1 week ago
.png)
Phil Foden became the 10th player to score 50 Premier League goals for Manchester City with his first strike at the AmexManchester City moved smoothly to within one point of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand after a routine victory over Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
What threatened to be a dangerous fixture was effectively over by the interval as City romped into a three-goal lead, moving ahead of Liverpool into second place and closing ominously on Arsenal.
Kevin de Bruyne's first header in his 68 Premier League goals, a magnificent flying effort into the top corner, set City on their way before Phil Foden controversially doubled the advantage nine minutes layer.
Referee Jarred Gillett awarded City a free-kick despite Foden only appearing to slip, Brighton seeing insult added to injury as his resulting set-piece strike took a deflection off Pascal Gross to wrong-foot keeper Jason Steele.
Any hope of a Brighton comeback was extinguished after 34 minutes by a smooth Foden finish into the bottom corner.
It was then simply a case of damage limitation for Roberto de Zerbi's side but City extended their lead just after the hour when the ball ran away from Steele as he went into a challenge with Kyle Walker and Julian Alvarez was on hand to pounce.
Relive Brighton's match with Manchester City in the Premier LeagueHow did you rate Brighton's performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of Manchester City's display? Send us your views hereMan City looking ominous
Manchester City are at it again, reaching peak form just when it matters to turn up the pressure on pace-setters Arsenal as the title race reaches the final few fences.
Liverpool's recent decline continued as they were beaten by Everton in the Merseyside derby but Arsenal are not going away, with a win at Wolverhampton Wanderers followed by the 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea at Emirates Stadium.
This did not have any impact on City, who have been through this tension before, as what was pitched as a tricky trip to the south coast turned into a formality.
It had all the hallmarks of a City performance close to the Premier League finishing line - calm and ruthless with flashes of brilliance from those who can change any game for manager Pep Guardiola.
De Bruyne is renowned for just about anything apart from his heading ability but he scored an athletic effort to open the scoring. It was then Foden's turn to add further flourishes.
Such was their comfort that Guardiola was even able to give De Bruyne and Foden a breather by substituting them before the end with the game won, conserving energy for the weekend visit to struggling Nottingham Forest.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Brighton & Hove Albion
Squad number23Player nameSteele
Squad number34Player nameVeltman
Squad number29Player namevan Hecke
Squad number5Player nameDunk
Squad number19Player nameBarco
Squad number20Player nameBaleba
Squad number15Player nameModer
Squad number14Player nameLallana
Squad number13Player nameGroß
Squad number9Player nameJoão Pedro
Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
Squad number3Player nameIgor Julio
Squad number24Player nameAdingra
Squad number42Player nameOffiah
Squad number55Player nameO’Mahony
Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number25Player nameAkanji
Squad number6Player nameAké
Squad number24Player nameGvardiol
Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number47Player nameFoden
Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number10Player nameGrealish
Squad number11Player nameDoku
Squad number21Player nameGómez
Squad number27Player nameMatheus Nunes
Squad number82Player nameLewis
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
23Steele34VeltmanBooked at 35minsSubstituted forOffiahat 45'minutes29van Hecke5Dunk19Barco20BalebaBooked at 76mins15ModerSubstituted fordos Santos de Pauloat 56'minutes14LallanaSubstituted forAdingraat 45'minutes13Groß9João Pedro18WelbeckSubstituted forO’Mahonyat 75'minutesSubstitutes
1Verbruggen3dos Santos de Paulo4Webster10Enciso24Adingra31Ansu Fati40Buonanotte42Offiah55O’MahonyMan City
Formation 4-1-4-1
31Ederson2WalkerSubstituted forLewisat 79'minutes25Akanji6Aké24Gvardiol16RodriSubstituted forGómezat 79'minutes20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forDokuat 78'minutes17De BruyneSubstituted forNunesat 72'minutes8Kovacic47FodenSubstituted forGrealishat 72'minutes19ÁlvarezSubstitutes
3Rúben Dias5Stones10Grealish11Doku18Ortega21Gómez27Nunes52Bobb82LewisReferee:Jarred Gillett
Attendance:31,596
Live Text
Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Manchester City 4.
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Manchester City 4.
Attempt saved. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Nathan Aké.
Foul by Nathan Aké (Manchester City).
João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Igor Julio (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Attempt missed. João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Igor Julio.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Manchester City).
Rico Lewis (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Valentín Barco (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Substitution, Manchester City. Rico Lewis replaces Kyle Walker.
Substitution, Manchester City. Sergio Gómez replaces Rodri.
Substitution, Manchester City. Jérémy Doku replaces Bernardo Silva.
Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Matheus Nunes (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Rodri (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
