Man City XI vs Brighton: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League today | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola rotates as City visit the south coast

Manchester City are looking for a swift response as they take on Brighton in the Premier League today.

Pep Guardiola’s side travel to the south coast hoping to bounce back from defeat at home to Tottenham last week.

Summer signing James Trafford had a home debut to forget as he was largely at fault for Joao Palhinha’s goal shortly before half-time which made it 2-0 to Spurs and handed City a big mountain to climb.

As a result, and with a deal for Gianluigi Donnarumma not completed, Trafford keeps his place behind a back four that is mostly unchanged from the Spurs game as Rayan Ait-Nouri has been declared fit after being substituted in the first half last weekend. Matheus Nunes comes in for Rico Lewis at full-back, though.

Guardiola has handed Rodri a start in midfield after the Spaniard - named in Luis de la Fuente’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey - came off the bench against Tottenham.

Phil Foden was thought to be pushing for a start following his return to full fitness, but has been left out of the matchday squad altogether in favour of Oscar Bobb, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki and captain Bernardo Silva.

Mateo Kovacic remains sidelined and Josko Gvardiol, Claudio Echeverri and Savinho are all absent, with the likelihood being that they will be ready for selection after the international break.

Man City starting XI (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Nunes, Stones, Khusanov, Ait-Nouri; Reijnders, Rodri; Bobb, Silva, Marmoush; Haaland

Subs: Ederson, Dias, Ake, Doku, Nico, Gundogan, Akanji, O’Reilly, Lewis

Injured: Kovacic, Phillips, Savinho, Gvardiol, Echeverri, Bettinelli

Time and date: 2pm BST on Sunday August 31, 2025

How to watch: Sky Sports

Venue: Amex Stadium, Brighton