City face Brighton test, Liverpool will not take Everton ‘lightly’
City will look to right the ship ater back-to-back league losses before the break let them third in the EPL standings
Manchester City are aiming to avoid a third straight Premier League defeat for the first time in seven years when they host Brighton on Saturday, while Arsenal will provide a stiff test for resurgent Chelsea.
Four sides are in the running to top the table at some stage this weekend, starting with Liverpool when they take on Everton in the Merseyside derby.
City’s defeats by Wolves and Arsenal before the international break were the first back-toback losses in the league for Pep Guardiola’s men since 2018.
You have to go back to the days of Manuel Pellegrini in early 2016 for the last time the champions lost three in a row, but Brighton pose a significant threat to City, who are on a run of 20 straight home wins in all competitions.
Guardiola has hailed Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years”.
“I admire (De Zerbi) for the fact that it doesn’t mater for the team he plays,” Guardiola said. “He’s proving you don’t need to be at top clubs where you can get the team to play the way you want.
“He is converting Brighton into a top club. I enjoy watching Roberto De Zerbi’s teams play. Brighton will be one of the toughest test we will have this season.”
City have even appeared to copy the Seagulls’ trait of trying to bait sides into pressing before quickly moving the ball into space this season.
However, Brighton have struggled to cope with the demands of the club’s first-ever European campaign on top of their Premier League commitments. De Zerbi’s men are without a win in their past four games in all competitions, though they are still sixth in the table.
Arsenal’s late winner against City two weeks ago has fuelled the Gunners’ belief that they can end a 20-year wait to win the title.
Mikel Arteta’s men are second, behind north London rivals Totenham only on goals scored, and will end Saturday top of the table if they win because Spurs are not in action until Monday.
The international break came at the wrong time for Chelsea ater they posted back-to-back league wins under Mauricio Pochetino for the first time.
Anotherseasonofcontrastingfortunesappears to be unfolding on Merseyside. Liverpool have shown signs of being back to their best under Jurgen Klopp and are just three points off the top.
Everton, by contrast, look set for another relegation batle ater taking just seven points from a sot schedule in their opening eight games.
The Toffees have not won at Anfield in front of a crowd since 1999.
“Their record is very strong, they are a very good oufit, we know that,” said Everton boss Sean Dyche.
Klopp insists Liverpool’s long period of dominance in the Merseyside derby will mean nothing when Everton visit Anfield.
Klopp says his side would be foolish to underestimate Dyche’s team in the latest instalment of their fierce rivalry.
“It is rather uncomfortable if you tell me about my good record because it doesn’t mater,” he said on Friday.
“We try to make sure we don’t think about these things but make sure we are ready. We understand the importance of the game. I can’t remember one moment when I said ‘weekend derby’ and enjoyed this thought.”
English Premier League fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated) On Saturday: Liverpool vs Everton (1130), Bournemouth vs Wolves, Brenford vs Burnley, Manchester City vs Brighton, Newcastle vs Crystal Palace, Notingham Forest vs Luton, Chelsea vs Arsenal (1630), Sheffield United vs Manchester United (1900)
On Sunday: Villa vs West Ham (1530) On Monday: Spurs vs Fulham (1900)