Crisis at Manchester City as they suffers fourth loss

Manchester City finds itself in a state of crisis after suffering a fourth consecutive defeat, this time at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion. The usually dominant side led by manager Pep Guardiola was stunned by Brighton on Saturday, adding to a difficult stretch for the defending champions.

A string of setbacks for City

Manchester City, typically accustomed to dominating both domestically and in Europe, has been struggling in recent weeks. Their recent slump began with a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup, followed by a Premier League defeat to Bournemouth by the same scoreline. The Champions League brought further disappointment on Tuesday when City suffered a 4-1 loss to Sporting Portugal. With three defeats in a short span, Guardiola’s squad was desperate to turn things around against Brighton.

Promising start with Haaland’s goal

City’s fortunes seemed to be changing midway through the first half as Erling Haaland broke the deadlock. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic, Haaland powered a shot that deflected off Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and the crossbar to make it 1-0. The Norwegian striker’s goal marked his 75th in 77 Premier League appearances, outmuscling Brighton’s Van Hecke to reach the milestone. Just minutes later, Haaland came close to doubling the lead, hitting the post and heading over from a corner soon afterward.

Brighton’s resilience and determination

Despite City’s pressure, Brighton remained composed, holding the score at 1-0 and gradually pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Danny Welbeck had a notable chance before halftime, but it wasn’t until the closing stages of the second half that Brighton finally found their breakthrough. A chaotic scramble in front of Ederson’s goal saw substitute João Pedro capitalize, firing the ball into the net for a dramatic equalizer.

City collapses after Brighton’s equalizer

After Brighton’s equalizer, Manchester City’s confidence seemed to crumble. Guardiola brought on experienced players Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in an effort to regain control, but the team struggled to recover. Only five minutes after the 1-1 equalizer, Brighton seized the lead. João Pedro, now the playmaker, set up Matt O'Riley, who slotted home to put Brighton 2-1 ahead, stunning the visitors.

Historic loss for Guardiola’s City

The defeat marks an unprecedented fourth consecutive loss for Manchester City under Guardiola, a first in the Spaniard’s tenure at the club. Liverpool, currently at the top of the table, now has the opportunity to extend their lead over City to five points if they secure a win against Aston Villa later on Saturday. Meanwhile, Brighton’s victory lifts them into the top four, bringing their tally to 19 points and solidifying their impressive start to the season.