Brighton travel to the Etihad looking for their first win since November

Photo: THE STRAITS TIMES (DPA)

Manchester City look to extend their winning run to seven games in all competitions when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the Etihad.

Both teams advanced to the FA Cup fourth round during the weekend. Pep Guardiola’s side cruised past Championship side Birmingham, whilst the Seagulls needed penalties to beat League Two side Newport County.

Bernardo Silva, who is struggling to get into City’s Premier League side having started only seven of City’s last 13 games was the standout performer during the weekend’s 3-0 win. The Portuguese international received the Man of the Match award after scoring a quickfire double before Phil Foden’s strike put the game out of sight.

City have responded well following their 1-1 draw with West Brom in December. Guardiola’s men have picked up 17 points from their last 21 available in the Premier League and have advanced to the EFL Cup final, after a superb win over rivals Manchester United.

Despite the Covid and injury cases, new defensive partnership of John Stones and Ruben Dias have been superb this season, only conceding three goals in their last 10 home games in all competitions.

The hosts are only four points away from leaders Liverpool with two games in hand. A win against the Seagulls on Wednesday would put them one point from the champions at the top of the table.

Graham Potter described Brighton’s win against Newport County as “traumatic” as his side eventually managed to see off League Two side Newport and end their eight-game winless run.

Goalkeeper Jason Steele went from villain to hero with four penalty saves to send the Seagulls into the next round after completely missing a cross towards the end of the 90 minutes which hit Adam Webster and trickled home to secure the Welsh club extra-time.

The arrival of Percu Tau has got a lot of Brighton fans excited. The 26-year-old joined the club in 2018 but has only just secured a work permit to play in the UK. The South African made his first appearance as a substitute in the win over Newport after spending the last three seasons on loan in Belgium. Is he missing piece to the Brighton jigsaw?

The Seagulls play good football and create plenty of opportunities but what let them down is the ability to put the ball in the back of the net. They are ranked seventh in terms of big chances missed and third for shots off target.

Brighton are desperate for a win in the Premier League, after a woeful run of form finds themselves 17^th in the table, three points off the relegation zone with just one victory since September. A win against an in-form City side would move the Seagulls up to 16^th above Burnley, having played an extra three games.

Team News

Both teams have a number of injuries, due to the current situations and the number of fixtures being set in such a congestive period.

Centre backs Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are injured, while summer signing Ferran Torres has tested negative for Covid-19 and is back in training with the first-team. Sergio Aguero will miss the game after coming in contact with a person who tested positive.

Ederson was back in training following his isolation and was fit enough to make the bench against Birmingham.

Brighton boss has confirmed Danny Welbeck and Adam Lallana are still out, as well as Aaron Connolly. It’s also too soon for Tariq Lamptey to return.

Jahanbakhsh got a knock-on Sunday and won’t be fit for the game. Yves Bissouma is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card.  However, Steven Alzate could make the bench.

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