Manchester City vs Brighton predictions: Rodri’s return to help City hit back
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- Manchester City have won each of their last 13 home league games
- Both teams have scored in all eight of Brighton’s league fixtures this season
- Recommended bet: Manchester City to win & both teams to score
Having endured back-to-back defeats away at Wolves and Arsenal prior to the international break, reigning Premier League champions Manchester City will be determined to respond with a home victory over Brighton on Saturday.
The Citizens won the first six games of their title defence, but those recent reverses have left them two points adrift of Tottenham at the summit.
However, City return to action at their Etihad fortress and they also have midfield maestro Rodri available following a three-game suspension.
The Spainard’s return in midfield looks key as City have lost only 19 of 144 matches with him in the side, something which may spell trouble for Brighton.
The Seagulls have rightly earned plenty of praise for their positive tactics under highly-touted manager Roberto De Zerbi. But they too are in need of a response having failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions.
Team news
City remain without Belgian talisman Kevin De Bruyne but John Stones and Bernardo Silva represented their countries during the international break and have recently returned from injury.
Rodri returns following a three-game ban, so the hosts are almost at full strength for the visit of the Seagulls.
Julio Encisco, Pervis Estupinan and Jakub Moder are missing for Brighton while the versatile James Milner is a doubt.
The stats
Manchester City have lost three of their last four games in all competitions, which includes consecutive Premier League games at Wolves and Arsenal.
However, they have won their last 13 Premier League games at the Etihad, which includes this season’s encounters with Newcastle, Fulham and Nottingham Forest.
The Citizens have also won all seven home meetings with Brighton, with last season’s league encounter at the Etihad finishing 3-1 to the champions.
The Seagulls have failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions and their last away league game saw them swatted aside 6-1 at Aston Villa.
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Brighton are league’s leading scorers, though, with 21 goals netted across their eight outings, and both teams have scored on each occasion.
Both teams have also scored in eight of Brighton’s last nine away league games, although they have gone on to lose five of those matches.
The net has bulged at both ends in four of the last five meetings between the pair, so the goals could flow in Manchester.
Prediction
Manchester City will be keen to hit back after losing their last two Premier League games and they should do just that now returned to the Etihad.
Key to their chances is the return of midfield linchpin Rodri. City have lost five of the 15 matches they have played without the Spaniard since the start of the 2019-20 campaign, so his presence cannot be underestimated.
City are a different beast with Rodri dictating the tempo and they should have the measure of Brighton, who have been conceding goals too freely this season.
The Seagulls conceded six in their last away game at Aston Villa and are still awaiting their first clean sheet of the season, having been breached in all eight league games.
That said, Brighton are the Premier League's leading scorers with 21 goals and they could grab a consolation against City, who have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine games in all competitions.
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