Game Week 12 Predictions: City to hammer Brighton after Anfield frustrations

Brighton must be wary of City's rebound culture when they meet at the Etihad on Saturday. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Manchester City vs Brighton

Etihad Stadium

3:00pm

This fixture could tell a lot about either side at the end of the day. Brighton is fast slipping off since the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi and they are yet to win in any of his four games in charge.

The Seagulls must miss Graham Potter badly at this stage and will not be wrong to do so. The 3-3 draw against Liverpool on De Zerbi’s debut has vanished into despair as Brighton failed to beat bottom club Nottingham Forest in midweek.

Manchester City can appear wounded, angry and dangerous on days like this. They missed a date with the Gunners in midweek following Arsenal’s Europa League engagement and the Citizens will now pick up from the loss at Anfield last weekend with Brighton.

Typically, you don’t want to play City after they lose a grudge match and as it stands, Brighton isn’t in a good place and the champions are the last team you want to play on this form but football is far from mathematics as we all know it.

How will Brighton line up? Their creative duo of Mac Allister and Pascal Gross are beginning to struggle and Solly March is now their main creative outlet. For all the industry of Danny Welbeck, his poor finishing is a problem as he doesn’t score many.

City will take out their Anfield frustrations on Brighton but what will be the Seagulls’ reaction? This fixture would be a great watch for the neutrals and it’s one you don’t want to miss for anything as it has the potential to spring surprises.

Pep Guardiola can afford to unleash all his weapons on Brighton with the champions league group top spot is almost guaranteed. Erling Haaland failed to find the net at Anfield and he has never gone two games without a goal in England, God save Brighton.

Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva are all to watch here, Brighton must pay attention for 95minutes and more if need be but would they still be in the game at halftime?

Verdict: Straight win City