De Zerbi's Brighton pose threat as Man City seek to end losing run

Only once has Pep Guardiola lost three league games in a row during his managerial career and the Spaniard knows a repeat is entirely possible unless his Manchester City side can click back into gear at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

Premier League defeats by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal before the international break jolted the serene early-season form of the champions and left them third in the table, two points behind Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

Sixth-placed Brighton, managed by Italian Roberto de Zerbi who is highly-rated by Guardiola and who many predict could one day replace him, look capable of adding to City's woes.

The only time Guardiola lost three league games in a row was as Bayern Munich manager in 2015 but for that to happen to his City side would have seemed unthinkable a few weeks ago.

A Brighton win would actually move them above City in the table and if that were to happen, it would hardly be a surprise to those who have watched their progress.

De Zerbi has instilled a brand of football at the south coast club that has striking resemblances to City's progressive possession-based style, with some even suggesting he has taken the Guardiola blueprint and evolved it.

He took them to sixth place last season and in to Europe for the first time and it was clearly no flash in the pan with wins against Newcastle United and Manchester United already in the bag this campaign, as well as a draw this month with Liverpool in what was De Zerbi's 50th game in charge.

De Zerbi spent some time at City's training ground studying Guardiola's methods after leaving Shakhtar Donetsk and before joining Brighton, spending hours in deep discussions about their respective football philosophies.

Before the sides