'They make it too easy' BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson predicts big problems for Brighton against Manchester City

Brighton and Hove Albion will hope to improve from their 3-1 loss to Liverpool as they welcome Pep Guardiola's Manchester City to the Amex Stadium in the Premier League this Saturday
Manchester City beat Brighton 4-0 at Etihad last AugustManchester City beat Brighton 4-0 at Etihad last August
Manchester City beat Brighton 4-0 at Etihad last August

Albion gifted Liverpool two early goals on Wednesday night but then played some encouraging football against the champions during an entertaining and hard fought 3-1 loss.

It doesn't get any easier for Graham Potter's men as they take on last season's champions Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's team beat Brighton 4-0 last August in the reverse fixture at the Etihad and arrive in good form having walloped Newcastle 5-0 on Wednesday.

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Former Albion defender Mark Lawrenson believes Potter's team can be a soft touch at times.

"This is a tough little spell for Brighton," said Lawro writing in his BBC predictions column. "They were naive early on against Liverpool on Wednesday - will their manager Graham Potter make the same mistake against Manchester City?

"Yes, it's great to play out from the back but, against Liverpool, the Seagulls knew they were playing a team who press you so well, so why take so many chances?

"Maybe just concentrate on keeping it at 0-0 for the first 15 minutes or so, put the ball in the channels, and ensure you clear your lines properly until you see how the game is going.

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"Instead, they made it too easy for Liverpool, and I can see the same thing happening to them again against City. If they overdo it in their own half, they will play themselves into trouble.

"And, once you've gifted these top teams a couple of goals, good luck getting back into the game."

Lawro's prediction: 0-3

This week Lawro is up against The Manor's Scotty Stacks, who is a Crystal Palace fan.

"Brighton always seem to do enough at the end of the season to get out of trouble," Stacks said. "They are another team, like Burnley, who look as if they are in a scrap but they are never down there when it matters.

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"City, meanwhile, have been so up and down, and I don't think Pep Guardiola knows why, which must be annoying for him. I think they need a different sort of striker - like Edin Dzeko in the past - to throw on when teams dig in against them.

"I wonder if that has been one of the reasons they've fallen short this season. They will win on Saturday, mind you. 0-3."