Brighton vs. Man City lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news and injuries: Grealish back after England call-up?

Manchester City will try to pull out of what has come to feel like their traditional autumn downturn when they visit Brighton on Saturday.

Bournemouth handed City their first Premier League loss since last December — a run spanning 32 games — when they claimed a deserved 2-1 triumph at the Vitality Stadium last weekend.

However, that result was sandwiched by a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and a chastening 4-1 loss at Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League.

City’s slump has coincided with a stacked injury list that Pep Guardiola continues to manage, but he could welcome back some familiar faces against the Seagulls, who return to action following back-to-back cup and league losses to Liverpool.

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Brighton vs. Manchester City lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news

Much has been made of City’s injury woes but Fabian Hurzeler is also managing a tough and ever-changing situation in the Albion treatment room. Solly March (ACL), James Milner and Adam Webster (both thigh) are more likely to return after the international break, although Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley could feature this weekend after ankle injuries.

Lewis Dunk (calf), Yankuba Minteh (muscular), Yasin Ayari (ankle) and Carlos Baleba (knee) all face late checks.

Brighton (4-4-2, right to left): (GK) Verbruggen — Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan — Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Mitoma — Rutter, Welbeck

Injured: March, Milner, Webster, Joao Pedro (doubt), O’Riley (doubt), Dunk (calf), Minteh (calf), Ayari (calf), Baleba (calf)
Suspended: None

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Jack Grealish has not featured since an injury in training in the aftermath of City’s 2-1 win at Wolves on October 20. Guardiola said he expected his record signing to be out until after the November international break but Grealish was called up by interim England boss Lee Carsley on Thursday for the forthcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

Carsley told reporters Grealish had returned to training this week and Guardiola might gamble on including the left-winger and key playmaker Kevin De Bruyne as City pursue a change of fortunes.

Rodri‘s ACL absence is being keenly felt in a porous midfield but Guardiola’s biggest problems arguably come in defence, where Nathan Ake is the latest absentee alongside Ruben Dias and John Stones already sidelined. Captain Kyle Walker should return after a week’s training to build fitness following a knee complaint.

Man City (4-3-3, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Walker, Akanji, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol — De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva — Foden, Haaland, Grealish

Injured: Dias, Stones, Rodri, Bobb, Ake
Suspended: None

Brighton vs. Manchester City live stream, TV channel

Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions: