Sussex

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton had never won at Manchester City in 16 previous league visits but they ended that run through an early goal and stout defending.

Yasin Ayari made amends for his penalty miss in the shootout by converting at the same end for his third league goal of an eye-catching campaign.

Fabian Hurzeler's side have been the most entertaining Premier League side in terms of goals scored this season and their 24 strikes is unmatched by any other top-flight team.

They are a very well-drilled side, with relentless pressing and the reward for their supporters to make the second long trip up from the south coast in the space of three days was a thoroughly deserved three points.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Really happy for everyone involved. A long journey, everyone contributed to the win. Really happy who the did the work in the shadows and we showed another good performance on the pitch. Togetherness gives us the rewards. On Wednesday we missed the luck, today we had a bit of luck but you have to deserve the luck and everyone worked hard for today.

"It was a completely defensive performance where everyone had the mindset 'I need to defend'. We would have preferred to have more of the ball but in certain moments you know when you come here you need to suffer and defend well in the box. We can talk about individual players but in the end everyone had a defensive mindset and stuck together."

On belief in squad and Bart Verbruggen providing stability: "Football is a lot about belief. You need to have players who spread that belief and Bart is a prime example of that. But they all have this belief that are capable of coming here and competing and winning these games. It's important to have this mindset and to spread it around the environment we work in and belief is key to winning these types of games.

"Coming here to [Manchester] City against one of the best teams in the league is always special. You have to be brilliant at the basics and everyone was contributing, from Tuesday when we travelled and we wanted to have a good four days and enjoy it and finish strong. Everyone can enjoy this win today."

Did you know?

• Brighton have beaten Manchester City away from home in any competition for the very first time, at the 18th attempt (drawn five, lost 12).

• Brighton have kept a clean sheet in six of their nine games - more than any other in the Premier League this season.

• Maxim De Cuyper already has as many goal involvements in the Premier League this season (five - two goals, three assists) as in his first season in the competition in 2025-26 in 30 games (five - two goals, three assists).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester City's performance

What did you make of Brighton's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are eight games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Chelsea v Manchester United (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Leeds United

• Brentford v Nottingham Forest

• Coventry City v Sunderland - first half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, second half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Hull City v Ipswich Town

• Manchester City v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham v Crystal Palace (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Aston Villa v Fulham (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated.

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Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Top-flight leaders Manchester City were given an almighty scare at home by third-placed Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday but they have won their past 10 league games on Halloween.

After making a combined 16 changes to their starting line-ups in midweek, which City won on penalties, both sides will be back to full strength for Saturday's rematch in the league (15:00 GMT).

Signs of vulnerability for City

Moving on from Pep Guardiola was never likely to be easy for Manchester City but their status as league leaders and Carabao Cup quarter-finalists shows they remain an excellent side.

Nonetheless, City's 100% winning league record this season was ended by Aston Villa last Saturday and they were rattled by visitors Brighton in midweek before winning a penalty shootout.

One weakness of Enzo Maresca's City is that they can be open in midfield and invite pressure. They have faced nine shots from counter-attacks across their past five games in all competitions, compared to five in their first nine fixtures.

While just one counter-attack has led to a goal, City have followed a run of five clean sheets in six matches by conceding 11 times in five subsequent outings.

Only five teams in Europe's five biggest leagues have a worse recent defensive record in all competitions over that period.

Albion's least successful trip

Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler felt Manchester City "had the luck" during Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie, adding: "We have a great chance on Saturday to take revenge."

He has elected to keep his squad in the north-west in-between successive visits to the Etihad Stadium, which come amid a sequence of five away matches in a row. Brighton are winless from the first three, each in a different competition.

Albion, though, remain the league's top scorers and a point this weekend would give them their highest tally after nine games of a top-flight season.

They are unbeaten in four league matches against Manchester City, including back-to-back draws at the Etihad, but have never won away in this fixture in 16 attempts.

It's the most times Brighton have faced a league opponent away without ever winning, as well as being Manchester City's longest unbeaten home record against a team without ever losing.

Manchester City knocked Brighton out of the Carabao Cup on penalties on Wednesday but I don't think we learned too much because both sides made so many changes.

I backed both teams to win last week - and was wrong both times - but I felt City played well against Aston Villa and were a bit unlucky to lose, and the same applied to Brighton in their defeat against Liverpool. They definitely had enough chances to get something from the game.

I am covering this game for Radio 5 Live. There should be some goals in it and I can see Erling Haaland getting a couple of them.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here