Manchester City's reliance on 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri has been laid bare in recent weeks.
The reigning Premier League champions have tasted three successive defeats for the first time since April 2018 and their inability to guard against swift, direct transitions has proven costly in losses to Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and Sporting CP. Even the ridiculously proficient sharpshooting of Erling Haaland has been absent in recent encounters.
Man City already find themselves two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and can ill-afford to lose any more ground on Arne Slot's side. A trip to Brighton & Hove Albion is far from straightforward but it offers Pep Guardiola's side a shot at redemption.
Here is how the Spaniard could line his side up against the Seagulls.
Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton (4-1-4-1)
GK: Ederson - Ederson has been left exposed by a misfiring defence in recent matches but the Brazilian has only managed two clean sheets in 11 Premier League outings. Man City's issues at the back could be exposed by an offensive-minded Brighton team.
RB: Kyle Walker - The 34-year-old appears to have lost a yard of pace, as was evident in the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth last weekend. Any rustiness will be challenged by the tricky Kaoru Mitoma at the AMEX Stadium.
CB: Manuel Akanji - The Swiss defender was guilty of conceding four against Sporting midweek, partnering the inexperienced Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. He didn't have a shocker in Lisbon but will want to improve against the in-form Danny Welbeck and returning Joao Pedro.
CB: Nathan Ake - Injuries to John Stones and Ruben Dias - who were both left out of their respective nations' squads for the November international break - leaves Guardiola short on centre-back cover. Ake will come into the starting XI on Saturday.
LB: Josko Gvardiol - He gifted Sporting a penalty with a completely unnecessary shove in the back and will need to be more intelligent when handling Ferdi Kadioglu, who scored an excellent goal at Anfield last weekend.
DM: Mateo Kovacic - Kovacic is no Rodri, that's for sure, but he's offered more consistency and defensive security than Man City's other midfielders in recent weeks. He will anchor the backline and must be switched on to Brighton's counter-attacking potential.
RM: Savinho - Savinho is a joy to watch in full flight but he must start adding goals and assists to his game. He's yet to get off the mark in Man City blue, failing to find the net in any of his 14 appearances since his summer switch.
CM: Phil Foden - Having dazzled in Europe this term with three goals, Foden has been unable to translate his form to the Premier League. There are signs that the 24-year-old is getting back to his best, though.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan - Gundogan's return to the Etihad Stadium has been far from plain sailing, especially in recent outings. Guardiola may opt for the German over Bernardo Silva on Saturday to help shore up the engine room.
LM: Jeremy Doku - Doku's speed and explosiveness should cause Brighton's Joel Veltman all manner of problems - if he can produce the end product that has been sorely lacking from his game.
ST: Erling Haaland - Haaland is without a goal in his last two outings despite posting an xG of 2.31. He smashed the crossbar with his penalty midweek and has looked uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal.
READ THE LATEST MAN CITY NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
feed
