Manchester City hit back from successive defeats to secure a much-needed 2-1 victory over a dangerous Brighton side at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s team had slipped from the top of the table after successive defeats to Wolves and Arsenal before the international break but found some form again to beat the Seagulls.
Julian Alvarez smashed the hosts ahead after just seven minutes from Jeremy Doku’s cutback before Erling Haaland made it two with a left-footed strike from 18 yards.
Doku was a constant menace down the left wing and gave veteran James Milner a torrid time. A goal from Barcelona loan signing Ansu Fati for the visitors set up a nervy finish, but City held on despite a late red card for Manuel Akanji. “Against Brighton it’s impossible to control the game for 90, 95 minutes – no team in the world can do that,” said City manager Pep Guardiola. “I’m surprised that we did it for 55, 60 minutes. “We played an exceptional first half.