Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Manchester City 4.
Manchester 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, after the Seagulls had been caught in possession trying to play out from the back.
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.
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Man 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.
Brighton running out of steam
Brighton were chasing European football in thrilling style at this stage last season under De Zerbi - a mission they accomplished successfully.
Here, depleted by injuries, they were jaded and lacking inspiration as their campaign continues to look like it will end in anti-climax.
Brighton's supporters felt they did not get the rub of the green with decisions, especially with the free-kick award that led to City's second goal, the mood inside the Amex worsening when second-half penalty appeals were turned down.
In reality, however, they looked a shadow of the side that made life so difficult for the top teams last season, being outclassed and overwhelmed by their visitors.
Brighton lost key midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister last summer and De Zerbi's hopes of another European challenge have been further undermined by injuries, despite some sparkling performances this term.
There has also been speculation around De Zerbi's own future, which will hopefully be cleared up so this progressive club can regroup and move forward once more.
This was a chastening experience for the Seagulls but they were unfortunate to meet Manchester City at just the wrong time, with their energy starting to run low.
Player of the match
De BruyneKevin De Bruyne
Brighton & Hove Albion
Avg
- Squad number55Player nameO’MahonyAverage rating
6.46
- Squad number18Player nameWelbeckAverage rating
5.18
- Squad number19Player nameBarcoAverage rating
5.10
- Squad number5Player nameDunkAverage rating
5.09
- Squad number9Player nameJoão PedroAverage rating
5.08
- Squad number20Player nameBalebaAverage rating
4.98
- Squad number23Player nameSteeleAverage rating
4.96
- Squad number29Player namevan HeckeAverage rating
4.91
- Squad number15Player nameModerAverage rating
4.89
- Squad number34Player nameVeltmanAverage rating
4.87
- Squad number13Player nameGroßAverage rating
4.82
- Squad number14Player nameLallanaAverage rating
4.71
- Squad number42Player nameOffiahAverage rating
4.59
- Squad number24Player nameAdingraAverage rating
4.31
- Squad number3Player nameIgor JulioAverage rating
4.12
Manchester City
Avg
- Squad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating
8.38
- Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating
8.08
- Squad number19Player nameÁlvarezAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number2Player nameWalkerAverage rating
7.31
- Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating
7.18
- Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating
7.16
- Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating
7.06
- Squad number8Player nameKovacicAverage rating
6.98
- Squad number82Player nameLewisAverage rating
6.94
- Squad number25Player nameAkanjiAverage rating
6.94
- Squad number24Player nameGvardiolAverage rating
6.87
- Squad number6Player nameAkéAverage rating
6.86
- Squad number11Player nameDokuAverage rating
6.86
- Squad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating
6.84
- Squad number27Player nameMatheus NunesAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number21Player nameGómezAverage rating
6.66
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Steele
- 34VeltmanBooked at 35minsSubstituted forOffiahat 45'minutes
- 29van Hecke
- 5Dunk
- 19Barco
- 20BalebaBooked at 76mins
- 15ModerSubstituted fordos Santos de Pauloat 56'minutes
- 14LallanaSubstituted forAdingraat 45'minutes
- 13Groß
- 9João Pedro
- 18WelbeckSubstituted forO’Mahonyat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Verbruggen
- 3dos Santos de Paulo
- 4Webster
- 10Enciso
- 24Adingra
- 31Ansu Fati
- 40Buonanotte
- 42Offiah
- 55O’Mahony
Man City
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 31Ederson
- 2WalkerSubstituted forLewisat 78'minutes
- 25Akanji
- 6Aké
- 24Gvardiol
- 16RodriSubstituted forGómezat 78'minutes
- 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forDokuat 78'minutes
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forNunesat 72'minutes
- 8Kovacic
- 47FodenSubstituted forGrealishat 71'minutes
- 19Álvarez
Substitutes
- 3Rúben Dias
- 5Stones
- 10Grealish
- 11Doku
- 18Ortega
- 21Gómez
- 27Nunes
- 52Bobb
- 82Lewis
- Referee:
- Jarred Gillett
- Attendance:
- 31,596
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home35%
- Away65%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away3
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Manchester City 4.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Nathan Aké.
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Foul by Nathan Aké (Manchester City).
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João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Igor Julio (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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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.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match (Manchester City).
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Rico Lewis (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Valentín Barco (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Rico Lewis replaces Kyle Walker.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Sergio Gómez replaces Rodri.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Jérémy Doku replaces Bernardo Silva.
Booking
Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Matheus Nunes (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Rodri (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Brighton didn't help themselves by insisting on playing out from the back, even when under pressure.
Realistically it will be Man City again, but I want us to keep the pressure on until the last game. Tottenham on Sunday will be spicy!
You are a joy to watch.
From a Chelsea fan.
Anyone but pewl...
#4 games to go...👋👋👋
👻🏴👑🟦😁👻