Manchester City vs Brighton - The pecking order will be decided

This week in the Premier League, we'll witness two big matches that will have a major bearing on the top of the table. Manchester City and Arsenal, who have 21 points from 8 matches with just one defeat, face tough fixtures this week. Ahead of the North London side's away trip to Liverpool on Sunday, Manchester City will host Brighton & Hove Albion - the team that has exceeded all expectations so far this season, entering this week with 16 points and an average of two points per match, having beaten the reigning champions Arsenal 3-0. The two sides also faced each other in the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening. With teams such as Liverpool and Chelsea having dropped far more points than expected, Aston Villa having made a rather poor start, Manchester United having slipped close to the relegation zone, and Tottenham failing to build on last season's form, Brighton & Hove Albion could cap off next season with a Champions League campaign if they can maintain this run of form. Under the guidance of young German manager Hürzeler, the Seagulls - who lost their away matches against Chelsea and Liverpool - will, if they win this time, both reduce the points gap with their rivals to two and break through a barrier. Whilst Hürzeler and his players are chasing this goal, if you'd like to be there with them in Manchester, Saturday evening's top fixture will be the Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion match.

First defeat

Having started the season with seven wins from seven matches and 21 points, Manchester City suffered their first defeat away at Aston Villa last week. This Saturday's match will be a key indicator of whether this will remain a one-off setback or mark the start of a downward trend. If, like us, you're curious to see how Maresca and his players will react after this initial setback, this match is one not to be missed.

Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion tickets

Apart from the Blackburn Rovers title in the 1994-95 season and Leicester City's in the 2015-16 season, the Premier League title has never been won by a team outside the top five. We do not yet know whether the league will produce its next surprise champion any time soon, or whether, given the vast disparities in club budgets, we will go many years without seeing another surprise winner. This season, with Manchester City - who are aiming for the title - and teams like Liverpool having changed managers, the Guardiola era coming to an end, and top-contending sides suffering significant points losses, actually presents huge opportunities for underdogs. Looking at the league table, Brighton appear to be the team closest to writing such a fairy-tale story this year. For the Blue and Whites, the main objective is to secure a Champions League spot. To experience every moment of this crucial clash - which will reveal whether they are a team capable of achieving this - Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion tickets are waiting for you on Seatpin.