The Amex Stadium will host one of the most anticipated matches of the weekend as Brighton & Hove Albion prepare to welcome Manchester City in a clash that carries weight for both teams in very different ways.
The Seagulls head into this game looking to build on their emphatic 6-0 victory at Oxford United in the Carabao Cup — a performance that gave supporters a glimpse of the fluid attacking football Fabian Hurzeler wants to restore after a hesitant start in the league that has left them short on points compared to expectations.
Brighton’s league campaign has not started as smoothly as last season with the south coast club drawing with Fulham and losing to Everton, but Hurzeler will be encouraged by the goals his side scored in midweek.
City travel south following a jarring 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham, which exposed some cracks in their usual control and raised questions around balance. Pep Guardiola’s side start the weekend sixth in the table after one win and one loss.
However, the Catalan coach will be encouraged by the return of Rodri and Phil Foden, who made substitute appearances against Spurs. City’s response at the Amex will be closely watched as dropping more points this early in the season could bring pressure Guardiola would rather avoid.
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Brighton vs. Man City lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, injury latest
Brighton head into the weekend with key absentees but a largely fit squad. Adam Webster remains a long-term casualty after suffering a knee ligament injury in training last month with surgery scheduled in the coming weeks. Solly March is also unavailable, although the winger is expected to return to full training in September.
On the positive side, Georginio Rutter, who missed the last game with a minor knock has recovered to make the bench. Danny Welbeck will again lead the line.
Jack Hinshelwood is back to fitness and straight back into the Albion XI, partnering Carlos Baleba in midfield. Elsewhere, Joel Veltman and Diego Gomez replace Mats Wieffer and Matt O’Riley, the latter of whom has been linked with a move away from the Amex Stadium before tomorrow’s deadline.
Brighton starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Verbruggen (GK) — Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper — Baleba, Hinshelwood— Minteh, Gomez, Mitoma — Welbeck
Injured: Webster (knee), March (knee), Enciso (knee), Rutter (doubt)
Suspended: None
City welcome back key players for their clash with Brighton, although Ederson remains on the bench: the Brazilian is expected to sign for Galatasaray before the transfer window closes. Compatriot and fellow transfer-gossip fixture Savinho is still absent.
Josko Gvardiol has resumed training but remains out, while playmakers Rayan Cherki (thigh) and Phil Foden (knock) will be missed. Guardiola has better news from Rayan Ait-Nouri, who has recovered from the ankle injury that forced him off against Tottenham and starts at left-back.
The biggest boost for City is Rodri being fit to start at the base of a midfield that is lacking Mateo Kovacic, who continues his recovery from Achilles surgery. Captain Bernardo Silva returns, while there are a couple of changes in the back four, with Matheus Nunes and Abdukodir Khusanov in for Rico Lewis and Ruben Dias.
Man City starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Trafford (GK) — Nunes, Khusanov, Stones, Ait-Nouri — Reijnders, Rodri, Silva — Bobb, Haaland, Marmoush
Injured: Kovacic (Achilles), Savinho (unspecified), Gvardiol (knock), Foden (knock), Cherki (thigh)
Suspended: None
Brighton vs. Man City match details
- Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
- Kickoff time: 2 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT
- Location: Amex Stadium, Brighton and Hove (England)
- Competition: Premier League
- Referee: Darren England
- VAR: Paul Tierney
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