Mansion Sports – Manchester City are eager to extend the club’s winning record while applying pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on matchday 21 of the 2025/2026 Premier League season.

This match is scheduled to take place at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, 07 January 2026 at 19.30 local time.

The Sky Blues’ hopes of reclaiming the league title suffered another setback after a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, while The Seagulls managed to end their winless run by defeating Burnley 2-0.

Before this match kicks off, here is Mansion Sports’ prediction for the Manchester City vs Brighton January 2026 lineups.

Conditions of Both Teams Ahead of the Match

Manchester City

Facing a Chelsea side without a permanent manager, lacking confidence, and dealing with a defensive crisis should have been an ideal scenario for Manchester City.

And indeed it was, as Pep Guardiola’s side dominated both before and after the opening goal from Tijjani Reijnders.

However, The Citizens paid a heavy price for failing to double their advantage.

Chelsea, under the guidance of Calum McFarlane, surprisingly managed to equalize through Enzo Fernandez in the closing minutes, forcing Guardiola’s team to settle for consecutive league draws.

While City were held by Sunderland and Chelsea over the past two weeks, Arsenal continued to collect victories and have now pulled away from the chasing pack.

Manchester City are currently six points behind The Gunners and are only ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference.

A victory in this match would at least cut the gap to three points ahead of Arsenal’s home fixture against Liverpool on Thursday.

Conversely, another draw would equal Guardiola’s personal record, as he has only twice in his managerial career recorded three consecutive league draws.

Nevertheless, Wednesday has traditionally been a very favorable day for Manchester City. They have won each of their last 22 Premier League matches played on that particular weekday, making it the longest winning streak by any team on a specific day in the competition’s history.

Brighton

That record is certainly unwelcome news for Brighton, but The Seagulls’ recent form offers encouragement.

Fabian Hürzeler’s side managed to erase their poor, winless December by claiming a convincing victory over Burnley on matchday 20.

The south coast club ended 2025 with three draws and three defeats from their previous six matches, but goals from Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari were enough to send Burnley home empty-handed from the Amex Stadium last weekend.

That result places Brighton exactly in mid-table as the Premier League season passes its halfway point.

A shock victory at the Etihad could even see them draw level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea.

While Manchester City’s defensive issues continue to mount, Brighton arrive at the Etihad having conceded at least two goals in each of their last three away matches. The last time they endured a worse run on the road was during the 2022-2023 season.

Hürzeler did mastermind a special 2-1 victory over Manchester City in late August.

However, The Sky Blues are unbeaten in their last 15 home league matches against Brighton, which represents their longest unbeaten home run against a single opponent.

Manchester City vs Brighton Predicted Lineups – January 2026

Manchester City (4-1-4-1)

Injuries once again compounded Manchester City’s problems against Chelsea. Two key defenders, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, were forced off with injuries that Pep Guardiola fears could sideline both players for several weeks.

They join Oscar Bobb, who is sidelined with a thigh injury, John Stones with an unspecified injury, Mateo Kovacic with an ankle issue, Savinho with an undisclosed injury, as well as Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush, who are representing their respective national teams at the Africa Cup of Nations. The status of Nico Gonzalez also remains uncertain.

Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov are expected to step into the defensive line in place of Dias and Gvardiol.

In attack, Erling Haaland will be hoping to avoid going four consecutive league matches without a goal for the first time in his career.

Brighton (4-2-3-1)

For Brighton, the victory over Burnley was also marked by an emotional moment with the return of Pascal Gross to the Amex Stadium.

The German midfielder came on as a second-half substitute after returning from Borussia Dortmund.

Fabian Hürzeler may also receive a boost with the potential return of Yankuba Minteh, who has been recovering from a thigh injury, and Mats Wieffer, who has been dealing with a toe problem.

However, Carlos Baleba remains unavailable due to the Africa Cup of Nations, while Solly March, Adam Webster, and Stefanos Tzimas continue to struggle with knee injuries.

Veteran striker Danny Welbeck has failed to score in nine league appearances at the Etihad Stadium.

There is a strong possibility that this record will continue, given that Charalampos Kostoulas impressed by registering an assist on his first Premier League start last weekend and could once again be trusted from the opening whistle.

With a crucial schedule, Manchester City’s formidable home record, and Brighton’s renewed momentum, this match is expected to be fiercely contested from the opening minute.

Understanding the Manchester City vs Brighton January 2026 lineups provides valuable insight into the tactical approaches and strengths of both teams.

This fixture is not merely about three points, but also about maintaining momentum amid the intense competition of this Premier League season.