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In a crucial Premier League encounter, Manchester City managed to halt a potential three-game losing streak, clinching victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, the club faced two consecutive defeats in their previous league matches, falling to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal. A third defeat would have marked an unprecedented low during Guardiola's tenure.
The reigning champions displayed their determination from the initial whistle. Just seven minutes into the match, Julian Alvarez opened the scoring with finesse, lofting the ball over Brighton's goalkeeper, Jason Steele.
This goal was the result of a superb run and assist by Jeremy Doku, highlighting Manchester City's early dominance.
Ten minutes later, Erling Haaland put an end to his brief goal drought, capitalizing on a midfield mistake by Carlos Baleba. Haaland unleashed a powerful left-footed strike into the net, reaffirming his status as a prolific scorer.
The second half witnessed a more composed Brighton side. Ansu Fati exploited a Manuel Akanji clearance within the penalty area to pull a goal back for the visitors.
This development injected tension into the match, and with Akanji receiving a second yellow card and being sent off, Manchester City had to navigate the final minutes with just 10 players.
Throughout the game, Jeremy Doku proved to be a constant menace for Brighton, contributing to the opening goal and making a couple of near-miss attempts with curling long-range shots.
Alvarez had an opportunity for a second goal with a curling free-kick, while Phil Foden narrowly missed finding the top corner with his effort.
With this victory, Manchester City assumed the top spot in the Premier League standings, pending the outcome of the Arsenal vs. Chelsea clash later in the day.
Erling Haaland's return to the scoresheet was a pivotal moment in the match. Although three matches without a goal might not constitute a true drought for most players, it was somewhat unexpected given Haaland's extraordinary record of 52 goals in 53 games across all competitions last season.
His exuberant celebration after breaking the dry spell highlighted his importance to the team.
With strong support from Doku and Foden on the flanks, Haaland found the necessary backing to keep the Brighton defense on alert.
In Haaland's brief absence from the scoresheet, Julian Alvarez stepped up, continuing to provide goals for the team, having now netted four times in eight matches.
With the return of Rodri and John Stones to the lineup, Manchester City is approaching full strength, with only Kevin de Bruyne sidelined due to injury. Despite the late drama involving Brighton's goal and Akanji's red card, Manchester City exhibited moments of their typical dominance in this crucial victory. This result sets the stage for an eagerly anticipated Manchester derby in the coming week.
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