Man City meet Brighton again three days on with Haaland set to return

📰 Manchester City face Brighton again in the league, three days after beating them on penalties in the cup. 📌 Key points 🏟️ Man City v Brighton kicks off at 3pm (UK) on 31 October at the Etihad. 🔁 It comes three days after City won a 2-2 Carabao Cup tie on penalties. 💪 Five first-teamers rested for the cup, including Haaland and Donnarumma, are expected back. 🗣️ Maresca: "They're going to be exactly the same on Saturday." 📊 City are level with Arsenal on 21 points; Brighton are third on 16. 📝 What happened 🔁 The sides drew 2-2 in the Carabao Cup fourth round on 28 October, and City went through on penalties thanks to two saves from Geronimo Rulli. The two managers made 16 changes between them and are expected to name full-strength sides for the league game. 💪 After the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, Maresca gave Haaland, Donnarumma, Dias, Anderson and Gvardiol three days off as a management decision, not because of injury. Antoine Semenyo is out until December with a knee injury, and Matheus Nunes is also injured. 🗣️ Maresca said: "They are in a brilliant moment. They are winning games, they are scoring goals." He added that Brighton "always go front foot, man to man" and that "we knew that this was a tough game and they're going to be exactly the same on Saturday. It's a different competition, but the ambition has to be the same. We need to do our business. That is winning games." 🔵 Brighton lost 2-0 at Liverpool on 25 October. Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer returned as substitutes in the cup tie, while Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson remain out. 📊 By the numbers • Man City: first, 21 points, GD +11 • Arsenal: second, 21 points, GD +8 • Brighton: third, 16 points, GD +16 • Changes made by the two managers in the cup tie: 16 👀 What to watch ⚡ Haaland's return — rested for the cup after scoring at Villa, he is set to lead the line again. 🧤 Donnarumma's response — whether he returns in goal after his error at Villa. 🔵 Brighton's press — how City cope with the man-to-man pressing Maresca warned about. 🏆 The title race — Arsenal go to Anfield the next day, so City can move first. 🔭 Why it matters After their first defeat let Arsenal draw level, City need an immediate response in the league. Brighton, third with the best goal difference in the league (+16), are a dangerous opponent. Kick-off is 3pm UK time on 31 October.