Man City vs Brighton takes place in Round 21 of the 2025–26 Premier League, with kick-off scheduled for 01:00 AM on Thursday, 8 January 2026. The match will be played at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, under cold winter conditions with temperatures expected to be around 2°C on a grass surface.
Manchester City remain firmly in the title race and return home looking to turn recent draws into another winning run. Brighton & Hove Albion, meanwhile, continue to show resilience but have struggled for consistency against top-six opposition. With City’s attacking firepower and Brighton’s tactical discipline, this promises to be a compelling Premier League encounter.
Match Overview – Man City vs Brighton
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Manchester City vs Brighton |
| Competition | Premier League |
| Matchweek | Round 21 |
| Date & Kick-Off | Thursday, 8 January 2026 – 01:00 AM |
| Venue | Etihad Stadium |
| Location | Manchester, England |
| Capacity | 55,097 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Weather | 2°C – Cold |
Manchester City are expected to dominate possession and press high, while Brighton are likely to sit compact and look to exploit space on the counter through Mitoma and Rutter.
Recent Form Guide – Man City vs Brighton
Manchester City – Form Guide
| Date | Competition | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/01/26 | Premier League | Man City | 1–1 | Chelsea | Draw |
| 01/01/26 | Premier League | Sunderland | 0–0 | Man City | Draw |
| 27/12/25 | Premier League | Nottm Forest | 1–2 | Man City | Win |
| 20/12/25 | Premier League | Man City | 3–0 | West Ham | Win |
| 17/12/25 | Premier League | Man City | 2–0 | Brentford | Win |
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last five league matches, though back-to-back draws suggest they are not quite at peak sharpness despite controlling most games.
Brighton & Hove Albion – Form Guide
| Date | Competition | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/01/26 | Premier League | Brighton | 2–0 | Burnley | Win |
| 30/12/25 | Premier League | West Ham | 2–2 | Brighton | Draw |
| 27/12/25 | Premier League | Arsenal | 2–1 | Brighton | Loss |
| 20/12/25 | Premier League | Brighton | 0–0 | Sunderland | Draw |
| 13/12/25 | Premier League | Liverpool | 2–0 | Brighton | Loss |
Brighton have taken just one win from their last five matches, with goals hard to come by against stronger opponents.
Head-to-Head – Man City vs Brighton
Overall Record (All Competitions)
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| Brighton | 3 | 2 | 12 |
- Total Matches: 17
Recent Meetings (Last 5)
| Date | Competition | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/08/2025 | Premier League | Brighton | 2–1 | Man City |
| 15/03/2025 | Premier League | Man City | 2–2 | Brighton |
| 09/11/2024 | Premier League | Brighton | 2–1 | Man City |
| 25/04/2024 | Premier League | Brighton | 0–4 | Man City |
| 21/10/2023 | Premier League | Man City | 2–1 | Brighton |
Brighton have caused problems for City in recent seasons, but the Etihad has generally been a tougher venue for the Seagulls.
Top Scorers
- Manchester City: Erling Haaland – 19 goals, 4 assists (20 matches)
- Brighton: Danny Welbeck – 8 goals (19 matches)
Haaland remains the league’s most dangerous striker and a constant threat inside the penalty area.
Predicted Lineups – Man City vs Brighton
Manchester City (4-3-2-1)
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Matheus Nunes, Nathan Aké, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico O’Reilly – Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders – Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden – Erling Haaland
Brighton & Hove Albion (4-2-3-1)
Bart Verbruggen – Joel Veltman, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Ferdi Kadioglu – Yasin Ayari, Diego Gomez – Brajan Gruda, Georginio Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma – Charalampos Kostoulas
Final lineups will be confirmed one hour before kick-off.
Unavailable Players
| Team | Missing Players | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Man City | Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait Nouri | International duty |
| Josko Gvardiol, Nico González, Ruben Dias, Savinho, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb | Injury | |
| Brighton | Carlos Baleba | International duty |
| Yankuba Minteh, Adam Webster, Mats Wieffer, Solly March, Stefanos Tzimas | Injury |
City’s defensive absences are notable, but their midfield control remains elite with Rodri fit.
Statistical Projection – Man City vs Brighton
| Metric | Man City | Brighton |
|---|---|---|
| Win Probability | 55% | 20% |
| Draw Probability | 25% | – |
| Possession | 60–63% | 37–40% |
| Shots on Target | 6–8 | 3–4 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.9–2.3 | 0.9–1.2 |
| Clean Sheet Probability | 34% | 18% |
| Total Goals Range | 2–3 Goals | – |
| Most Likely Scorer | Erling Haaland | Danny Welbeck |
Statistical Projection – Man City vs Brighton
| Metric | Man City | Brighton |
|---|---|---|
| Win Probability | 55% | 20% |
| Draw Probability | 25% | – |
| Possession | 60–63% | 37–40% |
| Shots on Target | 6–8 | 3–4 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.9–2.3 | 0.9–1.2 |
| Clean Sheet Probability | 34% | 18% |
| Total Goals Range | 2–3 Goals | – |
| Most Likely Scorer | Erling Haaland | Danny Welbeck |
Final Score Prediction: : Manchester City 2–0 Brighton
Likely Scorers:
- Manchester City: Erling Haaland, Phil Foden
Confidence Levels
- Man City Win – 55%
- Draw – 25%
- Brighton Win – 20%
Read More:-
- Sassuolo vs Juventus Prediction, Lineups & Score Forecast , Round 19 Serie A
- West Ham vs Nottm Forest Prediction: Lineups, Head-to-Head & Score Forecast , Round 21 Premier League
Suggested Tips (Informational Only)
- Manchester City to Win
- Under 3.5 Total Goals
- Anytime Scorer: Erling Haaland
⚠️ All predictions are for informational purposes only. Betting involves risk—please play responsibly.
FAQs – Man City vs Brighton
1.What time is Man City vs Brighton?
Kick-off is at 01:00 AM on Thursday, 8 January 2026.
2.Where is the match being played?
At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England.
3.What is the predicted score for Man City vs Brighton?
A 2–0 home win for Manchester City is the most likely outcome based on form, squad quality, and statistical projections.