Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City preview: Grealish unavailable despite England call up

By Ric Turner, Fri 08 November 2024 17:09


Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City preview: Grealish unavailable despite England call upGuardiola says it is "a question for the manager of England"

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 9th November 2024

Venue: Amex Stadium, Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Sam Barrott Assistants: L Betts, S Meredith Fourth Official: A Davies VAR: J Gillett

Odds: Brighton 7/2, Draw 3/1, City 3/4

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Sky Sports

Brighton

Manager: Fabian Hürzeler

Squad (from): Verbruggen, Steele, Cahill, Lamptey, Julio, Dunk, van Hecke, Estupinan, Veltman, Gruda, Enciso, Moder, Baleba, Mitoma, Kadioglu, O'Riley, Ayai, Wieffer, Hinshelwood, Pedro, Adingra, Rutter, Minteh, Welbeck, Ferguson

Injured: Webster, Milner, March

Doubtful: Pedro, Ayari, O'Riley, Minteh, Dunk

Suspended: None

Form guide: LLDWW

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

0Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Ake, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol, Akanji, Lewis, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Nunes, Foden, Wright, McAtee, Haaland, Doku, Savinho

Injured: Rodri, Bobb, Grealish, Stones, Dias

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: LLLWW

Ruben Dias and John Stones are once again missing for the visit to the Amex Stadium. Jack Grealishalso remains absent for the Blues, despite being called up by England for the forthcoming internationals.

“It is a question for the manager of England” Pep Guardiola said at Friday's press conference.

City have lost three successive games in three different competitions, but Guardiola said that he didn't need to reassure his players.

“It’s football, it’s happened. We know the reason why we struggled, but we are looking forward to the Brighton game and after the international break.

“After that, some players will be coming back better and recover and for all the problems that we have; little problems that every player has, we will solve it, I hope so.

“I have known them for nine years. They have proved many times what they are capable of so it doesn’t change the opinion I have of them.

“Sometimes it happens and you have to understand it.”

City won their last game at The Amex Stadium 4-0, with goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden (2), and Julian Alvarez. Overall City have won 21 of the 32 games played against the Seagulls, with 6 draws and 5 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Foden, Nunes, Haaland

Score prediction: City 3 Southampton 0