Diego Gomez of Brighton & Hove Albion starts against Manchester CityDiego Gomez of Brighton & Hove Albion starts against Manchester City
Diego Gomez of Brighton & Hove Albion starts against Manchester City
All the latest Premier League team news for Brighton and Hove Albion at Manchester City
Midfielder Diego Gomez was a notable addition to the Brighton midfield for their crunch Premier League clash at Manchester City.
Gomez arrived for £12m from Inter Miami last January and this is just his second start for the Seagulls with six Premier League appearances in total.
The Paraguay international is a powerful and skilful performer and his midfield partnership with Carlos Baleba should provide a formidable barrier for City to break through.
Gomez’s inclusion sees Sweden international midfielder Yasin Ayari drop to the bench with Jack Hinshelwood continuing his role at right back as Joel Veltman (foot) and Tariq Lamptey (unknown) miss out.
Jan Paul Van Hecke – who enjoyed a fine tussle with Erling Haaland in the reverse fixture – and Adam Webster resume their partnership in the centre of the defence with Pervis Estupinan at left back.
Flying winger Yankuba Minteh is on the right with Japan international Kaoru Mitoma on the left. The impressive Georginio Rutter continues in the No 10 role while Joao Pedro gets the nod ahead of former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck, who is on the bench.
Brighton arrive on the back of six victories in all competitions but they have never beaten Manchester City away from home.
Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Hinshelwood, Van Hecke, Webster, Estupinan, Baleba, Gomez, Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma, Joao Pedro. Substitutes: Rushworth, Cashin, Gruda, Ayari, Adingra Knight, Slater, Welbeck, Wieffer.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola made four changes to the side that lost at Nottingham Forest last week. Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is in for Ederson, while Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Mathues Nunes drop to the bench with Omar Marmoush, Ilkay Gundogan and Rico Lewis recalled.
Manchester City XI: Ortega, Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, Gonzalez, Gundogan, Savinho, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland. Substitutes: Carson, Kovacic, Grealish, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Reis, Nunes, Foden, McAtee.