Throwing away the lead twice on Saturday afternoon, Manchester Metropolis missed out on the prospect to climb again into the top-four as they needed to accept a 2-2 stalemate towards Brighton on the Etihad.
Whereas Pep Guardiola’s males might need obtained off to a dream begin on house soil because the record-breaking Erling Haaland transformed from the penalty spot after simply 11 minutes, the Sky Blues failed to seek out any actual fluidity as soon as once more.
Nevertheless, the soon-to-be champions have been pegged again halfway via the first-half as Pervis Estupinan’s scrumptious free-kick discovered a method half Metropolis keeper Stefan Ortega, who was changing injured primary Ederson.
Though January recruit Omar Marsmoush might need restored Metropolis’s benefit due to a thunderous 20-yard strike simply earlier than the break, Metropolis’s brittle defence to allow them to down once more three minutes after the restart as Abdukodir Khusanov diverted Jack Hinshelwood’s effort into his personal internet.
With Guardiola as soon as once more chopping a annoyed determine on the sidelines, Metropolis missed out on the prospect to discover a route again into the top-four.
As for Brighton greater than deserving for his or her level within the blue half of Manchester, Saturday’s visitors have collected 13 factors from their earlier 5 Premier League showdowns and are driving a serious wave of momentum.
On a day when Metropolis as soon as once more demonstrated their obtrusive inconstancies, we now have taken a have a look at the primary speaking factors from the Etihad.
Metropolis’s top-four goals dealt one other blow
Making actual historical past final season as they turned the primary membership in English historical past to assert a fourth consecutive Premier League crown, it was nearly unthinkable that Manchester Metropolis would head into March’s worldwide break sat exterior the top-four.
Enduring what has been an notorious home rut this season, Guardiola’s aspect have come underneath an enormous quantity of scrutiny on both aspect of opening the New 12 months.
Watching their Champions League goals take one other blow on house soil, the previous Barcelona boss will merely be trying ahead to the tip of what has been a nightmare marketing campaign.
Getting March underway with a late 1-0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest, the Sky Blues have now recorded only a single victory from any of their earlier 4 Premier League appearances.
Drastically failing to seek out any form of stability and displaying some actual defensive points, Guardiola’s downbeat squad have additionally recorded only a pair of victories towards Premier League opposition because the finish of January.
Brighton prolong on their exceptional run
Whereas Fabian Hurtzler might need solely arrived on the Amex final summer time, the Seagulls have launched into a sensational rise underneath the steerage of the ex-St. Pauli boss.
With it trying like a fifth-place end ought to be sufficient to safe a vastly profitable Champions League ticket, it’s no secret that Saturday’s visitors have their sights firmly set on upsetting the institution.
Greater than worthy of their level right here, a few of Saturday’s help is likely to be heading again to the south coast feeling that they deserved to go away with what would have been a well-known victory on the Etihad.
Touchdown a 2-1 victory once they welcomed the soon-to-be former Premier League champions to city for his or her reverse assembly on November ninth, Brighton have loved what has been a sensational purple patch.
Together with extending on their FA Cup journey due to respective wins towards Chelsea and Newcastle over the previous six week, Hurtzler’s high-flying squad have additionally registered 13 factors from their earlier 5 Premier League appearances.
Haaland breaks extra information
Whereas Manchester Metropolis might need endured what has been an notorious home rut this season, their attacking icon has continued to shine and as soon as once more shattered much more long-standing information right here.
Opening the scoring after simply 11 minutes on Saturday afternoon after changing from the penalty spot, Haaland has been one among use a number of positives on the Etihad this season.
Though Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is likely to be sitting fairly within the race to assert this yr’s Premier League Golden Boot, the previous Borussia Dortmund striker has notched 21 top-flight targets in his 28 appearances this season.
The truth is, Saturday’s strike implies that the Norwegian celebrity turns into the primary participant in Premier League historical past to achieve 100 direct objective involvement in few than 100 appearances.
Doing so in simply 94 video games, Haaland will know that he should play a number one function in Metropolis’s bid to scramble themselves to a Champions League spot come Might.
Match Report
Manchester Metropolis: 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
Objectives: Manchester Metropolis: Haaland (11’ P), Marmoush (39’) – Brighton: Estupinan (21’), Khusanov OG (48’)
Yellow Playing cards: Manchester Metropolis, Doku, Savinho – Brighton: Pedro, Mitoma, Baleba, Wieffer Verbruggen
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Simon Hooper
