Throwing away the lead twice on Saturday afternoon, Manchester City missed out on the chance to climb back into the top-four as they had to settle for a 2-2 stalemate against Brighton at the Etihad.
While Pep Guardiola’s men might have got off to a dream start on home soil as the record-breaking Erling Haaland converted from the penalty spot after just 11 minutes, the Sky Blues failed to find any real fluidity once again.
However, the soon-to-be champions were pegged back midway through the first-half as Pervis Estupinan’s delicious free-kick found a way part City keeper Stefan Ortega, who was replacing injured number one Ederson.
Although January recruit Omar Marsmoush might have restored City’s advantage thanks to a thunderous 20-yard strike just before the break, City’s brittle defence to let them down again three minutes after the restart as Abdukodir Khusanov diverted Jack Hinshelwood’s effort into his own net.
With Guardiola once again cutting a frustrated figure on the sidelines, City missed out on the chance to find a route back into the top-four.
As for Brighton more than deserving for their point in the blue half of Manchester, Saturday’s guests have collected 13 points from their previous five Premier League showdowns and are riding a major wave of momentum.
On an afternoon when City once again demonstrated their glaring inconstancies, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the Etihad.
City’s top-four dreams dealt another blow
Making real history last season as they became the first club in English history to claim a fourth consecutive Premier League crown, it was almost unthinkable that Manchester City would head into March’s international break sat outside the top-four.
Enduring what has been an infamous domestic rut this season, Guardiola’s side have come under a huge amount of scrutiny on either side of opening the New Year.
Watching their Champions League dreams take another blow on home soil, the former Barcelona boss will simply be looking forward to the end of what has been a nightmare campaign.
Getting March underway with a late 1-0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest, the Sky Blues have now recorded just a single victory from any of their previous four Premier League appearances.
Drastically failing to find any kind of stability and showing some real defensive issues, Guardiola’s downbeat squad have also recorded just a pair of victories against Premier League opposition since the end of January.
Brighton extend on their remarkable run
While Fabian Hurtzler might have only arrived at the Amex last summer, the Seagulls have embarked on a sensational rise under the guidance of the ex-St. Pauli boss.
With it looking like a fifth-place finish should be enough to secure a hugely lucrative Champions League ticket, it is no secret that Saturday’s guests have their sights firmly set on upsetting the establishment.
More than worthy of their point here, some of Saturday’s support might be heading back to the south coast feeling that they deserved to leave with what would have been a famous victory at the Etihad.
Landing a 2-1 victory when they welcomed the soon-to-be former Premier League champions to town for their reverse meeting on November 9th, Brighton have enjoyed what has been a sensational purple patch.
Along with extending on their FA Cup adventure thanks to respective wins against Chelsea and Newcastle over the past six week, Hurtzler’s high-flying squad have also registered 13 points from their previous five Premier League appearances.
Haaland breaks more records
While Manchester City might have endured what has been an infamous domestic rut this season, their attacking icon has continued to shine and once again shattered even more long-standing records here.
Opening the scoring after just 11 minutes on Saturday afternoon after converting from the penalty spot, Haaland has been one of use a few positives at the Etihad this season.
Although Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah might be sitting pretty in the race to claim this year’s Premier League Golden Boot, the former Borussia Dortmund striker has notched 21 top-flight goals in his 28 appearances this season.
In fact, Saturday’s strike means that the Norwegian superstar becomes the first player in Premier League history to reach 100 direct goal involvement in few than 100 appearances.
Doing so in just 94 games, Haaland will know that he must play a leading role in City’s bid to scramble themselves to a Champions League spot come May.
Match Report
Manchester City: Ortega, Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan, Nico, Savinho, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Foden, Silva, De Bruyne
Brighton: Verbruggen, Hinshelwood, van Hecke, Webster, Estupinan, Gomez, Baleba, Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma, Pedro
Subs: Welbeck, Ayari, Adingra, Wieffer, Gruda
Goals: Manchester City: Haaland (11’ P), Marmoush (39’) – Brighton: Estupinan (21’), Khusanov OG (48’)
Yellow Cards: Manchester City, Doku, Savinho – Brighton: Pedro, Mitoma, Baleba, Wieffer Verbruggen
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Simon Hooper
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