Manchester City held by Brighton despite leading twice

Manchester City stumbled again in the battle to secure a return to the Champions League as they were pegged back twice by fellow top-five challengers Brighton in an entertaining encounter at Etihad Stadium.

Erling Haaland became the first player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements in fewer than 100 games when he marked his 94th appearance in the competition with his 84th goal by sending Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way with his 11th-minute penalty.

In a game of superb goals, Pervis Estupinan levelled with a curling free-kick that bounced in off a post, although City keeper Stefan Ortega, in for injured first-choice Ederson, did not cover himself in glory as he initially moved to his right before changing direction and eventually watching the ball go in with a shocked look on his face.

Omar Marmoush levelled with a superb 20-yard strike into the bottom corner, only for 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.

In a frenzied finish, City manager Pep Guardiola grew increasingly irritated at referee Simon Hooper following challenges on Josko Gvardiol and Bernardo Silva, who had to be replaced 18 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Guardiola was most annoyed at winger Jeremy Doku getting booked for diving as he jumped up and landed on the ground as he sought to avoid a challenge from Jan Paul van Hecke.

“If he doesn’t jump, he can break his leg,” said the City boss.

“He goes onto the grass to make a tackle and Jeremy jumps so there is no contact.

“Jeremy is not a diving player. They should know it. But it is what it is. We didn’t win or lose for that decision.”

Nico Gonzalez hit a post as the hosts pressed but it was Brighton, who have never won an away game against City and were claiming their first point in the fixture since 1982, who should have claimed victory, only for Carlos Baleba to balloon a shot over the bar when he had arrived with a perfectly timed run to meet Joao Pedro’s cross unmarked in a central position 12 yards out.

It is now four points in four games for Guardiola’s side.

While any hope of retaining their title had long since disappeared, it did feel as though a partial return to form would be enough to guide them into next season’s Champions League with something to spare.

That expectation is slowly eroding even if their run-in includes meetings with Leicester City, Wolves and Southampton.

Guardiola’s extended post-match chat with Hooper underlined his unhappiness at how the game had been officiated. But he will also know Brighton were the equal of his own side, who were fortunate to escape with a point given Baleba’s terrible miss.

Presently, City lack consistency.

Last week they could not take advantage of some decent approach play. This time around, they could find the net but had no control in central midfield as Gonzalez and Ilkay Gundogan found it difficult to stem the visitors’ midfield and that allowed Brighton too much space around the penalty area.

Doku flattered to deceive on the left. Savinho did not even do that on the right once he had wasted an excellent first-half chance.

Despite this, Jack Grealish remained on the bench throughout. Omitted by new England boss Thomas Tuchel on Friday, Grealish really is at a crossroads in his career as the campaign draws to a close.

Brighton have made an art form of raiding South America for unknown players and turning them into valuable Premier League stars.

Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister are now plying their trade with Chelsea and Liverpool respectively. Estupinan’s first Premier League goal since December 2023 was a reminder of how good the Ecuador defender can be.

Diego Gomez does not quite fall into the same unknown category given he spent 2024 playing alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

However, at 21 the Paraguay midfielder is a long way from his peak. Already he has the makings of being ideally suited to the hustle and bustle of Premier League life.

Whether it was coming back to execute a perfectly timed sliding tackle on Haaland to prevent the Norwegian threatening the Brighton goal or moving into advanced positions but not quite profiting from Van Hecke’s cross or Mitoma’s intended throughball, his was an eye-catching display.

It was Gomez’s low second-half cross that brought a look of incredulity on Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler’s face as Yankuba Minteh somehow failed to get the touch that would have given Brighton the lead for the first time in history at this stadium.

By the time he was substituted 15 minutes from time, Gomez had played a full part in an excellent Brighton performance that was historic in the sense of achieving a point – and, on only his second Premier League start, he has so much more to offer.