Manchester Metropolis’s reliance on 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been laid naked in current weeks.
The reigning Premier League champions have tasted three successive defeats for the primary time since April 2018 and their lack of ability to protect towards swift, direct transitions has confirmed pricey in losses to Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and Sporting CP. Even the ridiculously proficient sharpshooting of Erling Haaland has been absent in current encounters.
Man Metropolis already discover themselves two factors behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and might ill-afford to lose any extra floor on Arne Slot’s facet. A visit to Brighton & Hove Albion is way from easy nevertheless it presents Pep Guardiola’s facet a shot at redemption.
Right here is how the Spaniard might line his facet up towards the Seagulls.
GK: Ederson – Ederson has been left uncovered by a misfiring defence in current matches however the Brazilian has solely managed two clear sheets in 11 Premier League outings. Man Metropolis’s points on the again might be uncovered by an offensive-minded Brighton staff.
RB: Kyle Walker – The 34-year-old seems to have misplaced a yard of tempo, as was evident within the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth final weekend. Any rustiness can be challenged by the difficult Kaoru Mitoma on the AMEX Stadium.
CB: Manuel Akanji – The Swiss defender was responsible of conceding 4 towards Sporting midweek, partnering the inexperienced Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. He did not have a shocker in Lisbon however will wish to enhance towards the in-form Danny Welbeck and returning Joao Pedro.
CB: Nathan Ake – Accidents to John Stones and Ruben Dias – who have been each unnoticed of their respective nations’ squads for the November worldwide break – leaves Guardiola quick on centre-back cowl. Ake will come into the beginning XI on Saturday.
LB: Josko Gvardiol – He gifted Sporting a penalty with a very pointless shove within the again and can must be extra clever when dealing with Ferdi Kadioglu, who scored a wonderful aim at Anfield final weekend.
DM: Mateo Kovacic – Kovacic is not any Rodri, that is for certain, however he is provided extra consistency and defensive safety than Man Metropolis’s different midfielders in current weeks. He’ll anchor the backline and should be switched on to Brighton’s counter-attacking potential.
RM: Savinho – Savinho is a pleasure to look at in full flight however he should begin including objectives and assists to his recreation. He is but to get off the mark in Man Metropolis blue, failing to seek out the online in any of his 14 appearances since his summer season swap.
CM: Phil Foden – Having dazzled in Europe this time period with three objectives, Foden has been unable to translate his type to the Premier League. There are indicators that the 24-year-old is getting again to his finest, although.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan – Gundogan’s return to the Etihad Stadium has been removed from plain crusing, particularly in current outings. Guardiola might go for the German over Bernardo Silva on Saturday to assist shore up the engine room.
LM: Jeremy Doku – Doku’s velocity and explosiveness ought to trigger Brighton’s Joel Veltman all method of issues – if he can produce the top product that has been sorely missing from his recreation.
ST: Erling Haaland – Haaland is with out a aim in his final two outings regardless of posting an xG of two.31. He smashed the crossbar along with his penalty midweek and has appeared uncharacteristically wasteful in entrance of aim.