Man City 3 – 1 Brighton

Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne inspired Manchester City to a 3-1 win against Brighton in the Premier League, although they were given a scare by the Seagulls.

Haaland scored his 16th and 17th league goals of the season in a fiery first half that saw Man City have three penalty appeals in a busy 45 minutes for VAR.

Robert Sanchez’s trip on the striker was not deemed to have enough contact by VAR just minutes before Haaland fired Man City in front (22).

Ederson’s sensational goal-kick picked out the Norwegian’s run up front, and he easily rounded the oncoming Sanchez, muscling Adam Webster out of the way and slotting home into an open net. VAR did check the goal for a foul, but Haaland was simply too strong for the Brighton defender.

Jack Grealish also had a penalty appeal turned down, before City were finally awarded a spot-kick – although it came in controversial circumstances.

Bernardo Silva was tripped by Lewis Dunk and play continued as VAR checked the incident. Play was then stopped some time after the incident so referee Craig Pawson could consult the pitchside monitor, eventually pointing to the spot.

The Brighton camp – Dunk and Gross, who had nudged Silva in the back prior to the trip, in particular – were unhappy, with some questions over whether a trailing leg from the City midfielder had drawn the foul.

However, the penalty stood despite the protests, and Haaland fired into the bottom right corner for his second Premier League double of the season.

New Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi has spoken of his admiration for Pep Guardiola, and he almost got the better of the Man City coach in a much-improved second half from Brighton.

The Seagulls finally broke their three-match dry spell as Leandro Trossard rocketed home after some lovely link-up play with Solly March down the left wing. It was Brighton’s first goal since Trossard’s hat-trick against Liverpool at the start of October.

Brighton then took control of the half and would have sensed an equaliser, but De Bruyne made sure of three points with his own stunning long-range strike. Silva fizzed the ball along the top of the area for the midfielder, who was offered far too much space to fire home a sumptuous effort.

It keeps Man City’s unbeaten home record intact, offering the perfect response to last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool. They are now a point behind Arsenal, who play Southampton on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports. Brighton await their first win under De Zerbi and remain in eighth place.

More to follow…

What’s next?

Man City travel to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, before taking on Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday in the Premier League; kick-off 12.30pm. Brighton are also in action on October 29, taking on Chelsea – now managed by former Seagulls coach Graham Potter – in the Premier League; kick-off 3pm.