Pep Guardiola to make THREE major changes – Predicted XI: Manchester City vs Brighton (Premier League)

Manchester City look to reignite their season following consecutive Premier league defeats, as they welcome Brighton to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

It was a disappointing result the last time the Champions played, as they fell to a 1-0 defeat courtesy of a Gabriel Martinelli late strike at the Emirates Stadium, inflicting a first loss to Arsenal in the Premier League since 2015.

As Manchester City look to amend their disappointment from prior to the international break, there has been a boost at the back, as John Stones made his first competitive start of the season with England in midweek.

Pep Guardiola will also welcome Rodri back to the squad after the Spaniard served a three-match suspension, however Kevin De Bruyne will remain absent for the foreseeable future.

The three domestic defeats highlighted the importance of Rodri as if it wasn’t evident enough, with the makeshift defensive midfielder’s unable to hold down the fort in the absence of the Spaniard.

Kalvin Phillips in particular fell into this category, with the Englishman still unable to find gametime despite Rodri’s absence, with Phillips now admitting his City career may be in jeopardy.

After earning victory over Italy during the week, Phillips admitted he needs game time in order to secure a spot at Euro 2024, something he now admits may be impossible at City.

Congratulations to @kylewalker2, John Stones, @Kalvinphillips, @JackGrealish, and @PhilFoden on qualifying for #EURO2024 with England after a 3-1 win vs Italy tonight! 🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/pdnkPdzpOZ

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) October 17, 2023

Manchester City have won 11 of their past 13 matches against the Seagulls, however Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, with the Italian having been recently mooted as a potential successor to Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.

Saturday’s Premier League clash is the first of several key fixtures for Manchester City, and with that being said, here is the side we predict to take to the field in Saturday’s clash with Brighton!

Predicted XI:

Ederson should keep his place in goal for Manchester City.

Kyle Walker completed 90 minutes versus Italy on international duty, and we expect the Englishman to start and be tasked with handling the fiery Kaoru Mitoma.

We think John Stones will make his first league start of the season following his injury sustained in the community shield. We expect Stones to partner Ruben Dias at the back for Sky Blues.

We also expect Josko Gvardiol to complete the defence, with the Croatian being City’s standout performer in the defeat against Arsenal prior to the international break.

Rodrigo should be the first name on the team sheet on Saturday, returning to action after suspension.

We think Bernardo Silva will partner Matheus Nunes in midfield on Saturday, sitting in front of a returning Rodri.

Julian Alvarez has been on fire this season, and as such we expect the Argentine to play alongside Erling Haaland, who is overdue a City goal and will be hungry for one having scored a brace in this fixture last season.

Phil Foden will complete the side, starting on the left of the front three as the Manchester City look to get back to winning ways!

Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodrigo, Silva, Nunes; Alvarez, Haaland, Foden.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gomez, Phillips, Kovacic, Doku, Grealish.