PEP Guardiola was unsure about his City tactics and team selection against Brighton, with three positions causing him more food for thought than usual. The Blues scored two early goals that proved enough against a Brighton team set up to attack.
The first half saw City in control, with Jeremy Doku giving James Milner a torrid time. Milner was replaced at the break, with Brighton coming back into the contest and setting up a nervy ending with Ansu Fati's goal, but the Blues held on in an unexpectedly scrappy affair.
Guardiola had recalled Rodri to his starting line-up, with Bernardo Silva in midfield and Phil Foden coming inside from the wing and Doku causing trouble on the opposite wing. Those three players were not guaranteed to start, though, with Guardiola talking through his dilemmas before landing on his starting XI.
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