Brighton, United Kingdom — In a surprising twist to the Premier League season, Manchester City’s struggles deepened as they fell 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion, marking their fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions. This stumble presents Liverpool with a golden opportunity to solidify their lead at the league summit.
Manchester City, accustomed to dominance, have found themselves on an unfamiliar losing streak that began with a recent defeat to Bournemouth. Adding to the mounting pressure, Pep Guardiola’s squad suffered a League Cup exit to Tottenham and endured a harsh 4-1 Champions League loss to Sporting Lisbon. This series of setbacks marks the first time in Guardiola’s celebrated career that he’s faced four back-to-back losses.
The reigning English champions initially appeared poised to regain their stride. Erling Haaland struck first, netting his 15th goal of the season on a rebound, after an initial shot was parried by Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen. Yet, City’s defense faltered, leaving them vulnerable to Brighton’s inspired substitutes.
Joao Pedro leveled the score amid a chaotic scramble in City’s box, sparking a resurgence for Brighton. The Seagulls capitalized further when Matt O’Riley, making his Premier League debut following an injury-laden transfer from Celtic, secured the win by slotting home a decisive goal off Pedro’s assist.
Liverpool now have the chance to extend their lead to five points with a win over Aston Villa later in the day, potentially creating more distance from their faltering rivals.
In other Premier League action, Wolves triumphed 2-0 over Southampton, marking their first win since April. Under intense scrutiny, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil celebrated the victory, with Matheus Cunha’s swift goal setting the tone early. Cunha later scored an impressive second, lifting Wolves off the bottom of the table and consigning Southampton to last place.
Elsewhere, Fulham continued their ascent with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace, pushing into seventh place. Emile Smith Rowe capitalized on a Palace defensive error just before halftime, while Palace’s comeback hopes dimmed as Daichi Kamada saw red for a reckless challenge. Harry Wilson, a standout substitute for Fulham, sealed the game late.
Meanwhile, Brentford edged past Bournemouth in a thrilling 3-2 contest, with Yoane Wissa’s late brace leading the comeback. The Bees’ impressive home form was on full display as they twice responded to goals by Bournemouth’s Evanilson and Justin Kluivert, with Wissa clinching the match with his seventh goal of the season.
West Ham and Everton rounded out the weekend with a scoreless draw at the London Stadium. Despite audible dissatisfaction from the home crowd, Everton’s point edges them further from relegation worries, while West Ham’s supporters voiced their frustration as the final whistle sounded.
Liverpool fans now await their side’s clash with Villa, with a chance to widen the gap and further capitalize on City’s stumble.
