Manchester City will face Brighton in their final Premier League game of the season, after winning the title earlier than expected due to Arsenal‘s defeat. Pep Guardiola can now focus on the upcoming Champions League and FA Cup finals, as his team begins to prepare for a potential treble.
The manager’s rotation policy is likely to continue for the Brighton game, giving some of his important players a rest ahead of the bigger challenges ahead. Guardiola may bring Ederson back in goal, as Stefan Ortega got to enjoy a run-out against Chelsea.
Kyle Walker will likely sit out the final Premier League game of the season, so this could be his last chance to keep up his fitness. Ruben Dias, benched for the Chelsea game, is another who could benefit from one last run-out before things start getting serious again. Aymeric Laporte is expected to start, as Nathan Ake’s return from injury won’t be rushed, and his natural replacement, Manuel Akanji, may need a rest after playing an hour last time out.
John Stones and Kalvin Phillips could feature as defensive midfielders, with Rodri too important to risk at this stage of the season. Bernardo Silva is expected to start on the right as Guardiola has many options in this position. Ilkay Gundogan may also start in midfield, after seeing no minutes against Chelsea. Julian Alvarez, who played only 14 minutes of Premier League football this season, could also feature as Guardiola manages the minutes of his important players.
Jack Grealish who was given a rest against Chelsea will want to keep his sharpness with an outing here. Erling Haaland, who has been linked with a move to Manchester City, may start up front as Guardiola looks to wrap up the Norwegian in cotton wool once he picks up enough minutes to keep his fitness levels up.
Guardiola has many options available to him for the Brighton game and may look to further rotate his squad. This is an opportunity for some players to prove themselves ahead of the bigger challenges that lie ahead. Manchester City will be looking to end their Premier League season on a high as they aim to achieve a historic treble.
In conclusion, Guardiola’s rotation policy is likely to continue for the Brighton game, which will ensure that Manchester City heads into the final stages of the season with a fresh set of legs. This is a great opportunity for some of the fringe players to prove themselves ahead of the big games. Manchester City is currently on course for a historic treble, and Guardiola will be looking to keep the team focused on his ultimate aim.
