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Manchester City vs Brighton: Match Preview, Predictions, and Lineups for Carabao Cup Clash

Manchester City will face Brighton & Hove Albion in a compelling Carabao Cup fourth round fixture on Wednesday night at the Etihad Stadium. This match is the first of two meetings between these Premier League powerhouses within a few days, as they are also set to play again on Saturday.

Brighton will remain in Manchester throughout the week, focusing on "recovering, adjusting, and adapting," according to their manager Fabian Hürzeler. On the other hand, City's coach Enzo Maresca has hinted at a flexible lineup approach, possibly introducing some unexpected rotations for this cup tie.

Score Prediction: Can Brighton Shock Man City Again?

Both teams entered last weekend’s league games riding high on confidence. City had recorded seven consecutive league wins under Maresca, setting a new record, while Brighton boasted four straight victories with an impressive combined score of 15–0. Despite strong performances, both sides experienced setbacks. City lost to Aston Villa due to two individual mistakes, and Brighton fell 2–0 to Liverpool despite dominating many aspects of the game.

These two tactically savvy sides promise an exciting contest. Yet, priorities might influence the outcome. Hürzeler views the cup match as "do-or-die," whereas Maresca seems open to using it as an opportunity to rotate his squad. Should these plans hold, Brighton could inflict another defeat on City.

  • Head-to-head since 2024–25 season start: Man City have played 22 top-flight clubs, beating 21 — the exception is Brighton.
  • Scoring and defense: Both clubs lead the Premier League in goals scored but have fragile defenses. City concede the highest quality chances in the division, which may worsen if Maresca rotates heavily. Brighton shows no intention of surrendering easy chances.

Prediction: Manchester City 2–3 Brighton

Projected Lineup for Manchester City

Maresca rested five key starters over the weekend to keep them fresh for upcoming matches. It's uncertain how many of Erling Haaland, Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Marc Guéhi will start midweek. Donnarumma is confirmed on the bench, with backup goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli starting.

Guéhi’s recent dip in form might mean he gets a break. Matheus Nunes remains an injury doubt alongside Antoine Semenyo, who is out for several more weeks.

  • Formation (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Aït-Nouri; Bouaddi, Anderson; Ndiaye, O’Reilly, Doku; Foden

Predicted Brighton Lineup

Brighton’s injury situation is mixed. Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh have returned and are traveling with the team, though it’s unclear if either will start. Chema Andrés and Ferdi Kadıoğlu face fitness concerns after sustaining "very painful" injuries in the recent loss to Liverpool but remain possible selections.

Pascal Struijk and Kaoru Mitoma are unavailable.

  • Formation (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Costinha, Vušković, Dunk, Boscagli; Groß, Hinshelwood; Gómez, Ayari, De Cuyper; Kostoulas

Match Details

  • Location: Manchester, England
  • Stadium: Etihad Stadium
  • Date: Wednesday, October 28
  • Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. GMT / 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
  • Referee: Andrew Madley

Broadcast Information

  • United States: Paramount+
  • Canada: DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada
  • Mexico: Disney+ Premium Mexico
  • United Kingdom: Sky Sports+

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