Ayari on target as Brighton condemn Manchester City to second straight league defeat

Manchester City have lost two consecutive league games but no alarm should be sounded. Enzo Maresca’s fast-passing unit that were defeated on Saturday because Yasin Ayari took one of Brighton’s rare chances, the 11th-minute winner deriving from what appeared a wrongly awarded free-kick for Elliot Anderson’s “foul” on the same player.

Fabian Hürzeler’s team can be proud of victory here – and of being third. They are worth the lofty position and who would bet against Champions League qualification for them?

They can be proud of protecting their lead admirably because Maresca’s men kept coming at them. City’s problem was the final touch or finish and not creating enough for the lethal Erling Haaland.