The meeting between these sides at the Amex Stadium earlier in the season was an entertaining clash that Brighton won 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Gruda. Brighton managed to generate an xG of 2.30 from 12 shots in that clash, despite only having 36% of the ball.

Manchester City also contributed to the attacking side of the game with an xG of 1.82 from 12 shots themselves. Manchester City actually took the lead in that clash, before being pegged back by Milner and Gruda. Guardiola’s side have improved substantially since that defeat, and should be able to match Brighton’s performances here.

Both head-to-head meetings between these sides last season saw 3+ goals, with the clash at the Etihad ending in a 2-2 draw and seeing a combined xG of 3.76 (1.72-2.04). Brighton’s consistent ability to create high-volume chances against Manchester City is significant and can lead to Brighton contributing to the goal tally we require here.

Brighton take a lot of risks with their approach, which involves a high defensive line and an aggressive press from the front. There are gaps in the City backline which can be exploited, as Chelsea showed in their 1-1 draw with Guardiola’s side last time out. Fabian Hurzeler is yet to lose against Manchester City as Brighton boss, and shouldn’t shy away from using his bold approach here.

Brighton are averaging 4.50 shots on target per game in the Premier League this season; only six teams in the division have found the target with more frequency than Brighton this term.

The Seagulls have had 3+ shots on target in 18 of their 20 Premier League matches this term, only failing to cover this line against Liverpool (1) and Bournemouth (2). This consistency when it comes to finding the target is present in their recent games as well, with each of Brighton’s last four Premier League matches seeing them have at least three shots on target. 

Erling Haaland took five shots against Chelsea last time out, and was unlucky not to score with one of those attempts coming crashing back off the woodwork. Haaland is still the top scorer in the Premier League with 19 goals, but the goals have dried up by his lofty standards in recent weeks, with none across his last three Premier League matches.

Haaland has had 75 shots across his 20 Premier League appearances this term (3.89 per 90) with 39 of those attempts finding the target (2.02 per 90). There are very few players who can maintain this standard as regularly as Haaland does, setting him apart from the other strikers in the league and making him a good option to back for a few shots on target here. 

Haaland scored and had three shots on target in the reverse meeting between the sides, which Brighton won 2-1 at the Amex. He scored in that game and had seven shots in total, which is a tally we can expect him to get close to again here. Haaland also scored in this fixture last season from the penalty box.

Yasin Ayari scored and had two shots in Brighton’s 2-0 win over Burnley last time out and is a talented midfielder who can act as a shot threat again here. Those two attempts against Burnley took Ayari’s seasonal shot tally to 37 shots across his 18 Premier League appearances (2.32 per 90).

Ayari has had the most shots of any player in the Brighton squad so far this season. He’s racked up more shots than the likes of Danny Welbeck and Georginio Rutter, which is slightly damning to Brighton’s attacking options - but advantageous to our selection here with Ayari likely to get forward at every given opportunity.

Brighton take a lot of risks in possession, and this sees them regularly finish games with a decent shot count. The Seagulls managed 12 shots in their 2-1 win over Manchester City earlier in the season, with Ayari starting on the bench on that occasion.

Reijnders has found form again after a slow period following a fast start to his life at Manchester City. He netted against Chelsea last time out, marking his fourth consecutive start where he’s registered a goal contribution.

Reijnders has registered seven goal contributions across his 15 starts in the Premier League this term (five goals, two assists). He has similar qualities to Ilkay Gundogan, which is a profile that Pep Guardiola has struggled to replace since the German left the club.

Reijnders was bright in the initial meeting between the sides at the Amex Stadium, with two chances created and three passes into the final third. I’d back Reijnders to turn those promising underlying numbers into a tangible goal contribution here, with Reijnders further encouraged by his recent form.

Kaoru Mitoma has only recently returned to action for Brighton after suffering an injury that ruled him out of much of the first half of the campaign. He started against Burnley last time out and looked bright throughout the game in his 30-minute cameo.

For a club that has a lot of attacking depth, Brighton don’t have that many effective options in the final third. Danny Welbeck is their top scorer with eight goals, but after that, Brighton’s next top scorer only has three goals - indicating that they’ve missed someone like Mitoma, who racked up 10 goals in the Premier League last season. 

Mitoma achieved this goal tally from 57 shots in the Premier League last term (1.97 per 90) with nearly 50% of those efforts finding the target (0.93 per 90). Mitoma can offer City a real transitional threat here with his ability to carry the ball and get Brighton up the pitch when they may be pushed back for large periods of the contest.

Matheus Nunes committed one foul in the initial meeting between these sides back at the start of the season. That interference led to a penalty for Brighton, which got them back in the game as James Milner fired past James Trafford in the City net.

There is no doubt that Nunes has improved in his role as a right back since Guardiola moved him over to that position. He can still look a little awkward at times, but for the most part does a fantastic job with his defensive awareness, increasing with every week.

I think Brighton will look to target City down his side of the pitch. The Seagulls have recently welcomed back Karou Mitoma, who can cause Nunes issues, having won 0.83 fouls per 90 and completed 1.79 successful dribbles per 90 in the Premier League last season.

Nunes has picked up three yellow cards across his 16 starts in the Premier League this term, and could be in line for his latest caution here. Nunes was booked in his most recent outing as Manchester City played out a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.