Manchester City emphatically thrashed Brighton 4-0 at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday night, sending a strong message to Premier League leaders Arsenal.
his dominant victory puts City just one point behind the Gunners, with a game in hand, making the title race a tense two-horse affair.
According to the stats, City was dominant throughout the match-up, indicating a strong performance on both ends of the field.
Match Stats: Manchester City vs Brighton
Full-time score: Manchester City 4 – 0 Brighton
Total shots taken:
- Man City: 14 (6 shots on target)
- Brighton:7 (3 shots on target)
Possession:
- Man City: 65%
- Brighton: 35%
Fouls:
- Man City: 3 (no yellow cards)
- Brighton: 10 (with 2 yellow cards)
City Run Riot in the First Half
The visitors took the lead in the 16th minute through an unlikely source. Kevin De Bruyne, known more for his pinpoint passing, surprised everyone with a stunning diving header that left Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with no chance. This early goal set the tone for a one-sided first half.
Phil Foden, who has been in scintillating form this season, doubled City’s lead just before the half-hour mark. is free-kick took a slight deflection off the wall, wrong-footing Sanchez and nestling into the net.
Foden wasn’t done yet.
He grabbed his second and City’s third goal in the 34th minute, pouncing on a Brighton mistake and slotting the ball coolly into the bottom corner.
Clinical Finishing Seals the Deal
The second half was a mere formality as City continued to dictate the tempo.
Alvarez added a fourth goal in the latter stages, sweeping home from close range after good work by Kyle Walker. The Brighton defenc-e simply couldn’t cope with City’s attacking waves. The win puts City just one point behind leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand.
Player ratings
Manchester City:
- Phil Foden – 4.6 (71min, 2 goals, 3 shots, 0 assists)
- Kevin De Bruyne – 4.6 (72 min, 1 goal, 3 shots)
- Julian Alvarez – 4.4 (90 min, 1 goal, 6 shots)
- Ederson – 4.4 (90 min, 3 saves)
Brighton:
- Valentin Barco – 3.5 (90 min, 1 tackle, 1 foul, 36 passes)
- Jakub Moder – 3.0 (56 min, 0 goals, 0 assists, shots)
- Joao Pedro – 2. 8 (90 min, 1 shot, 0 goals, 0 assists)
Key Talking Points
- Foden’s Masterclass: The young Englishman was unplayable on the day. His two goals took him past the 50-goal mark in the Premier League, a remarkable feat at his young age.
- De Bruyne’s All-Round Performance: De Bruyne not only scored a delightful opening goal, but he also orchestrated City’s attacks with his trademark vision and passing.
- City’s Relentless Attack: Pep Guardiola’s side were a force to be reckoned with, putting on an attacking masterclass with their quick passing and movement. Brighton simply had no answer.
- Title Race Wide Open: This win throws the Premier League title race wide open. With five games remaining, both City and Arsenal will be desperate to avoid any slip-ups.
- Brighton’s Premier League spell: The Seagulls have won just 6 of their last 27 Premier League games (D11, L10) since the start of this spell in September, only Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United have won fewer games in the division.
Looking Ahead
- Manchester City will look to capitalise on this momentum as they continue their quest for a historic quadruple. They face Nottingham Forest in the next fixture.
- Brighton, on the other hand, will be aiming to finish the season strongly and secure a comfortable mid-table position.
For more information on the match highlights, you can check out the website online.
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