Brighton & Hove Albion are searching for their first victory of the 2025–26 Premier League season, but the Seagulls have their work cut out if they’re to triumph over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
While Brighton haven’t yet tasted victory in the league, they breezed past second-tier Oxford United in the Carabao Cup second round on Wednesday in a 6–0 rout.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side meanwhile, will feel hard done by at the start of the new campaign, having let a lead slip at the last against Fulham before somehow falling to a 2–0 defeat at Everton last weekend. Brighton were dominant at the all-new Hill Dickinson Stadium, but were made to pay for final third inefficiency.
Fabian Hürzeler has no new injury concerns following the midweek cup win, but is still without the injured trio of Adam Webster, Solly March, and Julio Enciso. Striker Georginio Rutter is a doubt with a knock. The manager has confirmed that midfielder Carlos Baleba, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, will not be leaving the club.
Brighton confirmed Lineup:
Starting XI: Verbruggen, Dunk (C), van Hecke, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Welbeck, Mitoma, Gomez, De Cuyper, Veltman
Substitutes: Steele, Gruda, Georginio, Milner, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Ayari, O’Riley, Coppola
TEAM NEWS! 🚨 Our #BHAMCI starting XI… 👀 pic.twitter.com/lpLPoE15kW
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 31, 2025
Manchester City on the other hand will be hoping to get back to winning ways in the Premier League today. After dismantling Wolves 4-0 in their opening game of the new season, the Citizens were dealt a reality check last week as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Tottenham.
In truth, Pep Guardiola’s side were second best against Spurs as summer signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki struggled on their home debuts. However, City arrive on the coast boasting a formidable away record, having kept a clean sheet in each of their last five league games on the road.
Pep Guardiola has been boosted by the news that left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri is available for selection after recovering from a knee problem. However, Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić are both ruled out.
Goalkeeper James Trafford is expected to keep his place despite a costly error last weekend, while Erling Haaland is set to make his 100th Premier League appearance.
Manchester City confirmed Lineup:
Starting XI: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Stones, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Bobb, Rejinders, Marmoush, Haaland
Subs: Ederson, Dias, Ake, Doku, Nico, Gundogan, Akanji, O’Reilly, Lewis
Your City side to take on Brighton 🩵
XI | Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Stones, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Bobb, Rejinders, Marmoush, Haaland
SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Ake, Doku, Nico, Gundogan, Akanji, O’Reilly, Lewis
🤝 @etihad pic.twitter.com/rMrRkCANr6
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 31, 2025
