Hurzeler on the hunt for revenge as Brighton return to Man City

Fabian Hurzeler is targeting instant revenge when Brighton head back to Manchester City on Saturday.

Brighton lost 4-3 on penalties on Wednesday following a 2-2 draw, as City progressed to the last eight of the EFL Cup.

Hurzeler's team led twice, through Malick Yalcouye and Georginio Rutter, who also spurned a great chance at 2-1 up.

Mats Wieffer hit the woodwork late on, after Vitor Reis had pulled City level for the second time, and Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk faltered in the shoot-out.

Yet Brighton will get a swift chance to put things right when they visit the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, and Hurzeler is relishing that opportunity.

"I think the game was there for us. Also, the way we conceded the goals was very unlucky," Hurzeler said. 

"Overall, we will take plenty of positives away from this performance. My players really showed togetherness.

"They faced a lot of adversity with goals we conceded out of nowhere, but we always try to keep going.

"We had plenty of chances we could score today. Sometimes you need a bit of luck to get to the next round.

"We have a bad feeling, but the positive thing is we can come back in three days again, then we can take revenge and, hopefully, we have a better feeling."

For City, however, they can now look forward to a quarter-final tie against League One Bradford City, who beat Peterborough United 2-0 in the previous round. 

Enzo Maresca maybe had one eye on this weekend's Premier League meeting with Brighton, with the likes of Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Elliot Anderson and Gianluigi Donnarumma all rested for their EFL Cup victory. 

Enzo Fernandez and Jeremy Doku were both brought off the bench in the second half, with the pair also finding the back of the net during the penalty shoot-out.

Doku, despite only coming on in the 61st minute, completed more dribbles (seven) than any other player for City, with Maresca pleased he could rely on him from the bench. 

"I'm not sure he changed the game, but for sure he made an impact," said Maresca of Doku's introduction.

"This is the reason why they are there – when they start from the beginning, to try to do their best, and if they go on from the bench, to try to make an impact."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester City – Erling Haaland

Haaland has scored seven goals in seven Premier League appearances against Brighton, scoring in the last four without winning any (D2 L2).

He's one of three players to do so in Premier League history, along with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink against Manchester United (Nov 1998 – Feb 2001) and Charlie Austin against Arsenal (Dec 2014 – April 2018), neither of whom did five in a row.

Brighton – Pascal Gross

Gross has been one of many standout performers for Brighton so far this season, and you feel he will be crucial to the Seagulls' chances of victory on Saturday.

He has created more chances than any other player in the Premier League this season (23), with no player registering more assists than the German so far (four).

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN

City have won 12 of their last first 14 Premier League matches against Brighton (D1 L1) but they are winless in four since then (D2 L2).

The Citizens have also won their last 10 league matches on Halloween and have 15 wins overall on October 31, the most of any team in Football League history.

Maresca's men did, however, lose their first Premier League game of the season last time out against Aston Villa. They last lost consecutively in August 2025, the second game of which was against Brighton.

Brighton, meanwhile, have never won in 16 away league games against City (D4 L12), though have avoided defeat in their last two. It's the most they have played away without winning against an opponent and the most the Citizens have faced an opponent at home without losing.

The Seagulls have also scored more goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (23), though failed to score for the first time this campaign last time out at Liverpool (0-2).

And you can expect more action in front of goal here. City (16.7) and Brighton (16.2) are the two highest-ranked teams for expected goals so far in the Premier League this season, as well as being the highest goalscorers (Brighton 23, Man City 20).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Manchester City – 56.3%

Draw – 22.6%

Brighton – 21.1%