Pep Guardiola has made two changes from the side that beat Bournemouth 3-1 last weekend.

Rodrigo and Riyad Mahrez both return, with Bernardo and Ilkay Gundogan dropping to the bench.

READ: Pep says patience key for Foden

WATCH: Fight ‘til the End: Part 4

Starting XI and bench:

Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Otamendi, Laporte, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, D Silva (c), Sterling, Mahrez, Aguero

Subs: Bravo, Gundogan, Angelino, Bernardo, Fernandinho, Cancelo, Foden

FERNA : On the bench
FERNA : On the bench

Brighton line-up:

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Tactics and formation

It will be interesting to see how City set up against the Seagulls this afternoon.

Graham Potter’s Swansea played the Blues extremely well in last season’s FA Cup tie at The Liberty Stadium.

That day, the Swans used pace down the flanks and caused plenty of problems and were 2-0 up after 70 minutes.

Potter enjoys a tactical challenge and will no doubt have similar plans for today’s game.

Expect Brighton to be compact centrally and counter-attack quickly down either wing.

This is a game City will want to get hold of early on and dictate and should prove an interesting battle.

Manager views:

Pep: “They have a new manager and have made some changes.

“They will play five in the back so they are more aggressive in terms of high press and they start quite well and in their game against Southampton played with 10 men for 55 minutes.”

Graham Potter: “It’s excitement and it’s a great challenge that you play against the best team.

“It’s always a fantastic opportunity to play against the champions, especially at their home.

“It is the toughest challenge you are going to get but a great opportunity for us to learn about ourselves.”

Stats and facts:

Sergio Aguero will look to score in his fifth successive Premier League game - a run that began away to Brighton on the final day of last season.

City have won the last five games against Brighton, who have never won away to City in nine attempts.

The Blues have won 16 of the last 17 Saturday 3 o’clock kick-offs.

Brighton have lost all 12 games against reigning top flight champions - the worst record in the top flight.