Pep Guardiola has overseen four-straight losses for the first time in his career, as Brighton and Hove Albion scored twice late at the Amex Stadium to beat Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday.
Erling Haaland’s 12th goal of the Premier League season put the visitors ahead in the first half off a Mateo Kovacic assist, but Joao Pedro came off the bench to score before setting up Premier League debutant Matthew O’Riley’s winner.
[ MORE: Pep Guardiola reacts to Man City loss at Brighton ]
City’s four consecutive losses come across three competitions, eliminated from the League Cup by Spurs, falling at Bournemouth in the Premier League, and getting blown out by Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday before this set back down south.
Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton score a famous win to further congest the upper half of the Premier League table. The Seagulls 19 points are good for fourth on the table, where there is one point between third and eighth.
City’s 23 points remain second before Liverpool (25 points) kickoff at home to Aston Villa.
Hurzeler’s signature win piles pain on Pep
When was the last time Manchester City entered any game against a non-traditional power as the slumping, shallower side? That was definitely the case Saturday, at least in hindsight, as Pep Guardiola made the wrong kind of career history and only had two substitutions he was comfortable making over 90 minutes. There’s a direct correlation between that fact and this loss, as City were comfortable in the first half and produced nearly two full xG in that frame. But Brighton, meanwhile, were able to change the game with their subs. Fabian Hurzeler brought on Joao Pedro, Matthew O’Riley, Carlos Baleba and others while City could only get 18 minutes out of Bernardo Silva and 16 out of Kevin De Bruyne while counting on young Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (19) to play 90 minutes twice in four days. Rico Lewis is also slumping under the most minutes of his career and depth piece Matheus Nunes is looking more and more like depth piece at City is his ceiling. Rodri’s not coming back and that’s a big enough question, but if City can’t look more like itself with a healthier De Bruyne and returning Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Jack Grealish after the break, the dynasty could end before May. We wouldn’t bet on it, though — Pep sitting on this feeling for two weeks seems likely to unlock an answer or two. As for Brighton, they’ve done it again with Hurzeler. The Seagulls do not fear anyone and were fearless in pressing one of the best possession teams in the world despite missing star back Lewis Dunk and regular contributor Adam Webster. A return to Europe almost feels likely at this point, should Danny Welbeck and Pedro stay healthy.
Brighton vs Manchester City player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Brighton vs Manchester City player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Brighton vs Manchester City player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
The international break. City return Nov. 23 at home to Tottenham before a Champions League scrap with Feyenoord and a Premier League trip to Liverpool at Anfield.
Brighton go to Bournemouth on Nov. 23.
How to watch Brighton vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday
Venue: Amex Stadium
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Stream online via NBC.com
Brighton vs Manchester City final score: 2-1
Erling Haaland 23', Joao Pedro 78', Matthew O’Riley 83'
Brighton vs Manchester City live updates — By Nick Mendola
De Bruyne fizzes wide before stoppage time
Kevin De Bruyne drills a shot that can’t squeeze inside the near post.
Brighton make a move in the 90th minute, putting Jakub Moder in for Mitoma in a bid to further tighten up the back.
Nine additional minutes expected at the Amex.
Matthew O’Riley goal! Brighton 2-1 Man City (83rd minute)
On his Premier League debut!
The Danish midfielder darts onto Pedro’s through ball and beats Ederson.
Are City set to lose a fourth-straight game?
Joao Pedro goal! Brighton 1-1 Man City (78th minute)
Well-deserved, and City can have few complaints.
Rico Lewis slides to block Danny Welbeck’s bid at a loose ball, and City can’t find the spoils.
Instead, Joao Pedro digs it out to score on his return to the fold.
City subs include De Bruyne, Silva
Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne will hope to return control to the visitors over the final quarter hour plus stoppage time.
Ilkay Gundogan and Savinho will leave the match.
Brighton very much in this is Joao Pedro returns
The Brazilian is showing Brighton what they’ve been missing in his absence.
They already knew.
Brighton are coming in waves at City, who could really use a second goal but need the ball to do it.
Jack Hinshelwood injury
The 19-year-old midfielder appeared to pick up a knock earlier in the game, and now requires more attention following a coming-together with Rico Lewis.
Matthew O’Riley takes his place with Brighton behind 1-0 in the 58th minute.
Seagulls denied equalizer!
Mitoma takes down a hard long pass with an exquisite touch and feeds Pervis Estupinan on the left.
A cross is whipped-in and Hinshelwood gets power on his header but it’s close enough to Ederson that the Brazilian can divert it from the frame.
Still 1-0 City, 53'.
Brighton sub
Carlos Baleba is coming into the game for Yasin Ayari.
Halftime — Brighton 0-1 Manchester City
All City, but Brighton’s high press is decent and the Seagulls are committed to it.
Man City’s produced a wild 1.91 xG, and has conceded only 0.39 to Brighton.
Shots are 9-3.
Brighton close to equalizer
A quickfire attack sees Kaoru Mitoma get on the end of a long diagonal ball and out-duel Kyle Walker for possession.
Mitoma helps Danny Welbeck to a low strike that hits the arm of a sliding Josko Gvardiol.
The rebound misses wide, and VAR finds Gvardiol’s arm to be in a natural position for a blocking defender.
Still 1-0 City, 37'.
Erling Haaland goal! Brighton 0-1 Manchester City (23rd minute)
Halloween’s over but the monsters are still out.
Kovacic sends Haaland into the 18 and he steamrolls through and past two defenders.
His shot is partially-saved by Verbruggen, but Haaland follows it and beats the sliding Van Hecke to the ball on the goal line.
Chances starting to come
Mateo Kovacic drives the midfield and slips Savinho down the right hand side.
Bart Verbruggen denies the Brazilian, and minutes later Erling Haaland has a chance from about the same angle off Phil Foden set piece service.
The Norwegian is a bit clumsy with his sliding shot attempt.
0-0, 18',
City’s ball early, as expected
Still waiting for our first proper attempt but City have 70% of the ball and look just fine through 10 minutes.
Brighton lineup
Verbruggen, Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor Julio, Estupinan, Ayari, Rutter, Hinshelwood, Adingra, Mitoma, Welbeck
Manchester City lineup
Ederson, Lewis, Walker, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Savinho, Foden, Nunes, Haaland
Brighton team news, focus
Strikers have had their way with City of late, so Evan Ferguson and Danny Welbeck will be looking to Saturday as a chance to thrive at home. Perhaps Joao Pedro could return as well.
OUT: James Milner (thigh), Adam Webster (hamstring), Solly March (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Joao Pedro (ankle), Matthew O’Riley (ankle), Yankuba Minteh (muscular), Lewis Dunk (muscular), Yasin Ayari (knock)
Manchester City team news, focus
De Bruyne could be fit for a bigger role, but there will be more eyes on Erling Haaland. Any stretch without goals — even with a missed penalty in Lisbon — is magnified for a player of the Norwegian’s prowess.
OUT: Rodri (knee - out for season), Jack Grealish (undisclosed), Ruben Dias (muscular), Oscar Bobb (lower leg) | QUESTIONABLE: John Stones (foot)
Brighton vs Manchester City prediction
City still had 73% possession and a 20-9 shot advantage at Sporting Lisbon, producing 2.23 xG while playing two 19-year-olds at right back and right center back. Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker were on the bench. I tend to think overreaction would be a mistake. Brighton 1-3 Man City.
