Manchester City host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, looking to maintain top spot in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca’s side are clinging to first place on goal difference after Arsenal drew level on points, and they arrive on the back of a penalty-shootout win over Brighton in the EFL Cup, a result that followed a 2-2 draw between two heavily-rotated teams. City’s seven-match winning start to the league campaign ended at Aston Villa last weekend, their first defeat of the season. City have lost just once in their last 22 Premier League matches at the Etihad and have never been beaten by Brighton on home soil in 18 previous meetings.
Manchester City team news
Antoine Semenyo remains City’s only confirmed injury absentee, while Matheus Nunes is a doubt having missed the last two matches with an unspecified muscle issue. Gianluigi Donnarumma returns in goal, with Maresca confirming the Italian remains his first-choice stopper despite Geronimo Rulli’s penalty-saving heroics in midweek. City have conceded 11 goals across their last five matches in all competitions, a defensive dip Maresca will be keen to address against the division’s top scorers. No further fitness concerns have been reported elsewhere in Maresca’s squad.
Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson and Erling Haaland are all set to return having been rested on Wednesday. Ayyoub Bouaddi is pushing for a recall in midfield after impressing in recent weeks, which could see Enzo Fernandez move further forward at the expense of Rayan Cherki, who has featured in more matches than any other City player this season.
Manchester City predicted lineup
Manchester City possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Bouaddi; Foden, Fernandez, Doku; Haaland
When will the match kick off?
The match kicks off at 15:00 GMT on Saturday, 31 October 2026.
How to watch Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion?
This fixture falls in the 3pm Saturday blackout and is not being shown live in the UK.
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