Manchester City endured an unprecedented setback as they suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, falling 2-1 to Brighton. This marks Pep Guardiola’s first-ever four-game losing streak, and City’s first such streak since 2006. Despite taking the lead early, City struggled to maintain control, and Brighton’s persistence ultimately paid off with a late comeback.
City’s goal came from Erling Haaland, who capitalized on a sharp interception by Mateo Kovacic. After Kovacic advanced the ball through midfield, he set up Haaland for a shot. Although Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen saved the initial attempt, Haaland quickly pounced on the rebound to score. Ederson kept City in the lead for much of the second half with several key saves, including a crucial stop on Kaoru Mitoma.
However, Brighton continued to press, and Joao Pedro eventually found the equalizer amid a scramble in the box with 12 minutes left. Substitute Matt O’Riley then sealed Brighton’s comeback, breaking through City’s defense to deliver the decisive goal.
Player Ratings
– Ederson– Displayed strong reflexes and command of the area, making excellent saves. Couldn’t do much for the goals. 8
– Rico Lewis – Performed well going forward but was vulnerable defensively, especially during Brighton’s attacks. 5
– Kyle Walker – Solid in the early stages but had difficulty with Joao Pedro’s pace and positioning. 5
– Jahmai Simpson-Pusey – Showed maturity on his Premier League debut, handling Danny Welbeck’s presence competently. 6
– Josko Gvardiol – Strong defensively but left gaps that contributed to Brighton’s goals. 5
– Mateo Kovacic – Provided the assist for Haaland’s goal and was a presence in midfield, but City struggled centrally later in the game. 6
– Ilkay Gundogan – Supported Kovacic well and added pressure up front. Substituted with City still in the lead. 7
– Phil Foden– Had a quiet first half but became more involved in counter-attacks in the second. 6
– Savinho – Was a threat on the right side, unlucky not to score, and applied pressure to Brighton’s back line. 7
– Matheus Nunes – Adapted well on the left, taking on a playmaking role similar to Grealish, and later shifted back to midfield. 6
– Erling Haaland – Scored the opening goal, showing good positioning and link-up play. 7
Substitute
– Kevin De Bruyne (73′) – Tried to influence the game upon coming on but couldn’t alter the outcome. 6
Unused Substitutes
Ortega, Ake, Akanji, O’Reilly, Wright, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand
This defeat, the latest in an unusual dip for City, has sparked questions about their defensive cohesion and consistency. Guardiola now faces the challenge of regrouping and finding a way to break this losing streak as City look to stay in contention across competitions.