MAN CITY 3, BRIGHTON 1
Manchester City continued to rewrite the record books as they beat Brighton.
It was their 10th straight home Premier League victory in which they had scored at least three goals in each game.
Second-placed City moved within one point of Arsenal, though the leaders have played one fewer match.
It was City’s 9th straight home win against the Seagulls with the goal count 24-3 in their favour.
And it was another productive day for Erling Haaland who bagged another two goals as he took his total to 22 in all competitions from only 15 games.
The Norwegian is already almost halfway towards matching the record of 44 goals scored in one season by Manchester United’s Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002/03 and Mohamed Salah in 2017-18.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity manager Pep Guardiola said: “The game was one of the toughest we can face in things they pose which we are not used to. They play man-to-man and you need to play more direct balls.
“With the ball they have incredible quality and the two guys in the middle – they are a really good team.
“In those moments we have to be resilient and knew the game would be tough until the end. Kevin [De Bruyne] scored a goal that was magnificent, but we would fight to the end to avoid the draw or defeat but sometimes it is important to understand the game we have to play.
“I am satisfied with the points because it was a tricky game. I said before and at half time how difficult it could be, but in the end we did it.”
Guardiola described De Bruyne’s goal as “fantastic” but admitted he is not playing at a top level.
“He knows he is not perfect, but the goal was outstanding, so we did not suffer in the last 15/20 minutes,” he said.
“We missed a chance (to make it 3-0) and one minute later conceded one goal and it was close until Kevin’s masterclass action.”
It was a gutsy display from Brighton who have still to register a win from new manager Roberto De Zerbi’s five games.
They enjoyed 52 per cent possession which was highly unusual as it is usually City who are dominant on the ball.
De Zerbi said: “We played a good game against one of the most important teams in the Premier League, Europe and the world – but we lost.
“I think in the first half we were a little afraid and then the second half maybe we changed the mentality. The players wanted to score a goal and open the game.
“We had a chance to score for 2-2 but in the second half we played very, very well.”
On whether the VAR decision to give a penalty to Manchester City, from which they scored their second goal, was correct: “I don’t know. My job is not to analyse the referee. I’m not happy but I don’t want to speak too much about the referee, the decision or VAR.
“I want to analyse my team and the quality of my team. I believe if we continue to play in this level we will win many games.”
City enjoyed a few extra days off after not playing in midweek, but Guardiola still decided to make three changes from Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool.
In-form midfielder Phil Foden dropped out, as did skipper Ilkay Gundogan and defender Nathan Ake. That meant starts for Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte.
Despite not being able to find a way through Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi kept faith with the same starting line-up.
Brighton created lots of chances without being able to score, but Danny Welbeck continued to lead the line with support from Adam Lallana, Pascal Gross, Solly March and Leandro Trossard.
After in inauspicious start, the match burst to life with a poor clearance from Ederson to Danny Welbeck who fired wide of an empty goal from 40 yards.
City had a shout for a penalty rejected by referee Craig Pawson and VAR Lee Mason after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s challenge of Haaland.
But the giant Norwegian opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, albeit controversially with a VAR check for a nudge on Adam Webster before racing clear on to Ederson’s long clearance.
It was Haaland’s 21st goal of the season for City and 16th in the league from only 15 games. It was also the seventh successive home game in which he had found the net, the first City player to do so since Sergio Aguero in 2017/18.
City doubled their lead two minutes before the break as Haaland struck again, this time from the penalty spot.
It followed a delayed VAR check for Lewis Dunk’s challenge on Bernardo Silva with Mason sending Pawson to the pitchside monitor.
Haaland’s 22nd goal of the season was his 12th in five home Premier League games and was also the 600th scored by City since Guardiola became manager.
City were denied a third goal early in the second half by the legs of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to keep out a shot from Riyad Mahrez. That would have sealed victory.
Brighton survived and proceeded to halve the deficit moments later.
City’s defence was unhinged by a long, quick clearance by Sanchez. The ball was eventually played wide left to Solly March who played an inside pass to Trossard who fired a fierce shot low inside Ederson’s near post for his sixth goal of a hugely productive season.
Guardiola’s response was to make his first change as Mahrez made way for Foden.
Aymeric Laporte saw a header flash just wide from De Bruyne’s corner as City looked to kill off the game.
Brighton remained a threat as Trossard burst clear on the left and cut inside only to see Ederson spread himself well to block his shot.
City sealed victory with 15 minutes left through a spectacular strike from outside the box. Bernardo Silva squared a pass from the left and the Belgium hit a thunderbolt into the top corner for only his second goal of the season.
Game won, Guardiola took off Jack Grealish and Haaland who were replaced by Cole Palmer and Julian Alvarez as they managed the latter stages without experiencing any anxious moments.