The vastly experienced midfielder has highlighted reasons why the Seagulls will improve as the season develops.
And he says the squad feel “a bit hard done by” with their tally of just one point from a possible six so far.
Albion face of one Milner’s old clubs at the Amex on Sunday (2pm) hoping to repeat their home win over Pep Guardiola’s side of last season.
City come into the game off a defeat having lost at home to Tottenham while Albion had the lift of a midweek 6-0 cup win at Oxford.
Milner told The Argus: “They are a top team, it is always difficult to play against City.
“Hopefully the driver of only having one point when we maybe feel a bit hard done by with that, and a decent result on Wednesday, will give us a lift as well.
“We go into that game with a good feeling and hopefully, if we play our best, we know we can beat them.
“It is always going to be tough and you have to play your best football.
“But the parts we have shown in the first two games, there is enough here to do that.
“We just have to put it all together with the ball, without the ball, and be pretty ruthless in front of goal.”
Milner won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup in five seasons with City but it is now ten years since he left for Liverpool.
He said: “It’s a long time since I’ve been there so there are not too many faces I know. Football moves quickly.”