Football Bet of the Day: City can get back in business

The midweek Premier League programme features eight games on Wednesday night and with leaders Arsenal not in action until they host Liverpool on Thursday, there is an opportunity for the chasing pack to reduce their advantage, at least for 24 hours. 

Second-placed Manchester City will be looking to take full advantage when they host Brighton after falling six points behind the Gunners due to drawing their last two games at Sunderland and at home to Chelsea. The Seagulls head to Manchester after snapping a six-match winless run with a 2-0 home win over Burnley but their head-to-head record against City makes them well worth opposing in our Wednesday Bet of the Day.

Manchester City vs Brighton Odds

Brighton held Manchester City to a 2-2 draw on last season's Premier League trip to the Etihad Stadium, but they had been beaten on their previous 11 trips to face the Citizens and should struggle to take anything from their long journey on Wednesday night.

City have not lost in the league since a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in November and while their defensive resources are now being stretched, they have the attacking talent to outscore their visitors in a potentially entertaining encounter.

However, the loss of defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias to injuries in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea is potentially an even bigger headache for City boss Pep Guardiola than the late equaliser scored by the Blues' Enzo Fernandez.

City have won their last three home games in the top flight by at least two goals and without conceding against Sunderland, Brentford and West Ham, but their defensive personnel issues make it much more likely that the Seagulls will be able to get a consolation goal.

Albion have a miserable record at the Etihad but they have got on the scoresheet in their last three visits and another defeat with both teams scoring looks the best bet for Wednesday's clash.

Brighton went to the Emirates and gave a decent account of themselves in a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal just after Christmas and they have netted twice in their two subsequent contests against West Ham and Burnley.

Keeping City out should prove beyond them with Erling Haaland hungry for a goal after going three games without hitting the net for only the second time this season, but Brighton can add to the goal tally in an attractive fixture.

Haaland had scored five times in his previous three appearances against Real Madrid, Crystal Palace and West Ham and leads the Premier League goal charts with 19 in 20 games, five clear of Brentford's Igor Thiago.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake are likely to be drafted in to replace Gvardiol and Dias in the City back line, but the adjustment to the new line-up and the loss of two top-quality performers should give the Seagulls a better chance of striking back.

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