bitter and blue 
23-04-2024 20:56
23-04-2024 20:56
Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester City: The Opposition
Manchester City continue their pursuit for a fourth Premier League title as they travel to the south coast to face Brighton and Hove Albion. The Blues made it to the FA Cup Final on Saturday evening, but lost top spot in the league after both Arsenal and Liverpool won their respective matches.
After a fantastic season last year that took the Seagulls into Europe, Brighton have had an indifferent term this time around and sit in 10th place in the table. It may be an outside bet for them to reach the Europa Conference League this season, and defeat on Thursday night may end their hopes for another season.
Form
Despite having a home record that is only bettered by City, Arsenal and Liverpool, Brighton have endured a pretty dismal run, winning just three of their Premier League games since the turn of the year. They lost just their second home match of the season when Arsenal won 3-0 at the beginning of April, however, that was their fifth defeat in the league in 2024.
The Seagulls only other defeat at home came back in August, when West Ham recorded a 3-1 win at the Amex Arena. Although they have lost two at home, Brighton have also drawn six of their 15 games so far in the league.
Of the top six, Brighton have beaten Spurs and Newcastle, while drawing 2-2 with Liverpool and Thursday’s match could be a potential banana skin for the Blues.
Brighton have scored 28 goals at home and conceded just 19. All the teams above have scored more, and every team below have scored less. Defensively, only four teams, City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton have conceded less at home, while Fulham have let in the same amount.
The Seagulls have only kept five clean sheets at home this season, with three of those coming in Europe. Only Nottingham Forest and Wolves have failed to score at Brighton during the current campaign. Wolves and Arsenal are the only teams that have prevented them from scoring and City will need to be on top form if they are to become the third.
Danger Men
Joao has been a revelation at Brighton this season. The Brazilian striker signed for Brighton last May and has bagged 19 goals in all competitions this season, scoring in each of the Europa Conference group-stage games. He has had 57 shots on target, the most in the Brighton side and has a very impressive 33% goal conversion rate.
Simon Adingra has scored seven goals, with Danny Wellbeck and Evan Ferguson both getting six each. Ansu Fati, who was a surprise loan signing for Brighton from Barcelona, has the highest shot accuracy of the Brighton side with 72%.
Pascal Grob has been leading the assists. This season, he has created a remarkable 103 chances for his teammates, with 13 being taken. Grob controls the midfield for Brighton and has attempted 3,426 passes, with 3,095 completed. From 41 matches, Grob has an outstanding pass accuracy rating of 90%.
Kaoru Mitoma, who was rumoured to be a target for Pep Guardiola last summer, has five assists from 32 chances created. However, defender Lewis Dunk has the highest number of passes attempted with 3,799. From those, 3,505 have been completed and his pass accuracy is an amazing 92%.
If City want to come away with the three points on Thursday, these players in particular will have to be stopped.
The Boss
Roberto De Zerbi is still the man in charge at Brighton and has continued to improve the Seagulls and turn them into one of the league’s better sides. He has now presided over 83 games for Brighton, winning 37 and losing 25, giving him a decent win ratio of 45%. So highly rated is the Italian, that he is apparently in the running to take over from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Last Time Out
In the reverse fixture in Manchester, Brighton gave the blues a bit of a scare. The blues were 2-0 up after just 19 minutes, but Fati pulled a goal back with 17 minutes remaining and, when Manuel Akanji was sent off, Brighton pushed for an equaliser that, thankfully, never came.
At the Amex Arena last season, Phil Foden gave City the lead in the 25th minute, only for Julio Enciso to level to level 13 minutes later as the two played out a 1-1 draw.
After a fantastic season last year that took the Seagulls into Europe, Brighton have had an indifferent term this time around and sit in 10th place in the table. It may be an outside bet for them to reach the Europa Conference League this season, and defeat on Thursday night may end their hopes for another season.
Form
Despite having a home record that is only bettered by City, Arsenal and Liverpool, Brighton have endured a pretty dismal run, winning just three of their Premier League games since the turn of the year. They lost just their second home match of the season when Arsenal won 3-0 at the beginning of April, however, that was their fifth defeat in the league in 2024.
The Seagulls only other defeat at home came back in August, when West Ham recorded a 3-1 win at the Amex Arena. Although they have lost two at home, Brighton have also drawn six of their 15 games so far in the league.
Of the top six, Brighton have beaten Spurs and Newcastle, while drawing 2-2 with Liverpool and Thursday’s match could be a potential banana skin for the Blues.
Brighton have scored 28 goals at home and conceded just 19. All the teams above have scored more, and every team below have scored less. Defensively, only four teams, City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton have conceded less at home, while Fulham have let in the same amount.
The Seagulls have only kept five clean sheets at home this season, with three of those coming in Europe. Only Nottingham Forest and Wolves have failed to score at Brighton during the current campaign. Wolves and Arsenal are the only teams that have prevented them from scoring and City will need to be on top form if they are to become the third.
Danger Men
Joao has been a revelation at Brighton this season. The Brazilian striker signed for Brighton last May and has bagged 19 goals in all competitions this season, scoring in each of the Europa Conference group-stage games. He has had 57 shots on target, the most in the Brighton side and has a very impressive 33% goal conversion rate.
Simon Adingra has scored seven goals, with Danny Wellbeck and Evan Ferguson both getting six each. Ansu Fati, who was a surprise loan signing for Brighton from Barcelona, has the highest shot accuracy of the Brighton side with 72%.
Pascal Grob has been leading the assists. This season, he has created a remarkable 103 chances for his teammates, with 13 being taken. Grob controls the midfield for Brighton and has attempted 3,426 passes, with 3,095 completed. From 41 matches, Grob has an outstanding pass accuracy rating of 90%.
Kaoru Mitoma, who was rumoured to be a target for Pep Guardiola last summer, has five assists from 32 chances created. However, defender Lewis Dunk has the highest number of passes attempted with 3,799. From those, 3,505 have been completed and his pass accuracy is an amazing 92%.
If City want to come away with the three points on Thursday, these players in particular will have to be stopped.
The Boss
Roberto De Zerbi is still the man in charge at Brighton and has continued to improve the Seagulls and turn them into one of the league’s better sides. He has now presided over 83 games for Brighton, winning 37 and losing 25, giving him a decent win ratio of 45%. So highly rated is the Italian, that he is apparently in the running to take over from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Last Time Out
In the reverse fixture in Manchester, Brighton gave the blues a bit of a scare. The blues were 2-0 up after just 19 minutes, but Fati pulled a goal back with 17 minutes remaining and, when Manuel Akanji was sent off, Brighton pushed for an equaliser that, thankfully, never came.
At the Amex Arena last season, Phil Foden gave City the lead in the 25th minute, only for Julio Enciso to level to level 13 minutes later as the two played out a 1-1 draw.