Manchester City vs Brighton: Predicted City starting eleven and latest City injury news

After drawing their past two Premier League matches against Sunderland and Chelsea, Manchester City face a pivotal Premier League fixture tonight against Brighton at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s side will be desperate to pick up three points tonight ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool. City enters tonight’s match with a squad that is enduring an injury crisis. They will take on a Brighton side that can be a handful on its day. Fabian Hurzeler’s side also beat City 2-1 at the Amex Stadium earlier this season and they’ll fancy themselves to get at Pep Guardiola’s side tonight at the Etihad.

Here is the latest City injury news and my predicted City starting eleven ahead of tonight’s match.

Latest Manchester City injury news.

There is a host of Manchester City players who are unavailable for tonight’s match due to injury and international duty. Mateo Kovacic, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Savinho and Oscar Bobb will all miss tonight’s match due to injury. Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush continue to be unavailable due to their participation at AFCON.

Pep Guardiola informed the media yesterday that Ruben Dias will be out for between four and six weeks due to the hamstring injury he sustained in the latter stages of Manchester City’s 1-all draw with Chelsea. Josko Gvardiol suffered a fractured tibial bone in his right leg against Chelsea and it is unlikely that he will play again this season.

The good news for Manchester City is that Nico is available to play in tonight’s match. Nico missed City’s last match against Chelsea due to an injury he sustained against Sunderland. But he is available for selection tonight which is good news for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Predicted City starting eleven.

Gianluigi Donnarumma: The Italian keeper is a certain starter in goal and his leadership at the back will be vital with Ruben Dias sidelined.

Matheus Nunes: I could see Rico Lewis starting at right-back but I believe that Pep Guardiola will start Matheus Nunes again.

Abdukodir Khusanov: Khusanov now has a chance at an extended run in the City first team. He’ll start tonight and his pace and strength at the back could be key to containing Brighton.

Nathan Ake: Ake is now an important player for Manchester City with Dias and Gvardiol injured. He’ll start tonight and he needs to play well and provide leadership at the back.

Nico O’Reilly: City don’t have another option at left-back so I can see Nico O’Reilly once again starting.

Rodri: I wouldn’t be surprised if Rodri starts on the bench tonight. But City will need his leadership so I can see Pep Guardiola starting Rodri in what is a crucial match for his team.

Nico: The Spanish midfielder is fit again and I can see him starting with Rodri in midfield to give Bernardo Silva a much-needed rest.

Rayan Cherki: Like Phil Foden, Cherki was well below his best against Chelsea. I think Cherki will start and the hope is that he can put in a match-winning performance.

Phil Foden: Foden needs to put in a big performance tonight. His form has dropped off of late and City need him to lift.

Jeremy Doku: I believe that Pep Guardiola’s side will need Jeremy Doku’s pace and directness against Brighton. He’s made two appearances off the bench now and hopefully he can start against Brighton.

Erling Haaland: I didn’t feel that Haaland was poor against Chelsea, he just didn’t score. Manchester City need him to fire tonight to lift his team and the home crowd.