Premier League: City set their Sights on the Seagulls

Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City

The Premier League fixtures are coming thick and fast this week, and on Thursday, the champions are back in action as Manchester City visit Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. 

After a run of poor results, the Seagulls are down to tenth and are slipping out of the race for European places; and manager Roberto de Zerbi’s responsibility is to ensure his stars, those that aren’t injured, are not yet heading to the beach.

If the hosts are at anything less than 100 per cent the Sky Blues will take them apart. 

Manchester City are in third place, a point behind Arsenal and Liverpool with a game in hand and, after beating Chelsea to book their place in the FA Cup final, Pep Guardiola’s focus is back on winning the league. The Sky Blues are aiming to be the first team to win four Premier League titles on the bounce.

There is a reason why no team has done that before…because it is so difficult in the toughest league in the world to be the best team over 38 games.

Arsenal and Liverpool are both in action this week, and Sky Blue fans will be tracking the Premier League 2024 updates closely. City may well be four points adrift by the time they kick off on Thursday, but with their destiny in their own hands; and they are unlikely to let it slip in Brighton. 

Talking Points

Haaland and Stones in the balance for City

The Sky Blues crashed out of the Champions League on penalties to Real Madrid last week, but they had plenty of chances to win the tie, and their frustration was compounded when Erling Haaland left the field feeling some niggles.

He won the Golden Boot last year and is joint leader this season, though with a lower tally of 20, and Haaland will be keen to make the trip to Brighton, but so far, Guardiola has been non-committal.

The big Norwegian didn’t make the squad for the FA Cup match, and defensive midfielder John Stones was subbed at halftime in the win over Chelsea. The England man, who can play at centre back or just in front of the back four, looked uncomfortable at Wembley and he too is in a race to be fit for Thursday. 

City are just six games away from retaining their title, and every match has become a must-win. While Liverpool and Arsenal dropped points last week, City flicked the switch and briefly went top. The Premier League 2024 betting odds back the Sky Blues to retain their title, and plenty of their key players are hitting top form.

With 14 goals and seven assists, midfield ace Phil Foden is the pick of the crop on current form; he glides across the pitch in the manner of the legendary Colin Bell, is brilliant on the ball, and has added goals to his all-round game. In a team that also boasts Kevin De Bruyne, the talent in City’s midfield is frightening. 

Injury-hit Seagulls are grounded

After pushing for a top-seven place for much of the campaign, De Zerbi’s team has stuttered in recent weeks, with only two points from the last 12 on offer. The Seagulls have suffered with injuries and that certainly hasn’t helped.

 Forwards Solly March and Karou Mitoma are both out with long-term injuries, while midfielders Billy Gilmour and James Milner are nearing returns, but Pervis Estupian remains sidelined after injuring his foot in the recent 1-1 draw with Burnley.

Brighton looked to be heading for another defeat at Turf Moor until Burnley keeper Aro Muric let a simple back pass slide under his foot and into the net, and De Zerbi needs his team to up its game a few levels to give the Sky Blues a contest. 

History

With 12 wins to two, the Sky Blues have had much the better of the head-to-head meetings with Brighton and when the two teams met at the Etihad Stadium in October, City ran out 2-1 winners.

Brighton are without a victory in four games, while City have won their last three in the league and are unbeaten in 29 in all competitions, only going out of the Champions League on penalties. With that run of 29, winning 23 and drawing six, the Sky Blues have broken a club record. 

Betting Tip

The visitors are at SBOTOP odds of 1.42 to take all three points, and I am pretty sure they will. With the draw at 4.48, a home win at 5.70, and the Double Chance: Home or Draw at 2.67, the Seagulls are not out of it; but, in all honesty, I see more merit in a long shot at a 2-0 win to City at odds of 8.40. 

 

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