Game Week 29 Predictions: Goals galore with City and Brighton to score

Manchester City's top four push could receive a huge boost if they beat Brighton on Saturday however, the Seagulls also have a top four ...

Manchester City's top four push could receive a huge boost if they beat Brighton on Saturday however, the Seagulls also have a top four ambition. This will excite the neutrals. (Photo credit: Opta)

 Manchester City vs Brighton

Etihad Stadium

4:00 pm

The Cityzens lost at the City Ground last weekend, another low in a frustrating season for Pep Guardiola and the entire Manchester City squad. How will they approach this?

The FA Cup represents the only chance of silverware for the champions, and with sides like Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea already out of the competition, it would be really embarrassing for the Cityzens not to walk away with the trophy.

Since their 7-0 embarrassment at the hands of Nottingham Forest, Brighton has won every game they have played since; a visit to the Etihad is a different ball game, but they were among the teams who started the rain on Manchester City’s season; can they do it again?

Fabian Hurzelar’s side beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Amex earlier in the season; their ambition on Saturday would be to do it again as they hope to finish as high as possible, including usurping the champions on the log.

Only one point separates the two sides on the log; however, a win takes Manchester City straight into the top four above Chelsea at least until the Blues play on Sunday, while Brighton will go level on points with Enzo Maresca’s side if they beat the champions at the Etihad. It’s all to play for in this one.

John Stones and Manuel Akanji are certain to miss this one, but the rest of the usuals are available for selection, and it’s left to be seen if Guardiola will go for the new boys or settle for the old guards as the future has already begun in terms of squad rebuilding.

As always, a host of names remain sidelined for the visitors; captain Lewis Dunk remains a doubt for this one while Joel Veltman continues to struggle with a knock. Bart Verbruggen will continue in goal with Jason Steele still injured, and we wonder if we will see Ferdi Kadioglu again this season.

City is spoilt for choice on the flanks; Jeremy Doku has been lively in recent games, and Savinho does his best on the right; the likes of Jack Grealish and Omar Marmoush are worthy options, and in the creative unit, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden are both competing for playing time.

Watch out for Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro. The duo will trouble the leaky defence of the champions, and as we have come to know it, the two sides will offer each other chances to score. Are we expecting a high-scoring game at the Etihad?

Verdict: Both teams to score