Manchester City have lost two consecutive league games, but no alarm should be sounded. Enzo Maresca’s fast-passing team were defeated on Saturday because Yasin Ayari took one of Brighton’s rare chances, the 11th-minute winner deriving from what appeared a wrongly awarded free-kick for Elliot Anderson’s foul on Ayari.
Brighton can be proud of victory here – and of being third. They are worth the lofty position and who would bet against Champions League qualification? They protected their lead admirably because City kept coming at them: City’s problem was the final touch or finish and not creating enough for the lethal Erling Haaland.