Brighton & Hove Albion striker Danny Welbeck 'will get his chance' to score against a defensively vulnerable Manchester City side in Saturday's Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole.
At a time when Man City's first-team resources are heavily depleted, Pep Guardiola is relishing the challenge of swiftly turning his side's fortunes around on the back of suffering three straight defeats in all competitions for the first time since April 2018.
After losing 2-1 against both Tottenham Hotspur (EFL Cup) and Bournemouth (Premier League), Man City were put to the sword 4-1 by Ruben Amorim's Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday - just the third time that a Guardiola team has ever conceded four goals in a single UCL game.
Sporting are the latest side who have taken advantage of Man City's growing vulnerability from quick and direct counter-attacks, while reckless fouls from both Josko Gvardiol and Matheus Nunes to concede two penalties, scored by hat-trick hero Viktor Gyokeres, did not help their cause.
Man City will be keen to dust themselves down, stop the rot and head into the international break on a high by beating a Brighton outfit whom they trashed 4-0 in their last visit to the Amex Stadium in April.
However, it is difficult to envisage the Citizens having as much joy on the South Coast this weekend, considering the multitude of problems they are currently dealing with, in stark contrast to Brighton who have made an impressive start to life under new head coach Fabian Hurzeler.
'Wily' Welbeck out to score first-ever PL goal against Man City
One of Hurzeler's standout performers - perhaps to the surprise of many this season - has been experienced striker Welbeck, who is still going strong at the age of 33 and is enjoying a prolific run of form having scored six goals and provided two assists in his opening 10 Premier League appearances.
Welbeck, who has found the net in four of Brighton's first five home matches in the top flight this season, has never scored in 19 previous meetings with Man City in the Premier League, but McInerney would not be surprised to see the former Manchester United striker make the net ripple against the Citizens this weekend.
"Six goals and two assists in 10 games this season in the Premier League - that's really good," McInerney told Sports Mole. "Welbeck's in the form of his life and it feels like Brighton always pull a gem out of nowhere.
"I think there's a freedom that comes with playing at his age. 33 years old, nothing left to prove to anyone, he knows he's playing into the twilight of his career now and I think he's probably quite relaxed about it.
"I think he's just enjoying his football and it doesn't surprise me that so many players have this period towards the end of their career where they feel on top of the world, because they have nothing left to fear.
'Brighton vs. Man City screams Welbeck to score'
"I think Danny Welbeck has always had ability. He's never been a great goalscorer, but he's consistent, reliable and a very useful forward. He's technically good, his link-up play has always been good. Good skill, good feet.
"The most goals he's ever scored in one season is 12 (in 2011-12 at Man United). His record for Brighton previously was seven [and has six already this term], so he's flying right now and I don't see any reason why that will slow down for him.
"He's confident and the game (against Man City) screams 'Danny Welbeck to score'. Strikers score against City right now, so he'll be looking at City thinking 'I'm probably going to get a chance' and he will do because City can't defend on the transition and we can't defend against tricky wingers, and Brighton are quite good at that.
"A physical, experienced, wily striker [in] Welbeck will get his chance and you feel that he could add to his tally so far."
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Mitoma vs. Walker or Mitoma vs. Lewis?
Another Brighton star who Man City must keep an eye on is dribbling king Kaoru Mitoma, with Guardiola set to weigh up whether Kyle Walker or Rico Lewis will be best suited at right-back to quell the threat of the speedy Japanese winger.
Walker made a somewhat surprise return from injury last weekend and was thrown straight into the starting lineup for the defeat at Bournemouth, but it was clear that the Englishman was far from his best at the Vitality Stadium.
Once known for his electric pace and athleticism, 34-year-old Walker is now on the decline in the eyes of McInerney, who would prefer to see Lewis handed a start at right-back against Brighton, with Savinho providing support on the flank.
Asked whether Walker still has the attributes to cope with the threat of Mitoma, McInerney said: "In theory, but he's not been showing it recently. I feel like he's still got a decent top speed, but his acceleration has dulled a little bit, naturally, and he's not reading the game quite as much. I think it's very fair to say that Kyle Walker is on the decline anyway, given his age.
"I think in the last year and a half, Kyle Walker's really struggled with tricky wingers in tight spots... I would honestly prefer Rico Lewis there (against Brighton). He's a little bit tougher in a duel, not physically more impressive than Kyle Walker, but [he is at] one-on-one [defending].
"I'm hoping to have Savinho back as well, because the best bet might be that City double up [on Brighton's left] and Savinho works really hard. I don't fancy Kyle Walker at right-back facing Mitoma if he hasn't got Savinho ahead of him at least."
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McInerney "nervous" ahead of Man City's "horrific" fixture schedule
Like Man City, Brighton will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday after losing their last two games against Liverpool, with a 3-2 EFL Cup defeat at the Amex followed by a 2-1 loss at Anfield in the Premier League last weekend, a game in which they impressed for large spells and were leading until the 70th minute.
McInerney has admitted that he is "nervous" as City embark on a "horrific" run of fixtures, starting with a tricky trip to Brighton who have collected 16 points from their opening 10 league games and currently sit eighth in the table, just three points behind Nottingham Forest in third.
"I'm nervous. I wish I wasn't, but once again [City come up against] a confident, well-organised, good footballing side. I feel you can say that about most Premier League sides these days," said McInerney.
"I look at City's run of fixtures in general - they're just sort of horrific. It's not just Brighton, we've got Spurs after the international break, then Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace away, Juventus, Man United, Aston Villa. It's a really aggressive run of games and Brighton is the curtain-raiser there."
McInerney has also heaped praise on Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, adding: "Hurzeler has done such a good job at Brighton. Another young, confident, brilliant manager there.
"Brighton are having such a good season again and they're a serious football side. It's impressive that they've carried on being great, even with a few managerial changes. Man City have got to take them seriously.
"A lot of my confidence and mood just entirely depends on where City's squad is going to be at. Brighton away is one of the handful of fixtures that I would not have chosen if I had the choice right now, but so be it."
Man City, who sit second in the Premier League table and two points behind leaders Liverpool, do have reason to be optimistic of success on Saturday, as they have lost just one of their last 15 encounters with Brighton in all competitions - a 3-2 defeat at the Amex in May 2018.
Oliver Thomas
