Enzo Maresca expects another tough Brighton test as Manchester City prepare for Saturday’s Premier League clash after a dramatic cup tie

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has warned his side to expect another difficult encounter against Brighton and Hove Albion when the teams meet in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, following their dramatic League Cup clash.

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City advanced to the quarter-finals on Wednesday after drawing 2-2 with Brighton before winning the penalty shoot-out. The result set up another meeting between the sides just days later, with both managers expected to field stronger line-ups.

Maresca said Brighton were in excellent form, praising their attacking output and aggressive approach to matches.

“They are in a brilliant moment,” he said. “They are winning games, they are scoring goals. They are scoring many goals every game, three, four, five goals a game.”

The City manager added that he had followed Brighton’s Premier League performances since the start of the season and expected them to maintain their attacking approach.

“I’ve watched all their Premier League games since we started, and since the first day, against Arsenal, Palace, Liverpool, they always go front foot, man to man.

“We knew that this was a tough game and they’re going to be exactly the same on Saturday,” Maresca said.

Wednesday’s League Cup encounter saw Brighton take the lead after 30 minutes when Malick Yalcouye turned Georginio Rutter’s effort past City goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli from close range.

Mateo Kovacic equalised for City 20 minutes later with a curling strike from 25 yards.

Brighton regained the advantage two minutes into the second half when Rutter finished Jaouen Hadjam’s cut-back.

City forced another equaliser in the 72nd minute as Vitor Reis deflected Rayan Cherki’s free-kick into the net, sending the contest to penalties.

Although Kovacic saw his spot-kick saved by Jason Steele, Rulli denied Brighton’s Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to secure City’s place in the last eight.

City have been drawn at home against third-tier Bradford City in the League Cup quarter-finals.

Despite the club’s ongoing legal challenge over a Premier League financial-rules verdict, Maresca said his priority remained winning matches.

Manchester City were found guilty last month of more than 100 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, according to the report. The club has appealed the verdict and denies wrongdoing. No punishment has yet been announced.

Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola after the Spaniard stepped down at the end of last season, described the current campaign as the beginning of a new project involving a new manager and players.

“This is a new project with new players, a new manager. It started three months ago,” he said.

“We need to do our business. That is winning games and, at the moment, we are doing that.”

City are level on points with Premier League leaders Arsenal, while third-placed Brighton are five points behind the leading pair, adding further significance to Saturday’s meeting.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged the challenge of playing two away matches in quick succession but said his team would not use the demanding schedule as an excuse.

The Seagulls will remain in north-west England between the two fixtures rather than return to the south coast.

“Having two away games and not sleeping in your own bed, you can’t see it as an advantage but we will try to make the best of it,” Hurzeler said.

“We will not try to find any excuses.”

He added that Brighton would return for Saturday’s match with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

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With both teams expected to strengthen their line-ups, the Premier League encounter promises another competitive contest as City seek to maintain their challenge at the top of the table and Brighton look to close the gap on the leading sides.