Fresh from lifting their third successive Premier League title, champions Manchester City travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the penultimate game of the top-flight campaign.
The Citizens secured a 3-1 home victory against the Seagulls in the reverse fixture seven months ago, with Erling Braut Haaland (2) and Kevin De Bruyne on the scoresheet.
Team News
Brighton
- Brighton will be without the services of Solly March, Adam Lallana (both hamstring), Tariq Lamptey, Jakub Moder (both knee) and Jeremy Sarmiento (ankle) due to injury. Meanwhile, Adam Webster is fit to return to the matchday squad. However, he will begin as a substitute after recovering from a muscle problem.
- Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has sat out of the last three games having mutually agreed to remain at home. He will miss out again on Wednesday with Jason Steele to continue between the sticks.
- With De Zerbi keen to claim at least one more point to guarantee Europa League football for next season, a strong side is expected to be named, although the Seagulls boss will consider freshening up his team in a few positions.
- Despite scoring a brace against Southampton, Ferguson may be replaced by Danny Welbeck having only recently returned from injury. The same applies to defender Joel Veltman which could see one of Gross or Moises Caicedo slot in at right-back either from the start or midway through the game.
Manchester City
- As for Man City, Guardiola made nine changes to his starting lineup on Sunday after being crowned champions a day earlier. The Catalan boss is therefore expected to recall a number of his first-team regulars on Wednesday to maintain their match fitness.
- The Citizens’ only injury concern is still with Nathan Ake. Although the defender is edging closer to making a comeback from a hamstring problem, Guardiola does not intend to risk him ahead of two huge finals next month.
- Goalkeeper Ederson and defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones are in contention to return at the back. Meanwhile midfield trio Rodri, Gundogan and De Bruyne could also be recalled at the expense of Kalvin Phillips, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden.
- Premier League top scorer Haaland may be selected to start down the middle ahead of Alvarez, while Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez are all set to battle for a place on the flanks.
Possible Lineup
Brighton & Hove Albion: Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Colwill, Estupinan; Gross, Caicedo; Buonanotte, Mac Allister, Mitoma; Welbeck
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte; Stones, Rodri; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland
Prediction Analysis
Man City were rarely put through their paces against Chelsea on Sunday, but they could be given a sterner test against a Brighton side on the verge of securing Europa League football.
Although the Citizens may recall some of their star men to the starting lineup, we believe that the Seagulls could take away a point from an entertaining contest in their final home match of the season.
Our prediction is Brighton 1-2 Manchester City