Manchester City are aiming to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they host Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium today. The Blues are looking to move three points clear of Arsenal ahead of the Gunners' trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
These two sides are familiar with each other following their meeting on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup, where City were victorious on penalties. City will need to be wary of complacency against the Seagulls this afternoon.
Team News and Confirmed Starter
One guaranteed starter for the Blues is Gianluigi Donnarumma. While Geronimo Rulli was the hero with two quality penalty saves in midweek, Enzo Maresca revealed that Donnarumma remains his first choice and would be starting against Fabian Hurzeler's side.
City will also welcome back Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson and Erling Haaland to their squad. However, Antoine Semenyo is out.
Maresca on Donnarumma's Status
Maresca said that no City player is safe from being dropped - despite public backing for his No.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma. City's backup keeper saved two penalties in midweek to dump Brighton out of the Carabao Cup, but Maresca immediately confirmed that the team for Saturday's game would be 'Gigio plus ten'.
Donnarumma has been culpable for a number of goals conceded in recent weeks, and one of those played a part in City losing their first Premier League game of the season last week at Aston Villa. Maresca pointed to Donnarumma's save at the end of the Manchester derby to note that the Italian still has credit in the back, but insisted that this does not mean his place in the team is guaranteed.
"I think it is one thing to say that at his moment it is Gigio plus ten, and another thing to say he is undroppable," he said. "They are two different things. There is no player who is undroppable but there is a moment where it is Gigio plus ten because in this moment I see it like this."
Match Odds and Brighton's Stance
Ahead of today's game, the latest match odds from bet365 are: City to win - 3/5, Draw - 7/2, Brighton to win - 15/4. 18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Begambleaware.org
Brighton's boss Hurzeler tried to rile City up in midweek by suggesting the Blues were lucky to beat Brighton. He claims the Seagulls are out for revenge today, but Maresca was keen to play that down in his press conference on Friday.
