Manchester City vs Brighton: Prediction, Lineups, Kickoff Time | Premier League 2025/26

Manchester City vs Brighton — Match Preview

A pivotal Premier League clash takes place at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, as title-chasers Manchester City host their recent “bogey team,” Brighton & Hove Albion. Pep Guardiola’s side enters the match in 2nd place (42 points) but has hit a stumbling block, drawing their last two matches against Chelsea (1–1) and Sunderland (0–0). To keep their title defense on track, they must overcome a Brighton side that has beaten them twice in their last three meetings. The Seagulls, currently 10th with 28 points, arrive with renewed confidence after a solid 2–0 win over Burnley, but their recent away record against the “Big Six” (losing to Arsenal and Liverpool in December) suggests a tough evening awaits in Manchester.

Manchester City vs Brighton — Match Info

• Competition: Premier League (Matchday 21)
• Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester (Capacity: 55,097)
• Date: Wednesday, 7 January 2026
• Kickoff: 19:45 GMT | 20:45 CET | 14:45 ET
• Referee: Thomas Bramall (ENG)

Manchester City vs Brighton — Match Stakes

Manchester City (2nd — 42 pts):

• Win → Moves to 45 pts; keeps the pressure on the league leaders and ends the mini-slump (2 draws).
• Draw → Third consecutive draw; huge blow to title hopes, potentially dropping further off the pace.
• Loss → A crisis of confidence; second consecutive H2H loss to Brighton this season (lost 1–2 in August).

Brighton (10th — 28 pts):

• Win → Moves to 31 pts; propels them into the European qualification conversation (Top 7/8).
• Draw → A fantastic result away at the champions; maintains momentum.
• Loss → Keeps them mid-table; continues their poor run against top-tier sides on the road.

Manchester City vs Brighton — Team News

Manchester City:

• Ait Nouri R. — Out (International Duty – AFCON with Algeria)
• Marmoush O. — Out (International Duty – AFCON with Egypt)
• Stones J. — Out (Thigh Injury – Key Defender Missing)
• Kovacic M. — Out (Heel Injury)
• Bobb O. — Out (Hamstring Injury)
• Defensive Crisis: With Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol both questionable, Guardiola faces a major headache at the back. Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake may be the only fit senior center-backs.

Brighton:

• Baleba C. — Out (International Duty – AFCON with Cameroon)
• Wieffer M. — Out (Toe Injury – Midfield Anchor Missing)
• March S. — Out (Knee Injury)
• Webster A. — Out (Knee Injury)
• Minteh Y. — Questionable (Thigh Injury)
• Midfield Void: The absence of both Carlos Baleba and Mats Wieffer leaves a massive hole in Brighton’s defensive midfield, which Yasin Ayari or Jack Hinshelwood must fill.

Manchester City vs Brighton — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)

Manchester City

• 04/01 — 1–1 vs Chelsea (Premier League)
• 02/01 — 0–0 vs Sunderland (Premier League)
• 27/12 — 2–1 vs Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
• 20/12 — 3–0 vs West Ham (Premier League)
• 18/12 — 2–0 vs Brentford (EFL Cup)

Brighton

• 03/01 — 2–0 vs Burnley (Premier League)
• 31/12 — 2–2 vs West Ham (Premier League)
• 27/12 — 1–2 vs Arsenal (Premier League)
• 20/12 — 0–0 vs Sunderland (Premier League)
• 13/12 — 0–2 vs Liverpool (Premier League)

Manchester City vs Brighton — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)

• 31/08/2025 — Brighton 2–1 Manchester City (Premier League)
• 15/03/2025 — Manchester City 2–2 Brighton (Premier League)
• 09/11/2024 — Brighton 2–1 Manchester City (Premier League)
• 26/04/2024 — Brighton 0–4 Manchester City (Premier League)
• 21/10/2023 — Manchester City 2–1 Brighton (Premier League)

Manchester City vs Brighton — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)

Manchester City (4-1-4-1)

Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Wilson-Esbrand; Rodri; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Brighton (4-2-3-1)

Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Hinshelwood, Ayari; Adingra, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson

Manchester City vs Brighton — Impact Bench

Manchester City: Nunes (Energy), McAtee (Creativity), Ortega (GK)

Brighton: Welbeck (Experience), Enciso (Game-changer), Gruda (Pace)

Manchester City vs Brighton — Tactical Analysis

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola will be furious with the lack of goals recently (1 goal in 180 minutes). Without the overlapping threat of Rayan Ait Nouri (AFCON) and the control of Stones/Kovacic, City must rely on Rodri to dictate play. They will target Brighton’s depleted midfield. Expect Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne to drift into the spaces left by Baleba’s absence to feed Erling Haaland.

Brighton

Fabian Hürzeler’s side has been City’s kryptonite lately, avoiding defeat in their last three meetings. They will play bravely, playing out from the back to bait City’s press. Kaoru Mitoma is the key outlet; if he can isolate Rico Lewis one-on-one, Brighton can hurt City on the break. However, without a recognized defensive midfielder, they risk being overrun centrally.

Manchester City vs Brighton — Key Battles

• Haaland vs Dunk — The league’s top scorer vs Brighton’s captain.
• Rodri vs Pedro — City’s anchor needs to stop Pedro dropping deep to link play.
• Mitoma vs Lewis — Pace and dribbling vs youthful energy.
• De Bruyne vs Ayari — The master creator vs the young midfielder filling in.

Manchester City vs Brighton — Spotlight Players

Manchester City — Erling Haaland

After drawing a blank against Sunderland, the Norwegian machine needs to fire. Brighton’s high line is high-risk/high-reward against him; if he times his runs, he could have a field day.

Brighton — Bart Verbruggen

The Dutch goalkeeper will be the busiest man in Manchester. With City desperate to end their goal drought, Verbruggen’s shot-stopping and distribution under pressure will define the result.

Manchester City vs Brighton — Prediction

Manchester City 3–1 Brighton

Brighton have been a thorn in City’s side, but the current squad issues (missing Baleba and Wieffer) significantly weaken their defensive spine. City are angry after dropped points and usually respond emphatically at the Etihad. While Brighton might score, City’s superior midfield quality should overwhelm them.

Manchester City vs Brighton — Betting Insights

• Manchester City to Win — High Probability.
• Over 2.5 Goals — Likely (City’s defense is patched up; Brighton play open football).
• Erling Haaland to Score — High Value.

Manchester City vs Brighton — Where to Watch

• UK: TNT Sports
• USA: Peacock / NBC Sports
• International: beIN Sports

Manchester City vs Brighton — FAQs

Q: When is the Man City vs Brighton match?

A: The match kicks off on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, at 19:45 GMT.

Q: Is John Stones playing?

A: No. He is out with a thigh injury.

Q: Who won the last match?

A: Brighton won 2–1 at the Amex Stadium in August 2025.

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