Back to league action and…

…the first of 3, back-to-back home-league games, assuming they all go ahead amidst Covid-19 disruption of course.

v Brighton & Hove Albion

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game, which was full of uncertainty in an F.A. Cup game: 7/11).

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:

_______________________________________________

___________________De Bruyne___________________

__Sterling________________________________Silva__

 

_____________Foden_________Gundogan___________

 

__________________Fernandinho___________________

 

Cancelo___________________________________Walker

______________Stones_________Dias_______________

 

 

_____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Steffen, Zinchenko, Mendy, Harwood-Bells, Rodri, Nmecha, Mahrez, Torres, Jesus.

Ederson to reclaim the gloves, I would say.

In front of the Brazilian, I think we’ll see possibly our strongest back-4 in Joao, John, Ruben & Kyle.

With Rodders seeing 67 minutes of ‘the 90’ and Fernandinho only 23; I think the latter might get the deep-lying midfield role.

Ahead of him, I reckon, will be an attacking 5 of Raheem, Phil, Ilkay, Bernardo & Kevin, with the Belgium international playing in he ‘false number 9’ role (could be Phil…and I could be wrong altogether there).

Zack resumes his place on the side; Oleksandr, Benjamin & Taylor are the reserve defenders. Rodders, Felix, Riyad, Ferran & Gabriel are the likely midfield / wing / attacking options in ‘the 9’.

Notable absences:

-       Scott Carson – Still in isolation following a positive Covid-19 test.

-       Aymeric Laporte – Back in light training following a hamstring issue. It was suggested on 10^th January that it might be a week-to-10-days before he can be considered in any match-day squad.

-       Eric Garcia – Still in isolation following a positive Covid-19 test. I thought his isolation time was over now…(in final talks with Barca?)

-       Nathan Ake – Injured with a muscle problem and no known return date.

-       Sergio Aguero - Still in isolation following being in contact with a positive Covid-19 tested person.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Sure do! Strong / looks good.

Result? A quick glance at the league table and you’d be forgiven for thinking that Brighton are a struggling side in a fight for survival. Of course, sitting just 1 place above the ‘drop zone’ and only 3 points ahead of the team directly below them, means that they are in some considerable trouble.

However, I think The Seagulls can consider themselves to be in a slightly false position in comparison with the majority of their displays – they’re a hard-working, organised side that have given a very good account of themselves in a lot of matches which, in the end, just didn’t work out for them results-wise a lot of the time, in my opinion.

I think 4 draws in the last 5 league games – 8 in total and the most draws in the league - suggests that very industrious nature of theirs…

So…we’ll have to work very hard for it tomorrow evening, I would suggest; especially in the weather conditions forecasted (read on for that).

But we are working hard at the moment and with that ‘special zip’ back in our game too. Perhaps, at times and in the second half against Birmingham, that was missing a little and I think it was an overall performance that Guardiola wasn’t particularly happy with.

However, I believe that any ‘slightly off’ parts of our game last Sunday will simply help to push us on further and although I don’t think we’ll see a particularly high-scoring game; I can see a clean sheet and all-3 points being the final outcome.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Win

Result: Won.

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: It’s a good job we have a good pitch. Even so, having rained continuously from the early hours of Wednesday morning, which will turn even heavier for a good few hours from mid-afternoon; the wet stuff continues to fall throughout the game, which will no-doubt test the drainage on the ‘hallowed grass’. A chilly 4C too for the 6pm KO (GMT)…but it’s the rain that’ll definitely have some impact on the game.