MANCHESTER CITY will have had a whole week to lick their wounds before welcoming Brighton to the Etihad as the English champions look to get back on track.
Pep Guardiola's side – or more accurately Erling Haaland – at last proved they could be stopped as the City juggernaut ground to a halt at an electric Anfield when they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
To be fair to City, they looked like they were in control and if it wasn't for a disallowed Phil Foden VAR goal and a piece of naive defending in the extreme from Joao Cancelo, they would arguably gone on to win the game, but they didn't and it proved they are fallible.
However, the bad news for Brighton is that City have had a full week to stew over the result and are a goalscoring machine at the Etihad – they have scored at least four goals in their last five home matches.
City were due to face Arsenal this week but that was postponed for the Gunners' rescheduled Europa League game against PSV Eindhoven so they will be fresh.
Brighton started the season in excellent fashion, but the wheels came off somewhat after a defeat at home to Spurs and a really tame loss away at Brentford.
They were in midweek action and failed to beat Nottingham Forest despite 70 per cent possession and wasting a host of chances.
How the bookies view it
Manchester City are clear favourites here at 1/5 with Betfred,
Brighton can be backed at 14/1 with William Hill and the draw is 13/2 with bet365.
Recent head to heads
City enjoyed a pair of comfortable three-goal victories last season – 3-0 in Manchester and 4-1 at the AMEX.
City have won the last eight home meetings between the sides which stretches all the way back to Maine Road days and Brighton have scored just one goal in that period!
Players to watch
With Erling Haaland at a best priced 1/2 to score, it's best to look elsewhere and Phil Foden – who had that goal disallowed and also scored against Southampton in their last game – could be a spot of value at 21/10 with bet365.
Danny Wellbeck is still yet to score a goal this season and the former Manchester United striker won't enjoy a pleasant reception here. He is 9/2 with Paddy Power to break his duck.
Anything else catch the eye?
A stung City will be desperate to get back on track and also importantly, keep on the coattails of surprise leaders Arsenal so anything other than a convincing win would be a shock.
Brighton have already won at Manchester United and drawn at Liverpool where they should have won, so this won't carry any fears, but the loss of manager Graham Potter appears to have had a detrimental effect on them and City should prove too strong.
With both half time and full time results and -1 on the handicaps being odds-on, try the hoss to win to nil at evens with BetVictor.
Haaland has scored13 goals in his last six home games which includes three hat-tricks. Back him to score at least two here at 2/1 with Paddy Power.
This English Premier League match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion will be played on Oct 22, 2022 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Manchester City vs Brighton and Hove Albion prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.