Simple solution to Liverpool issue
In hindsight, Manchester City helped Liverpool on the way to victory last week by abandoning the tactics that had served them so well so far this season. Phil Foden reverted to the left, Bernardo Silva was tasked with creating an overload on that flank, and Kevin De Bruyne was isolated as a right-winger, leaving Ilkay Gundogan to try and exploit the space in the middle. It spread out City's better attackers, limited the supply to Erling Haaland, and ultimately backfired.
A simple way to try and return to winning ways against Brighton on Saturday would be to restore De Bruyne and Bernardo to the centre, move Foden back to the right, and recall Jack Grealish on the left. Or alternatively, keep Foden left and play Riyad Mahrez on the right. The players know that system, and can immediately get back in their pre-Anfield rhythm.
Timely return to action after unhelpful week
Since the Liverpool game, there have been plenty of unhelpful developments arising from the fall-out that have dominated the headlines more than the game itself. Pep Guardiola looked to move on with an apology to Liverpool for unacceptable chants from the away end at Anfield, while refusing to delve any deeper into the accusations and counter-accusations that have been made.
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After six days without a game to distract from those headlines, City will be glad to be back talking about football on Saturday, and it will be in the best interests of everyone to move on from an unhelpful week without a fixture. It seems there is a desire to put a week that hasn't really covered anyone in glory behind them.
Stones could make his return
John Stones is back in training after a month out of action, and could be included in the squad to face Brighton. He shouldn't be eased back in to the team, though, especially as Guardiola has four other fit centre-backs at his disposal. Joao Cancelo may well revert back to left-back after getting exposed by Mo Salah on the right, so that could put Manuel Akanji as the stand-in full-back on the opposite side.
Then, Guardiola must choose between Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake for the two centre-back spots. He often prefers a left-footer and right-footer at the back, suggesting Dias could be an automatic starter. Unless Ake retains his place at left-back, meaning Cancelo remains on the right and Dias competes with Akanji to start alongside Laporte. So many options are a good option to have.
Haaland can re-set scoring run
Inevitably, after failing to score at Liverpool, the question marks over Erling Haaland have resurfaced in some quarters, despite his ridiculous record of 20 goals and three assists in the 12 games before that. He may have ended his run of seven straight Premier League goals at Anfield, so will have to re-set that streak, but he can continue his record of ten goals in his last four home league games.
Including the Champions League, Haaland has scored in his last six home games, netting 13 times, and he is yet to go a game at the Etihad without registering a goal or assist. He has scored on the two games he's played after a blank, and has had six days to recover from his Anfield exertions. It would be a brave Brighton fan to bet against him scoring on Saturday.
City's winning run against the Seagulls
City have won all six home league meetings they have ever played against Brighton, and have won the last four in the Premier League without conceding. The Seagulls have often proven to be stubborn opponents in recent meetings, especially under Graham Potter, but the Blues have still lost just one of 11 meetings with Brighton since they were promoted to the top flight in 2017.
That loss, in 2021, came after City had secured the title and had eyes firmly on the Champions League title, with Joao Cancelo sent off early on to make the task harder. Aside from that, Brighton have to go back to 1981 for their last league win over City, with just three victories in total over the Blues in 19 league meetings.
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