Everything you need to know ahead of City’s FA Women's Super League trip to Brighton and Hove Albion...

WHEN AND WHERE

The game will take place on Sunday 24 January in a 14:00 (UK) kick-off at the American Express Elite Performance Centre.

Broadcast info

The game will be shown live on the FA Player, or you can follow the action via our dedicated matchday Twitter account: @ManCityWomen.

Next Fixture

All fixtures

FA WSL

Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion

GMT

Man City
Manchester City

RULES

For safety reasons in the wake of the pandemic, the fixture will be played behind-closed-doors.

In line with current protocols, additional balls will be placed at intervals around the pitch.

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form guide

City have won five of our last six games in all competitions but head into the clash on the back of Wednesday night’s extra-time Continental Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea.

Brighton are winless in their last five games since beating West Ham 1-0 in mid-November but earned a point last time out against Birmingham.

Team news

Gareth Taylor has confirmed he is likely to be without Caroline Weir, Demi Stokes and Gemma Bonner.

The trio are sidelined through injury, while Aoife Mannion and Megan Campbell remain long-term absentees.

United States stars Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle and Abby Dahlkemper will also be unavailable with the World Cup winners still on international duty.

Gareth Taylor preview

“It will be a tough game. See what happened earlier in the season – they’re a tough team to break down.

“It will be the same again. Chelsea only just about scraped a 1-0 there. It’s never an easy place to go.

“Hope [Powell] always has her teams set up and well-organised.”

Last meeting

City’s opening home league game of 2020/21 ended in stalemate, as Gareth Taylor’s side were held to a goalless draw against the Seagulls.

Despite dominating and piling on late pressure, the hosts were left to rue missed chances, as we faced a spirited Brighton side who proved impenetrable, with goalkeeper Megan Walsh in fine form.

While the draw proved disappointing, particularly given results elsewhere, there were positives, as Lucy Bronze made her homecoming, while Alex Greenwood and Sam Mewis made their home debuts.

LAST TIME OUT

City’s 2020/21 Continental Cup journey came to an end, as Gareth Taylor‘s side suffered a 4-2 extra-time quarter-final defeat to Chelsea.

Goals from Guro Reiten and Sophie Ingle sent the holders through to the semi-finals, after the two sides had contested an enthralling 2-2 draw in normal time.

City had looked to have snatched the win with five minutes left on the clock, thanks to Lauren Hemp‘s fourth goal in three games, but Niamh Charles’ injury-time wonderstrike forced the additional 30 minutes - and Emma Hayes’ side capitalised on their momentum.

The defeat means City failed to reach the semi-finals for only the second time since 2014, having won the trophy on three occasions in 2014, 2016 and 2019.

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Stats

• Brighton’s four Barclays FA Women’s Super League matches against Manchester City to date have seen them score no goals while conceding 14 themselves, though they did pick up a point for the first time in this fixture last time out (0-0 in September).

• Manchester City’s only previous away game against Brighton in the Barclays FA WSL saw them run out 6-0 winners in October 2018. Man City’s Georgia Stanway scored the second of her two WSL hat-tricks in that match.

• Brighton have lost each of their last four home league matches, already their worst run in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

• Man City beat Aston Villa 7-0 last time out, with those seven goals the most they’ve ever scored in a Barclays FA WSL match without conceding themselves. After failing to win consecutive games across their first seven league games this season, they have now won three in a row.

• Man City’s Lucy Bronze registered two assists in City’s 7-0 win against Aston Villa. She has now assisted four league goals this season, doubling her personal best from any previous Barclays FA WSL campaign.

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