Guardiola believes new Seagulls boss De Zerbi will have "massive impact"
Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 3.00pm, Saturday 22nd October 2022
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Craig Pawson Assistants: M Perry, S Ledger Fourth Official: T Harrington VAR: L Mason
Odds: Man City 1/5, Draw 6/1, Brighton 12/1
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Match of the Day
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Dias, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Laporte, Akanji, Gomez, Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand, Gundogan, Grealish, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden, Palmer, Haaland, Alvarez, Mahrez
Injured: Phillips, Walker
Doubtful: Stones
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWWDL
Brighton & Hove Albion
Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
Squad (from): Sanchez, Scherpen, Steele, Lamptey, Webster, Dunk, Colwill, Clarke, Estupinan, Veltman, March Mac Allister, Khadra, Gross, Lallana, Caicedo, Gilmour, Trossard, Welbeck, Sarmiento, Encisu, Undav
Injured: Moder, Mitoma, Mwepu
Doubtful: Colwill
Suspended: None
Form guide: WDLLD
John Stones has recovered form a thigh injury, and is expected to be part of the matchday squad to face Brighton on Saturday. Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips remain sidelined.
“John has been training has been training the last two days with us,” said Pep Guardiola at Friday's press conference.
“Kalvin is recovering really well, but I didn’t speak with doctors about Kyle. Hopefully they can help him.”
Brighton have had a mixed start under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, but Guardiola admires the Italian greatly.
“I just saw the last two games he played here. He is already playing the way he wants to play. His impact in England will be massive.
“At Brighton, he took over a team with Graham Potter making an incredible job there,” the City boss added.
“They are so dynamic as a team. They have incredible players with MacAlister, March, Gross. All of them have incredible quality and are incredible in small spaces.”
City won their last game against Brighton at The Etihad 3-0, with goals from Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva. Overall City have won 18 of the 28 games played against the Seagulls, with 5 draws and 5 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish, Foden, Haaland
Score prediction: City 3 Brighton 1