90min

Manchester City vs Brighton preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, kick off time & team news

By Jamie Spencer

Will Raheem Sterling play for Man City against Brighton?
Will Raheem Sterling play for Man City against Brighton? / Pool/Getty Images
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Manchester City and Brighton immediately return to Premier League action this midweek straight after a weekend of FA Cup third round fixtures, facing each other at the Etihad Stadium.

Victory could see Pep Guardiola’s City side finish this week in the top three, while Brighton are nervously looking over their shoulder as the relegation zone comes clearer into view behind.

Where to watch

When Is Kick Off? Wednesday 13 January
What Time Is Kick Off? 18:00 (GMT)
Where Is It Played? Etihad Stadium
TV Channel? BT Sport (UK)
Referee? Darren England (VAR: Mike Dean)

Is Raheem Sterling injured?

Raheem Sterling was out against Birmingham
Raheem Sterling was out against Birmingham / Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Raheem Sterling missed City’s FA Cup third round win over Birmingham on Sunday because he was deemed to be not fully fit by medical staff. Sterling had played 90 minutes against Manchester United four days earlier and in the club’s last Premier League game against Chelsea before that.

The England winger will be assessed before the game and could yet return.

Other team news

Ederson was back on the bench against the Championship side following his coronavirus isolation and could replace Zack Steffen in goal. The American was always likely to keep his place for the FA Cup match, but the Brazilian is number one in the Premier League and overall.

Ederson should return in goal for Man City
Ederson should return in goal for Man City / Octavio Passos/Getty Images

City centre-backs Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are injured, while summer signing Ferran Torres is also lacking fitness following his coronavirus isolation. Sergio Aguero, meanwhile, will still be in a precautionary 10-day isolation as a result of contact with a positive case.

The fear for Brighton is that Tariq Lamptey could be out until February because of a setback as he was recovering from a hamstring injury that has already sidelined him since mid-December.

Danny Welbeck and Adam Lallana are doubts after missing the Seagulls’ FA Cup tie against Newport, while Yves Bissouma is suspended due to accumulating five yellow cards.

Tariq Lamptey is still out for Brighton
Tariq Lamptey is still out for Brighton / Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Predicted lineups

Man City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko; Rodri, Gundogan; Silva, De Bruyne, Foden; Jesus

Brighton (3-4-2-1): Sanchez; Webster, Dunk, Burn; Veltman, Propper, White, March; MacAllister, Trossard; Maupay

Recent form

Manchester City

Man City 3-0 Birmingham – FA Cup (10/01)
Man Utd 0-2 Man City – Carabao Cup (06/01)
Chelsea 1-3 Man City – Premier League (03/01)
Man City 2-0 Newcastle – Premier League (26/12)
Arsenal 1-4 Man City – Carabao Cup (22/12)

Brighton

Newport 1-1 Brighton (AET – Brighton 5-4 on penalties) – FA Cup (10/01)
Brighton 3-3 Wolves – Premier League (02/01)
Brighton 0-1 Arsenal – Premier League (29/12)
West Ham 2-2 Brighton – Premier League (27/12)
Brighton 1-1 Sheffield United – Premier League (20/12)

Prediction

Manchester City should have too much for a struggling Brighton
Manchester City should have too much for a struggling Brighton / Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Manchester City have recaptured their form in a big way in recent weeks, following on from what had been a poor start to the season by their own high standards. Even a coronavirus outbreak and a number of players being forced into isolation hasn’t slowed them down.

Brighton, meanwhile, have been struggling to win games – just one Premier League victory since September – and have been conceding too many goals, making them distinctly vulnerable.

Prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Brighton

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