Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City, Premier League Matchday 38: Team News, Preview and Prediction

Competition/Round: 2018/19 English Premier League – Matchday 38

Date/Time: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester City – Sunday, 12 May 2019, 15:00 GMT (UK); 10:00 EST, 07:00 PST (USA)

Venue: American Express Community Stadium, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Match Officials:

Referee: Michael Oliver

Assistants: Stuart Burt, Simon Bennett

Fourth Official: Paul Tierney

TV Info: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); NBCSN (USA)

Live Stream: SKY GO Extra (UK); NBC Sports Live, Fubo.tv (USA) Fubo.tv shows every Manchester City game in a high-quality, legal stream. New to Fubo.tv? Click here to sign up for a discounted rate.

Radio: BBC Radio Manchester (UK); TalkSport Radio World (USA)

Preview:

Alas, the 2018/19 English Premier League season will conclude on Sunday. Brighton & Hove Albion will host Manchester City on EPL Matchday 38.

Following Cardiff City’s loss to Crystal Palace on EPL Matchday 37, Brighton & Hove Albion guaranteed their safety and will compete in the EPL next season. Having achieved this feat, one must wonder how Brighton will fare in this match. Will the Seagulls celebrate their survival and have their minds on the summer break? Or will they play spoiler on the final day of the 2018/19 EPL season?

Meanwhile, Manchester City know their objective. Should they win this fixture, they will be crowned Champions of England. The Sky Blues overcame a variety of difficult obstacles over the past few weeks, and it will be a road trip to East Sussex that will determine their fate.

Team News:

Brighton & Hove Albion are without the injured Davy Pröpper, Jason Steele and José Izquierdo.

Manchester City’s Claudio Bravo, Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy are injured. Kevin De Bruyne is questionable.

Possible Lineups:

Brighton & Hove Albion

Formation: 4-3-3

Ryan; Saltor, Duffy, Dunk, Bernardo; Gross, Stephens, Bissouma; Knockaert, Murray, March

Manager: Chris Hughton

Manchester City

Formation: 4-3-3

Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko; B. Silva, Gündoğan, D. Silva; Sterling, Agüero, Sané

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Prediction:

Brighton & Hove Albion struggled for most of this season, where their last win came against Crystal Palace at the start of March. The Seagulls then lost six matches from ten, but draws against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Arsenal were enough to see the Seagulls avoid relegation. Whilst Brighton are winless in their last five EPL fixtures, they have not conceded more than a goal a game in their last three matches.

With this in mind, it is predicted this will be another difficult fixture for Manchester City. The Sky Blues won by narrow margins in four of their last five matches, and should they hope to retain the EPL title, they will need to maintain their composure. As they approach the final day of the EPL season, the City faithful will hope for their team to score a few early goals in order to ease their nerves as City look to retain the EPL title.

Overall, this Manchester side has shown true character over the past few weeks. They have been patient when it mattered most, did not fold under pressure under difficult circumstances and found a way to keep pressing forward. Older supporters may still be nervous, believing a “typical City” moment could occur, but based on how they have played in recent matches, it seems City have vanquished these demons.

City’s only downfall will be if they are complacent in this match. If they enter this fixture believing they are already champions, it is likely an upset will occur.

Should they control these feelings, however, it is believed they will win this fixture. It will be a difficult match against a stubborn Brighton side, but by full time it is predicted Manchester City will retain the EPL title.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Manchester City