist every 43 minutes on the road in the league this season.
- Brighton’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in their last Premier League home game ended a 12-game unbeaten run for the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium in the Championship (W6 D6). They last lost consecutive home league games in November/December 2022 (including the defeat to Arsenal), while they last lost consecutive home league games in the same month in March 2022.
- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 17 Premier League games (W13, D4), the latest with a longer run in the same season between November and March in 2020-21 (19).
Brighton vs Man City: team news
The home side are plagued by injury problems, headlined by long-term absentees Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood.
Brighton are also expected to be without James Milner, Adam Webster and Tariq Lamptey, with late tests expected to be carried out on Julio Enciso, Evan Ferguson and Billy Gilmour.
City were boosted by the return of John Stones to training on Tuesday, but Erling Haaland and Phil Foden were absent.
Neither of the latter two pairs have been permanently ruled out of the competition, with the champions having no other injury concerns.
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- Since their 5-0 victory over Sheffield United in February, Brighton have scored just four goals in their last seven Premier League matches. The Seagulls are also winless in each of their last four games (D2 L2).
- Manchester City have won 17 of their 19 midweek Premier League matches (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) over the last three seasons, apart from a 1-1 draw at Brighton (May 2023) and a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa (December 2023).
- Brighton have failed to score in their three midweek Premier League matches (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) so far in 2024, drawing 0-0 with West Ham and Brentford and losing 4-0 against Luton.
Brighton vs Man City: what was said?
talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan has told Guardiola to ‘shut up’ after the City manager complained about the match schedule.
Reacting to the City manager, the former Crystal Palace owner said: “Let’s be clear. The reason you have one of the most expensive teams put together, the reason footballers are paid ridiculous amounts of money, is ‘s because of broadcast revenue.
“So you can’t take all the positives and none of the negatives. I watched his post-match interview with Gary Lineker, who was at a loss for words, which I always think is a bonus.
“But he came out with this ridiculous martyr syndrome. If City had beaten Real Madrid you probably wouldn’t have heard the same vision from him.
“You work in the sport, your achievements have brought you to the upper echelons of matches and the match schedule is the result.
“You have a team with it, you have the players capable of handling it, shut up now. For me it is beyond acceptance.”
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- Both times Manchester City failed to beat Brighton in the Premier League was in a midweek match at the Amex Stadium – they lost 3-2 in May 2021 (Tuesday) and played drawn 1-1 in May 2023 (Wednesday), although they have done so before. been confirmed as champion each time.
- Man City have scored in all 13 of their Premier League games against Brighton – they have only faced Bournemouth (14) more often in the competition while scoring in every game.
- Brighton have lost 11 of their 13 Premier League matches against Manchester City (W1 D1), although each of their four points won against the Citizens in the competition have come in their last three home games against them (1 victory, 1 draw, 1 defeat).
Brighton vs Man City: talkSPORT coverage
This Premier League clash will take place on Thursday April 25.
Kick-off at the Amex is scheduled for 8 p.m.
talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage from the south coast, presented by Hugh Woozencroft.
The comment comes from Sam Matterface and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.
