Man Cityvs.Brighton

It is fair to say that the Catalan is experiencing his most challenging season as Man City boss since his debut campaign on the blue side of Manchester in 2016-17 when his side failed to win a single trophy.

The Citizens are in danger of ending the current campaign trophyless, and Guardiola will endeavour to avoid that by steering his side to FA Cup glory, but his immediate focus in on the race to secure a top-four, or top-five, finish in the Premier League.

After winning an unprecedented four English top-flight titles in a row, Man City currently sit fifth in the table and are involved in a hotly-contested battle to secure Champions League football for next season.

With "10 finals" remaining in the Premier League, according to Guardiola, City currently sit just two points behind Chelsea in fourth, while Fulham down in 10th are only five points behind the Citizens.

Guardiola looking to avoid unwanted managerial first in Brighton clash

Man City suffered a setback in their quest to qualify for the Champions League last weekend when they were beaten 1-0 away against third-placed Nottingham Forest.

The Citizens have now lost nine Premier League games so far this season, the joint-most league defeats that Guardiola has suffered in a single campaign in his managerial career (also nine in 2019-20).

Guardiola has never lost 10 league matches in single season in his career and Brighton could be the club that inflicts this unwanted first on the Catalan coach when they travel to the Etihad on Saturday.

Brighton have never won an away match against Man City in their entire history, but they head to Manchester in buoyant mood having won each of their last six games in all competitions, including each of their last four in the top flight to push them back into contention for Champions League qualification.

The Seagulls are bidding to complete their first-ever league double over Man City after beating them 2-1 in the reverse fixture at the Amex Stadium in November, and Guardiola has heaped praise on the South Coast club ahead of their visit to the Etihad.

Guardiola: 'Brighton are absolutely one of the toughest opponents'

"I think Brighton are one of the best clubs working on and off the pitch," Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday.

"I think they started with Graham Potter, they made a step, forward again under Roberto De Zerbi, and now with this exceptional young manager who's doing incredibly good things.

"It's not a surprise I'd say, because they're doing really, really well in the transfer market and the way they play.

"They're absolutely one of the toughest opponents and in the past there are many teams who were in the middle positions or bottom or whatever, but they make an incredible step up in terms of organisation and consistency for many, many years, that's the reality.

"It's not a secret what they've been doing. They're in this position because they're doing good things, they deserve to be [where they are] in the table."

Man City will take some comfort from the fact that they boast an impressive record of 12 wins and two draws from 14 home encounters with Brighton, winning each of the last 10 in a row, and this is the most times they have faced an opponent at home without ever losing in their league history (14).

Meanwhile, Man City's leading marksman Erling Haaland is bidding to become a centurion and set a new Premier League record this weekend.

Written by

Oliver Thomas