Updated 29 October 2026.
Manchester City host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 31 October, kick-off 3pm UK. The two met at the Etihad in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and drew 2-2. Brighton arrive with the best goals-for record in the Premier League and the highest clean-sheet rate, and City have the most shots on target in the division.
City sit 1st in the Premier League table on 21 points from eight games and Brighton are 3rd on 16. We make City the likelier winners at 54%, though 1-1 is the likeliest single scoreline.
City have won seven of their eight league games and lost one. They average 2.5 goals a game, the 2nd most in the league, and 5.5 shots on target, the most. Three-quarters of their league games have gone over 2.5 goals, the highest rate in the division. At the back they concede 1.13 a game, the 6th fewest, and have kept a clean sheet in 38% of matches.
City's only league defeat came 2-1 at Villa on 24 October, after a 5-1 win over AEK Athens in the Champions League and a 3-2 league win against Ipswich. Before that came a 2-4 home defeat to PSG in the Champions League. They then drew 2-2 with Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Brighton's 16 points come with 23 goals scored, the most in the league at 2.88 a game, and only 7 conceded. They have kept a clean sheet in 63% of their league games, the highest rate going, and both teams have scored in only 25% of them, the 3rd lowest. Their 5.38 shots on target a game is the 2nd most.
Brighton's last five games began with a 4-0 win against Žalgiris in the Europa Conference League and a 5-0 win over Palace on 18 October. They have not won since: a goalless draw at Jablonec, a 2-0 loss at Liverpool on Sunday and the 2-2 draw at City on Wednesday, with two goals scored in the three games.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernández; Cherki, Ndiaye, Doku; Haaland
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Costinha, Dunk, Vuskovic, De Cuyper; Groß, Ayari, Andrés; Gómez, Boscagli; Kostoulas
Erling Haaland has had a shot on target in eight straight games, averaging 1.9, and two or more shots in eight straight, averaging 3.8 a game. He is 1.18 at Ladbrokes for a shot on target and 1.07 for two or more shots.
Charalampos Kostoulas has had a shot in eight straight games for Brighton, 2.8 a game over the run. A shot is 1.11 at bet365.
Yasin Ayari has had two or more shots in seven straight games, averaging 2.7. Two or more is 2.05 at Ladbrokes, and one or more is 1.11 at bet365.
Rayan Cherki has had a shot in six straight games and averages 2.5 a game. Luka Vuskovic has made at least one tackle in seven straight for Brighton and is 1.30 at bet365 to make it eight.
We back Manchester City to win at 1.65 with Ladbrokes. Our model gives them 54%, with 23% for the draw and 23% for Brighton.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| Man City win | 1.65 (Ladbrokes) | 54% |
| Draw | 4.40 (Ladbrokes) | 23% |
| Brighton win | 4.75 (bet365) | 23% |
| Both teams to score | 1.48 (Ladbrokes) | 62% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.40 (bet365) | 63% |
We project 1.99 goals for City and 1.25 for Brighton. We predict 1-1, the likeliest single scoreline at 10.2%, with 2-1 to City just behind at 9.7%, though we make City the likelier winners at 54%. Both teams have scored in only a quarter of Brighton's league games, but we put both teams scoring here at 62%, and over 2.5 goals at 63%.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2026/27 Premier League kicks off at 3pm UK time on Saturday 31 October 2026 at the Etihad Stadium. City are 1st in the table on 21 points and Brighton are 3rd on 16.
We predict 1-1 for Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2026/27 Premier League, the likeliest single scoreline at 10%, though we make City the likelier winners at 54%, against 23% for a draw and 23% for a Brighton win.
Manchester City are favourites to beat Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2026/27 Premier League on 31 October, and we give them a 54% chance of winning, against 23% for a draw and 23% for Brighton. City are 1st in the table and Brighton 3rd.
We give both teams to score a 62% chance and over 2.5 goals 63% in Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2026/27 Premier League. Both teams have scored in only 25% of Brighton's league games this season, the 3rd lowest rate, and in 63% of City's.
Erling Haaland has had a shot on target in eight straight games for Manchester City in the 2026/27 Premier League, averaging 1.9 shots on target a game, and has had two or more shots in each of them, averaging 3.8 a game.
Manchester City are 1st in the 2026/27 Premier League on 21 points from eight games (7 wins, 1 defeat), and Brighton & Hove Albion are 3rd on 16 points (5 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats) ahead of their match on 31 October.
For the 3pm UK kick-off of Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2026/27 Premier League on 31 October 2026, Manchester City's possible starting lineup is Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernández; Cherki, Ndiaye, Doku; Haaland. Brighton's possible starting lineup is Verbruggen; Costinha, Dunk, Vuskovic, De Cuyper; Groß, Ayari, Andrés; Gómez, Boscagli; Kostoulas.