Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has cautioned his players against underestimating Brighton ahead of Saturday’s Premier League encounter, following their tense League Cup meeting.
City, the competition’s defending champions, secured a quarter-final spot on Wednesday after recovering twice to draw 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium before winning on penalties.
Both Maresca and Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler are expected to restore their strongest line-ups after making 16 changes between them in the cup clash.
City lead the Premier League standings alongside defending champions Arsenal on points, while third-placed Brighton trail the top two by five points.
“They (Brighton) are in a brilliant moment,” said Maresca. “They are winning games, they are scoring goals. They are scoring many goals every game, three, four, five goals a game.
“I’ve watched all their Premier League games since we started, and since the first day –- against Arsenal, (Crystal) 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,” added Maresca.
Brighton took the lead in the 30th minute when Malick Yalcouye converted Georginio Rutter’s effort from close range, beating Geronimo Rulli.
Mateo Kovacic levelled for City 20 minutes later with a superb 25-yard strike into the far corner.
Rutter put Brighton ahead again two minutes into the second half, finishing Jaouen Hadjam’s cut-back.
City restored parity in the 72nd minute when Vitor Reis deflected Rayan Cherki’s free-kick into the net.
Kovacic missed his penalty in the shoot-out, with Jason Steele making the save, but Rulli stopped attempts from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to secure City’s progress.
Meanwhile, City’s campaign remains overshadowed by last month’s verdict finding the club guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial regulations.
The club has appealed the decision and denies wrongdoing, but could face a significant punishment if the verdict stands.
