Manchester City's Premier League title defence suffered another significant setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium. A second-half strike from Kaoru Mitoma cancelled out Erling Haaland's first-half penalty, leaving the champions five points behind leaders Arsenal, who also have a game in hand.
City's Fatigue and Injury Crisis Exposed
Pep Guardiola's squad, already stretched thin, faced further disruption with injuries to defenders Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. This forced the City boss to hand a debut to 20-year-old Max Alleyne at centre-back, recalling him from a loan spell at Watford. The patched-up side looked visibly weary, a consequence of a hectic schedule and a mounting injury list that left them with just 14 fit senior outfield players for the match.
City struggled to impose their usual rhythm against a disciplined Brighton side that sat deep in a compact block. The Seagulls' defensive organisation limited space, forcing City into patient, often slow, build-up play. Phil Foden's influence was muted in a central role, while the brightest sparks came from Jérémy Doku on the wing, whose direct running caused problems but lacked a final product.
Haaland Reaches Milestone Before Mitoma's Magic
The breakthrough eventually came from the penalty spot. Doku's quick footwork drew a foul from Diego Gómez, and after referee Thomas Bramall consulted the pitchside monitor, a penalty was awarded. Erling Haaland stepped up to coolly convert, notching his 150th goal for Manchester City and sending goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way.
City had a golden chance to double their lead immediately after half-time when a mistake by Brighton's Yasin Ayari presented Bernardo Silva with a clear sight of goal eight yards out. The Portuguese midfielder shimmied past the keeper but could only clip the outside of the post. That missed opportunity proved costly as Brighton grew into the game.
The equaliser, when it arrived, was a moment of quality. Kaoru Mitoma was afforded too much space on the edge of the City penalty area, cut inside onto his favoured right foot, and curled a precise finish into the corner past Gianluigi Donnarumma. The goal exposed the brittleness of City's makeshift defence and shifted momentum firmly towards the visitors.
Brighton Finish Strong as City's Concerns Mount
After the equaliser, it was Brighton who looked the more likely winners. They should have taken all three points when Mitoma's cross found an unmarked Diego Gómez just yards from goal, but the Paraguayan midfielder somehow contrived to miss his kick entirely.
Guardiola threw on his remaining senior substitutes in search of a winner, and Haaland had a late header cleared off the line. The Norwegian striker also spurned a glorious chance after another Ayari error, firing wastefully when well-placed inside the box. The final whistle confirmed a third consecutive Premier League draw for City, a run that has severely hampered their pursuit of Arsenal.
The result underscores the scale of the challenge facing Guardiola. While he has spoken of relying on team spirit during a difficult period, this performance highlighted that more than camaraderie is needed. With the defence depleted and the attack lacking its usual sharpness, City's title bid is faltering at a crucial stage of the season.
