Manchester City started the Premier League with a winning streak of six matches and led the table. However, in the seventh round, they suffered a sensational 1-2 defeat away to Wolverhampton. Following that, they faced another setback, losing 0-1 away to Arsenal, their direct competitor. Based on these results, City enters the ninth round sitting in third place, trailing the joint leaders Tottenham and Arsenal by two points. Clearly, the reigning champions will aim for nothing less than a victory in today’s home match. It’s worth noting that for the first time since 2018, Manchester City has lost two consecutive matches in the Premier League. However, they continue to perform well in the Champions League, securing maximum points in two matches and topping their group. They won both games with a score of 3-1 against Red Star Belgrade and RB Leipzig.
Brighton has been inconsistent, especially since they started participating in both the Premier League and the Europa League. They approach their upcoming trip to Manchester on a four-match winless streak in all competitions. This streak began with a defeat to Chelsea in the League Cup (0-1). Following that, they couldn’t overcome Aston Villa in the Premier League, losing 1-6. In the Europa League, they played to a 2-2 draw with Marseille. In the last Premier League match, Brighton played to a 2-2 draw with Liverpool. The team clearly focuses on attacking play, resulting in high-scoring matches. However, this tactical approach often leads to defensive vulnerabilities. Brighton currently sits in sixth place in the league, having conceded 16 goals, the highest among clubs not in the relegation zone.
