By Ian King
Historic grudge match for these with lengthy reminiscences
There’s a little little bit of historic historical past right here, in that Metropolis relegated Brighton from the highest flight on the penultimate weekend of the 1982/83 season by successful 1-0 at The Goldstone Floor. Metropolis might need thought-about that to be revenge for Brighton beating them 4-0 within the FA Cup earlier that season, however have been relegated themselves per week later.
Extra not too long ago, Albion’s document towards Metropolis has been atrocious since their 2017 return to the highest flight. They’ve solely crushed them as soon as, on the very finish of the 2020/21 season, with their opponents having already wrapped up the Premier League title for that season. Metropolis have gained each different assembly between them bar one, when the 2 groups performed out a 1-1 draw on the Amex in Might 2023.
The current day
The historical past books might not be encouraging for Brighton, however present type affords them larger hope. Whereas they might have in the end misplaced at Anfield final weekend, this was their first defeat in 4, and so they’ve already crushed Manchester United, Newcastle and Spurs up to now.
In the meantime, Manchester Metropolis want a win. These hoping that their current blip had bottomed out with final weekend’s defeat at Bournemouth ended up doubly disenchanted after they have been well-beaten of their midweek Champions League journey to Lisbon; they’ve now misplaced three in a row for the primary time since 2018. There’s a case for saying that Metropolis do that in some unspecified time in the future each season, however there have been few indicators of enchancment on Tuesday night time.
Key gamers
For Brighton up to now this season, Danny Welbeck has certainly been ‘Dat Man’, with six objectives and two assists in his first ten video games. However extra broadly, the important thing to the house workforce’s risk is that it could come from so many sources. 9 totally different gamers have contributed to their twelve assists up to now.
Harm-ravaged although they’re, Manchester Metropolis are nonetheless glittered with stardust. Phil Foden scored their early opener towards Sporting, and so they may do with an enormous efficiency from him on Saturday night.
Harm information
Metropolis are nonetheless in an harm disaster however the strain is beginning to ease barely, with Kevin De Bruyne making a quick look in midweek which has led to hypothesis that he’ll quickly be returning to the primary workforce. Rúben Dias and John Stones are nonetheless lacking, although, and the shortage of that defensive pair has been hurting them. Brighton may welcome again Yankuba Minteh and João Pedro, although Adam Webster, James Milner and Solly March all stay absent.
Prediction
Brighton’s historic document towards Metropolis could also be dreadful, however so was Bournemouth’s going into their assembly with them final weekend, and everyone knows what occurred there. Ought to it occur, the return of De Bruyne might give them just a little extra zest in assault, however Brighton’s array of attacking choices will probably be a tricky take a look at for a makeshift defence, so a rating draw stands out as the closing end result.
Prediction: Brighton 2-2 Manchester Metropolis
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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