This is new territory for Pep Guardiola the manager, for whom the fourth defeat in a row for his all-conquering Manchester City was delivered by a Brighton side playing the kind of football under their young manager that the great Catalan once made his own.
City fell again. This time to a Brighton side that looked ever more dynamic as the game developed and won the game through Joao Pedro and then Matt O’Riley on his Premier League debut for Brighton. Both of them substitutes for manager Fabian Hurzeler and the Brazilian creating the second after scoring the first. Not only that – Joao Pedro gave Kyle Walker much to ponder in the twilight of his career.
This is developing into a rare crisis for the modern City, who have now lost twice in successive away games in the Premier League as well as those on the road in the Carabao Cup and Champions League. The Etihad record remains intact but currently anything feels possible with a defence that looks good on the ball, but vulnerable to the aggression and movement of a team like Brighton.
Guardiola left the pitch in quite a mood. He engaged in one of those expansive post-match conversations with an opposing player, this time the Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, who seemed bewildered by whatever point was being advanced.
The Dutchman had been excellent. So too Danny Welbeck, the Brighton captain, and Kaoru Mitoma, the firefly Japanese winger. They had the greater ringcraft than City’s defence. The faith that Guardiola places in the young is admirable, and teenage centre-half Jahmai Simpson-Pusey barely put a foot wrong all evening but in the crunch moments the City players were just not decisive enough. The two goals came in a five-minute period in the second half when City just caved in.
A remarkable night for O’Riley, a London-born Fulham academy graduate and Denmark international who was injured in his debut and underwent surgery this season. Long tracked by Premier League clubs in his time at Celtic, the midfielder showed great composure to take his chance.
City were rattled by the end. There was a booking for Erling Haaland who scored the 75th goal of his Premier League career in just 77 games and could not conceal his frustration.
The first half goal was vintage Haaland and suggested City were back in the groove. One by one the three Brighton men between him and the goal tried to do something about him. Both Van Hecke and Pervis Estupinan tried to slow the run with a hand on the shoulder. Bart Verbruggen did well to get something on the shot but none of it was enough. Haaland just barrelled through them all and then at the second attempt forced it over the line.
It had come from an excellent bit of opportunism from Mateo Kovacic who won the ball swiftly in midfield and then with one pass punched a hole through Brighton. It was what the home team had been trying to do to City for the first 20 minutes, without success. In possession, City were as fluent as they usually are. Rico Lewis, at left-back, rotated into midfield when City had the ball. Savinho looked just too swift for Estupinan.
Haaland might have had another shortly after his first goal, when City’s midfield looked irresistible for a few minutes. Verbruggen managed to get that shot deflected onto the post. From there the game slipped away from Guardiola’s players.
When Brighton came good at the end of the first half, they finally got the swift counterattacking right. Most of it went through Mitoma, the architect of the best first half Brighton chance. The winger managed to get on the ball when Walker misjudged the big diagonal hit out to him and Mitoma cut it back for Welbeck. His shot was blocked by Gvardiol who slid across and the ball clearly made contact with his arm.
It was one of those that VAR might have seemed happy either way to stay with the on-field decision by Sam Barrott. The referee declined to give it. It was Welbeck’s surge on 37 minutes that drew Lewis into a foul that got the young full-back a booking. Brighton realised that City were not getting away from them.
Hurzeler made the chances quickly in the second half. He sensed that City were vulnerable and it would eventually be two of those players that delivered him the goals. It took a while for Brighton to generate the momentum but the sheer scale of the chances they created told its own story. A Jack Hinselwood header straight at Ederson, and another pass from half-time substitute Carlos Baleba that created the chance for Mitoma to cross. Again another fine save from Ederson.
It was arguably Joao Pedro’s arrival that changed it. Walker struggled to cope with the speed and power of the Brazilian’s running on 69 minutes. In the end the City defence would give way. There was fatal hesitation from Gvardiol and Lewis to clear a Mitoma cross from Welbeck’s feet. As the ball broke loose Joao Pedro reacted the quickest to dig the shot out and past Ederson.
Guardiola had reorganised shortly before that. He had brought on Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva but it was Brighton who had the energy. Five minutes after the first, Welbeck laid the ball off to Joao Pedro and his first time ball through to O’Riley was nudged past Ederson for the winner.
08:22 PM GMT
Kyle Walker: ‘We need to show character’
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Manchester City defender said:
On Brighton’s performance:
We watched the game against Liverpool and we saw Brighton increase their intensity in the second half. I believe small decisions went against us which helped Brighton gain momentum.
On Manchester City’s current form:
We are going through a difficult period and the international break is coming at a good time for us. We have had unbelievable success over the last eight years and we now get to see our real character. As a club we need to navigate this tough period. We have never gone four games without a win but we are determined to turn this around.
On key injuries in the squad:
Those players are solely missed but we are not here to complain. We have a big squad and we should be able to fight back and deal with this difficult period. We are the reigning champions and should be coming to Brighton looking to take three points.
08:11 PM GMT
Fabian Hurzeler on his team’s victory
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Brighton manager said:
On his changes at half-time:
In the first-half, we missed intensity within our game. We were playing too many vertical balls and not being ruthless enough in front of goal. I told my players to believe in themselves and take chances.
On his squad depth:
It is great to have a big squad and I am really happy to have so many matchwinners within it.
On competing with Guardiola and Manchester City:
Every game is a challenge in the Premier League – it is the toughest league in the world. Across the season, it will be difficult to compete with managers such as Guardiola and teams like Manchester City. But tonight we must celebrate our victory but it is important that we remain humble.
07:52 PM GMT
Liverpool up next
As mentioned, Liverpool can now go five points clear if they can take three points against Aston Villa with kick-off less than ten minutes away.
As we continue to bring you reaction to the Brighton win, follow detailed updates of the Liverpool clash here.
07:49 PM GMT
More from Pedro
Discussing matchwinner Matt O’Riley, Joao Pedro told Sky Sports: “Very good to help the new players. His first game he got injured and I got close to him because I was injured also.
“To help him in his first game in the Premier League is very special for me. I know how hard it is to come to a new club and then get injured in the first game. I’m very happy to help him and I hope he can help us more.
Last season we dropped too many points and the gaffer told us to believe in ourselves this season and we are doing well this season against the big teams.”
07:47 PM GMT
Joao Pedro: ‘I know I’m an important player’
Speaking to Sky Sports, Brighton forward Joao Pedro said:
“First, I’m happy to be back. I know I’m an important player for the team so when we win like this against a big team it is good. Now we have time to breathe and win more games.”
Discussing his goal, he said:
“I had too many people there but I’m always told to follow the action so I was there and I’m happy to score. After two months out, I’m very happy to be back.”
07:46 PM GMT
Where this leaves City
Following this defeat, Manchester City have presented Liverpool the chance to go five points clear at the summit of the Premier League table if they beat Aston Villa in this evening’s tie kicking off at 8pm.
A win tomorrow for Nottingham Forest against Newcastle will take them within one point of the champions while a win for either Chelsea or Arsenal in their clash at Stamford Bridge will take them within two of Guardiola’s men.
Meanwhile, Brighton have now climbed into the top four on 19 points, just four points behind City.
07:42 PM GMT
It doesn’t get much easier
Following the international break Manchester City have a run of eight games which includes ties with Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Juventus, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Their injury situation may have improved for the first of those on 23 November but there will be some serious pressure mounting on Guardiola’s side following this run of results.
07:40 PM GMT
Redknapp: ‘One of the worst halves from a Guardiola side’
Speaking on Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp said: “That is one of the worst halves of football I’ve seen from a Pep Guardiola side.
“They were abject, they didn’t defend, they didn’t win individual battles and they didn’t pass the ball forward at times.
“First half they were excellent but second half when Hurzeler made the subs, there was only one team that was going to win it.”
07:38 PM GMT
Guardiola in intense conversation with Van Hecke
Pep Guardiola had another one of his post-match conservations with an opposition, this time with Jan Paul van Hecke.
It was hard to tell if it was complimentary or heated but nevertheless it ended in a handshake.
Emotions are clearly running high for the City boss after losing four in a row for the first time in his managerial career.
07:35 PM GMT
City’s losing streak
Manchester City’s four defeats in their last four games:
2-1 vs Tottenham in League Cup
2-1 vs Bournemouth in Premier League
4-1 vs Sporting in Champions League
2-1 vs Brighton in Premier League
07:30 PM GMT
Full time: Brighton 2 Manchester City 1
That was virtually the last action of the game as the referee blows the whistle and Manchester City have lost four consecutive games in all competitions for the first time under Pep Guardiola.
Erling Haaland had opened the scoring for the champions in the opening period but goals from substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley in the space of five minutes turned the game on its head.
07:29 PM GMT
90+9 mins: Brighton 2 Manchester City 1
Silva wins the free-kick with about five Brighton players around him. As De Bruyne tries to slide Lewis in, Veltman makes the interception before lashing it clear.
Nunes is down now following a challenge on the edge of the box. He hobbles to his feet and is going to have to carry on. De Bruyne plays a dangerous cross into the box that is half-cleared before Silva’s header loops into the arms of Verburggen.
Haaland and Van Hecke are booked following a scuffel after Verbruggen had claimed it.
07:25 PM GMT
90+7 mins: Brighton 2 Manchester City 1
Walker plays a really dangerous ball from the right into the box and it finds the head of a wandering Gvardiol but he gets too much contact on his header that goes wide of the right post.
07:24 PM GMT
90+5 mins: Brighton 2 Manchester City 1
Gvardiol plays a raking ball into the right channel for Nunes but Estupinian is quickly onto the first touch of the Portuguese midfielder before winning the foul. Soft to say the least.
It’s backs against the wall now for Brighton with all eleven players within 30 yards of the goal. Estupinian does superbly again to make the challenge but it’s quickly coming back.
07:21 PM GMT
90+2 mins: Brighton 2 Manchester City 1
Brighton fans will be horrified to see the board go up to indicate nine minutes of added time. A large chunk of that coming from the stoppage in play to sort the officials’ communication system.
Foden is found in the left of the box and shifts it onto his left foot before looking to find the bottom right corner but his effort goes just wide.
07:19 PM GMT
90 mins: Brighton 2 Manchester City 1
Foden goes on a driving run into the box but Veltman and Van Hecke combine to shephered the City man off the ball and clear. A ball comes into the box towards Haaland but Igor gets up so well to head clear.
De Bruyne is given space on the edge of the box but his right-footed effort goes wide of the near left post. You would expect him to test the keeper from there. Mitoma is being replaced by Moder for the hosts.
07:15 PM GMT
85 mins: Brighton 2-1 Manchester City
What a fabulous turnaround from the hosts and all credit has to go to Hurzeler for some inspired substitutions with Pedro scoring the first before setting up O’Riley for the second.
Manchester City are now staring down the barrel of four consecutive defeats in all competitions for the first time under Guardiola, who has never lost four matches in a row as a manager.
07:13 PM GMT
GOAL! O’Riley gives Brighton the lead
Brighton 2-1 Manchester City (O’Riley) Baleba plays an incsive through-ball to the feet of Welbeck who sets it back to Pedro on the edge of the box. The scorer of the first goal turns provider as he slips through O’Riley behind the City defence and he takes a touch before tucking home to score a massive goal on his Premier League debut.
07:09 PM GMT
GOAL! Joao Pedro equalises
Brighton 1-1 Manchester City (Pedro) The ball is pinged out by Van Hecke to Mitoma on the left. His first ball into the box is cut out but he latches onto it and squares it back across. After an almighty scramble on the edge of the six-yard box involving Welbeck and a number of City defenders, Joao Pedro reacts well to pounce on the loose ball and tuck home.
07:07 PM GMT
78 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
A slick move from Brighton finishes with Pedro playing a clever through-ball to O’Riley in the left of the box but his ball across the face of the goal can’t find the head of a Brighton attacker and Gvardiol does well to clear.
Simpson-Pusey picks up a yellow card for City potentially for a late foul on Welbeck.
07:03 PM GMT
74 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
There is a brief break in play as the officials have a communication issue that needs sorting out. Guardiola uses the pause in play to replace Gundogan with Silva.
Eventually, to ironic jeers, play resumes and it’s Brighton on the front foot once again. Foden does well to take the sting out of things as he wins the foul from Baleba.
Another City change as Kevin De Bruyne replaces Savinho.
07:00 PM GMT
71 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Mitoma cuts in and floats in a dangerous inswinging cross. No City defender can get a head to it and it runs all the way through to Welbeck but he wasn’t expecting it and his control lets him down.
Brighton are really pushing now as Mitoma is played in on goal but Ederson is out well to smother the winger. Just moments later and Pedro finds himself in a similar position in the left of the box and he can get it under control but his left-footed effort drags wide of the right post. He perhaps needed to go with his right foot on that one.
Chances are coming for Brighton though!
06:57 PM GMT
More goals in this
Fabian Hurzeler is calling for Joao Pedro from the bench. Brajan Gruda coming on too. Brighton haven’t recreated the momentum of the first half. That said, some of their passing out from behind the City press has been excellent. Feels like more goals in this.
The big Brighton chance fell to Jack Hinshelwood. He headed straight at Ederson. The Brighton man has since come off injured and looked distraught about it.
06:56 PM GMT
67 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Mitoma gets past Walker with a lovely spin inside before feeding the overlapping Estupinian. The full back puts in another lovely ball but Rutter heads over.
That was the forward’s last involvement as he is replaced by Gruda while Adingra is also taken off in place of the returning Pedro. That will be a wonderful sight for the home fans to see the Brazilian back on the field.
06:52 PM GMT
63 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Following a scrappy couple of minutes, City begin to establish a degree of control again with Kovacic pulling the strings in midfield.
Eventually City up the pace and after being fed into the box by Foden, Savinho cuts in onto his left foot and looks to curl one into the far corner but it doesn’t have the necessary whip on it and goes wide of the left post.
06:48 PM GMT
58 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Haaland is slipped into the left of the box and plays a dangerous ball across the six-yard box but Igor does superbly to clear over his own bar on the slide before Savinho can tap home.
Hinshelwood, who has been struggling for a few minutes following a collision with Lewis, eventually has to make way and is replaced by Matt O’Riley, who is making his Premier League debut after signing from Celtic.
06:45 PM GMT
56 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Haaland picks it up on the half turn and unleashes a powerful effort from the edge of the box but it’s blocked by Van Hecke. There are huge appeals from City players for a handball but the referee waves play on.
Veltman gets away with one as he thinks a ball in behind has enough place on it but Gundogan keeps it in play but his ball across is gathered by Verbruggen.
06:42 PM GMT
53 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Igor, who picked up a booking at the end of the first half, is given a talking to by the referee and has to be careful now.
Brighton muster their best chance of the match as Estupinian pings in a delightful cross from the left. Hinshelwood rises highest but his header is too close to Ederson, who still does well to react and parry away.
06:40 PM GMT
51 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
It’s the home side who enjoy more of the ball early on in the second period. After a good spell of pressure in and around the City area, Adingra looks to have been chopped down by Nunes on the edge of the box but the referee waves play on.
Replays confirm that was a harsh one from Sam Barrott. Moments later though and the winger floats a delightful ball to Mitoma at the back post but he doesn’t realise how much time he has and heads it first time straight into the arms of Ederson.
06:36 PM GMT
46 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
The hosts get us underway for the second period kicking from right to left. Can they continue their momentum from the final ten minutes of the opening half and get themselves back in this one?
06:34 PM GMT
Half-time change for Brighton
Fabein Hurzeler has just confirmed on Sky Sports that he is bringing on Carlos Baleba for Yasin Ayari who was booked in the first half.
He said that he wants to see more courage from his team.
06:33 PM GMT
Dominant City
In terms of statistics Manchester City have dominated in all aspects. They have enjoyed 67% of the ball and have had nine shots to Brighton’s. Five of those have been on target while the hosts a yet to register an effort on goal.
06:31 PM GMT
City wary of slow start to second period
Manchester City will be looking to ensure the start of the second half follows a different pattern to their midweek tie against Sporting.
After going into the break at 1-1, Guardiola’s men found themselves 3-1 down just four minutes into the second period.
06:28 PM GMT
Elsewhere today in the Premier League
Here are the results from the Premier League so far today:
06:21 PM GMT
Haaland continuing to break records
Fewest games needed to score 75 Premier League goals:
◉ Erling Haaland (77)
◎ Alan Shearer (93)
◎ Harry Kane (115)
◎ Ruud van Nistelrooy (116)
◎ Mo Salah (117)
◎ Sergio Aguero (118)He’s obliterated the record. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/v3297Gngrj
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 9, 2024
06:19 PM GMT
Half-time: City dominant but Brighton grew into the game
City have looked in control for most of it but Brighton have come strong at the end of the first half. City susceptible to the very direct ball through the inside left channel and the home side seem to fancy Kaoru Mitoma’s chances against Kyle Walker.
That said, City have made some inroads with the pace of Savinho on their right. When City go forward they look excellent. But there are some doubts at the back, Josko Gvardiol and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is a relatively inexperienced central defensive pairing.
Erling Haaland’s goal was one of their most direct moves – a quick ball from Mateo Kovacic. Brighton seemed to have a case for a penalty when Danny Welbeck’s shot struck Gvardiol’s hand as he slid in to block. Could have gone either way.
06:18 PM GMT
Half-time: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton think they have a late corner but the flag goes up and that is the last action of this opening period.
06:17 PM GMT
45+2 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
There will be two minutes of added time to conclude this opening period. Ederson looks long for Haaland who does well to bring Foden into play but his ball in behind is asking too much of Savinho.
06:15 PM GMT
45 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
City manage to beat the press really effectively and it all came from a sublime turn by City’s young centre back Simpson-Pusey when under pretty immense pressure.
The move breaks down as Igor brings down Haaland and the defender picks up a yellow, perhaps for his protests more than the foul itself.
06:12 PM GMT
42 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton look for Mitoma over the top once again but in typical Ederson fashion the City keeper is quickly out of his box to sweep up.
Brighton are starting to assert themselves now though as a nice move results in Mitoma being fed into the box once again but his squared ball across the box is cleared by an off-balance Lewis.
06:09 PM GMT
39 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Lewis gives it away on the edge of the box and as Welbeck latches onto the loose ball, the City youngster sticks a leg out to bring the forward down and he picks up City’s first booking of the game.
From the resulting free-kick, Welbeck’s curling effort whistles just wide of the right post. That really wasn’t far away.
06:07 PM GMT
36 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
After a rare Brighton attack, City counter well as it’s pinged up to Haaland. He does superbly to hold it up before feeding Nunes on his inside. He plays it on one more to Foden in the left of the box but his effort is blocked and behind for a corner that comes to nothing.
Huge chance to equalise for Brighton. Mitoma is found over the top on the left wing. He squares it to Welbeck on the edge of the box and he bursts into the area before looking to slot home but his effort is blocked crucially by the sliding Gvardiol. There are appeals from Welbeck that it struck the Croatian’s arm but no doing.
06:03 PM GMT
31 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
City have really established a grip of proceedings now with Brighton camped well in their own half and the visiting midfield enjoying plenty of tidy touches.
The ball drops to Kovacic on the edge of the box towards the right side of the pitch and he unleashes a powerful volley but it’s straight at the keeper who can parry away.
05:59 PM GMT
Classic Haaland goal
Classic Erling Haaland goal, two different defenders’ hands on his shoulders at different times and he just blasts his way through. The quick turnover from Mateo Kovacic made the chance. It is what Brighton have been trying to do to City – thus far without success.
05:58 PM GMT
28 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 1
Haaland nearly doubles his lead immediately! As Foden picks it up on the edge of the box, he pings one in into the feet of Haaland on the right of the box. He takes the defender on the outside as he shifts it onto his right foot but his low effort is well-saved by Verbruggen.
From the resulting corner the keeper makes a brave call to try and punch clear but Haaland gets his head their first. Fortunately for Verbruggen the header goes over.
05:55 PM GMT
GOAL! Haaland breaks the deadlock
Brighton 0 Manchester City 1 (Haaland) Kovacic skips past his man before sliding Haaland in on goal. Verbruggen gets something on the striker’s initial effort to slot home but Haaland reacts well to poke home despite pressure from Van Hecke. It’s not completely clear who got the final touch but it’s given to Haaland for now.
05:52 PM GMT
22 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 0
City slow the game down as they knock it around their defence with Brighton happy to sit in their shape in within their own half.
Eventually City look for Savinho down the right once again but Igor covers well and wins the free-kick as he gets his body between man and ball.
05:49 PM GMT
19 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 0
City have a free-kick in an attacking position down their left. Foden puts in a teasing ball behind the high defensive line but Haaland can’t control his right-footed effort on the stretch and it doesn’t really threaten. That was the striker’s first real involvement.
Ayari hauls back Foden after some tidy close control by the England man and picks up the first yellow card of the match.
05:47 PM GMT
Solid start from City
City have started in a pretty solid fashion for a team that has lost three in a row. Rico Lewis is the inverted full-back in midfield when the team is in possession. For the most part they have looked quite calm under Brighton’s press. The home team are looking for quick turnovers and fast counterattacks. They are dangerous in that regard.
05:47 PM GMT
17 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 0
So close to the opener for City Kovacicic slides Savinho into the right of the box. He looks to poke a left footed effort past the onrushing Verbruggen but the keeper does excellently to get down and turn the effort behind for a corner with an outstretched leg.
05:45 PM GMT
15 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 0
Savinho, down City’s right, looks to curl a cross in with the outside of his left foot. He doesn’t get the desired connection so much so that it nearly creeps in the far corner but it just drifts over.
It’s another nice move Brighton as Mitoma looks to slide in Rutter before the ball drops back to the Japan international but he skews his effort wide. Once again though, the flag was up.
05:43 PM GMT
13 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 0
It’s a really sloppy pass from Verbruggen that is cut out by Nunes on the edge of the box but he can’t bring it under his control and Van Hecke can clear the danger.
Veltman plays a clever ball over the top for Ayari but Ederson is quickly out of his area to sweep up. The flag was up anyway but a promising move nevertheless from the home side.
05:40 PM GMT
10 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 0
Gvardiol goes through the back of Rutter pretty robustly but it’s just a foul and no card. The City man would have perhaps been less fortunate if the game was not in the opening ten minutes.
A promising move from Brighton down their right is stifled by Lewis before Kovacic does well to beat the press and free City on their right. Savinho beats Estupinian with ease on the outside but his cross is headed clear.
05:37 PM GMT
7 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 0
It’s been a bright start from either side showing signs of confidence and knocking the ball about nicely but it’s City who are shading possession early on.
Kovacic looks for Savinho over the top but there is too much weight on his pass and it runs on through to Verbruggen.
05:34 PM GMT
3 mins: Brighton 0 Manchester City 0
Nunes has some early space down City’s left flank but Adingra gets back in well to support Veltman and cut out the midfielder’s pass inside the box.
Lewis looks to be joining Kovacic to make a two-man midfield pivot while Walker and Gvardiol are either side of Simpson-Pusey in a back-three when City have the ball.
05:30 PM GMT
1 min: Brighton 0 Manchester City 0
Following a minute’s silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday, Manchester City and Gundogan get us underway kicking off from right to left.
Sam Barrott is the man in the middle.
05:25 PM GMT
Five minutes until kick-off
We are just five minutes away from kick-off here at the Amex Stadium. Can Manchester City avoid four successive defeats or will Brighton climb into the top four with another big win? The action begins shortly.
05:21 PM GMT
City looking to avoid four successive defeats
Manchester are looking to avoid four successive defeats in all competitions for the first time since a period between April and August 2006 under Stuart Pearce, while Pep Guardiola is looking to avoid being on the end that same run for the first time in his managerial career.
05:15 PM GMT
Key men not firing
Manchester City’s dip in form has coincided with the goals drying up for Erling Haaland.
The Norway international has netted only one goal in his last five Premier League appearances after scoring ten in the opening five matches of this campaign.
Meanwhile, Phil Foden, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, is yet to score in seven league outings this season.
This marks his longest drought since going 15 games without a league goal between May 2019 and March 2020.
05:10 PM GMT
Can Brighton continue their strong start?
Brighton’s tally of 16 points is their second highest after 10 Premier League matches. They had recorded 17 by this stage of last season.
They will hope to sustain these levels into the new year though, after a poor second half of the campaign under Roberto de Zerbi last time out left them 43 points adrift of the summit having been just 12 points behind leaders Liverpool at the halfway stage.
05:04 PM GMT
Guardiola on recent defeats
Discussing Manchester City’s recent wobbles, Pep Guardiola said: “20 minutes against Fulham were not good and against Bournemouth we were not good, but the rest of the games we were good. We are good. We will see what happens.”
“We know the reason why we struggle but we are looking forward to this game and, after the international break, a few players will be back and recovered. All the little problems we have with players will be solved. I hope.”
Discussing Brighton and their boss Fabian Hurzeler: “I’m really impressed with the way they play. They had to make a lot of signings and he is doing an incredible job.
“They were outstanding against Liverpool but didn’t get the result. They played really good. They always have been tough away or at home, since Graham Potter, and this will be no exception.”
05:00 PM GMT
Chance to go top… for now
With Liverpool in action later on this evening as they host Aston Villa, Manchester City’s clash with Brighton presents the chance for the champions to go top, even for just a matter of hours.
Pep Guardiola’s side are currently two points behind the leaders and will be wary that defeat would allow Liverpool to establish a five-point lead heading into the third international break of the campaign.
It would also present the chance for Nottingham Forest to go within one point as they host Newcastle United on Sunday and Chelsea or Arsenal to go within two as they meet at Stamford Bridge.
04:55 PM GMT
No Grealish despite England inclusion
No Jack Grealish in the City matchday squad. Suggests that Pep Guardiola is making his point to Lee Carsley about the fitness of the mercurial winger. Guardiola was not happy with Carsley’s assertion on Thursday that Grealish was back training and fit for selection.
Carsley did say there were a number of his England squad for next week, including Grealish, who were major doubts. At least Carsley will leave the interim role having had one good old-fashioned club-v-country row with a famous Premier League manager.
04:53 PM GMT
City’s defensive vulnerability on the counter
Conceding early hasn’t been the only theme of the goals shipped by Manchester City so far this season. Opposition sides are finding success in sitting in deep and punishing City on the counter-attack and in transition.
In previous campaigns, Kyle Walker and Rodri have been two of City’s most effective tools in stifling these types of goals through the full-back’s pace in recovery and the Spaniard’s reading of the game and defensive presence in midfield.
But with Rodri out for the season and Pep Guardiola using Walker far less this time around, with the City captain appearing to have potentially lost a yard, City suddenly look far more vulnerable in these moments of transition.
They have conceded over 50 per cent more goals than at this stage of last season while their tally of two clean sheets is their lowest after 10 matches of a campaign since Guardiola’s first season in charge in 2016-17.
However, with Brighton notoriously deploying a high line for much of this season, both the defence and attack of City may be relieved this evening to find an opposition side not sitting in a low block, ready to pounce on the break.
04:47 PM GMT
Champions in town
04:42 PM GMT
Brighton squandering leads while City recovering deficits
Brighton have dropped 10 points from winning positions this season with their only two defeats, against Chelsea and Liverpool, coming after taking the lead.
Their most recent home tie in the Premier League saw them blow a 2-0 lead, which they held until the 88th minute, to ultimately draw against winless Wolves.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have recovered a league-high 13 points from losing positions this season.
And despite conceding the opening goal in five of their ten Premier League fixtures this campaign, the defeat at Bournemouth was the only one of those five matches they did not come back to win.
So if you’re a Brighton fan, I think the advice would be to not get too carried away with an early goal.
04:36 PM GMT
‘We shouldn’t be afraid of anyone’: Hurzeler on challenge of champions
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler is relishing the challenges of playing the Premier League’s top sides.
“I don’t want to be recognised or seen as the small Brighton and Hove Albion,” said Hurzeler before today’s game against champions Manchester City.
“It’s more that we have a big potential in our squad. We have a great leadership in the club. We have great staff members. We have a good atmosphere, a good environment.
“In football, it’s about achieving things and that’s why we shouldn’t hide. We shouldn’t be afraid of anyone.
“We should play with self-confidence and we should also put pressure on ourselves because in the end we want to achieve something and if we don’t achieve the victories in the games we have failed and that’s the truth. That’s why we have to also be hard on ourselves and demand the best from ourselves.
“These games, like City and Liverpool, are the best challenges for us.”
04:30 PM GMT
Injury news
Matt O’Riley could make his Premier League debut for Brighton following his summer move from Celtic.
The midfielder suffered a serious ankle injury just nine minutes into his first game for the club in an EFL Cup fixture in August.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side also see Joao Pedro return to the squad with the forward last appearing against Nottingham Forest in September.
Yasin Ayari starts despite being forced off in last weekend’s defeat at Liverpool but this evening’s tie comes too soon for Lewis Dunk and Yankuba Minteh.
Ferdi Kadioglu, who scored Brighton’s solitary goal at Anfield doesn’t make the squad.
Doku isn’t in the squad for Manchester City but fellow Belgian Kevin de Bruyne could feature in the Premier League for the first time since September after making a late substitute appearance against Sporting in the week.
John Stones will miss a third game due to a foot injury, while Ruben Dias, Oscar Bobb and Jack Grealish are still sidelined.
04:26 PM GMT
Those line-ups in full
Brighton: Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinian; Adingra, Hinshelwood, Ayari, Mitoma; Rutter, Welbeck.
Subs: Pedro, Baleba, Enciso, Ferguson, Gruda, O’Riley, Moder, Steele, Wieffer
Manchester City: Ederson; Lewis, Walker, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol; Kovacic; Savinho, Foden, Gundogan, Nunes; Haaland.
Subs: Ake, De Bruyne, Silva, McAtee, O’Reilly, Ortega, Akanji, Wilson-Esbrand, Wright.
04:20 PM GMT
Guardiola makes two changes
There are two changes to the Manchester City side that were thumped 4-1 against Sporting in midweek as Pep Guardiola brings in Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan to replace Manuel Akanji and Bernardo Silva.
City’s line-up for #BHAMCI 💪
XI | Ederson, Lewis, Walker (C), Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Savinho, Foden, Nunes, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Ake, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Akanji, Wright, O’Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/bcYw05MpYx
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 9, 2024
04:18 PM GMT
One change for Brighton
Fabian Hurzeler makes one change to the side that lost 2-1 away to Liverpool last weekend as Simon Adingra comes into the side for Ferdi Kadioglu.
04:16 PM GMT
Preview: City looking to avoid fourth straight defeat
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City from the Premier League as Pep Guardiola looks to avoid four consecutive defeats in all competitions for the first time as a manager.
Victor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick as Sporting thumped City in the Uefa Champions League on Tuesday in Ruben Amorim’s final home game in charge before making his move to the red half of Manchester.
This was City’s third defeat in the space of seven days after being knocked out of the League Cup by Tottenham Hotspur before seeing their 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League come to an end in a 2-1 defeat away against Bournemouth.
There are certainly reasons for concern for Guardiola with the recent string of losses coming after a period of less-than-convincing performances in the league following Rodri’s ACL injury against Arsenal in September.
Despite a run of three wins against Fulham, Wolves and Southampton, each victory was by a margin of just one goal, while Fulham mustered a greater xG than the champions at the Etihad and a 95th-minute John Stones header was needed to snatch the three points at Molineux.
With the sides above Brighton coming into this weekend yet to play, this evening’s clash presents an opportunity for Fabian Hurzeler’s side to climb level on points with Nottingham Forest in third.
To do so, Brighton will need to find their first win in four matches in all competitions, with back-to-back defeats against Liverpool in the League Cup and Premier League following a 2-2 draw against Wolves.
Mats Wieffer will still be having nightmares about the latter after his unforgivable pass, which squandered a four-on-one situation, led to Wolves scoring a 93rd-minute equaliser after the home side had been 2-0 up until the 88th minute.
Nonetheless the south-coast side will take confidence from their overall home record having avoided defeat in their opening five league fixtures at the Amex Stadium this season.
