Brighton 0-4 Manchester City: Champs near their best for the stretch
Manchester City sauntered past Brighton and Hove Albion to continue their Premier League title push with a 4-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Thursday.
WATCH BRIGHTON v MANCHESTER CITY FULL MATCH REPLAY
Phil Foden scored twice, Kyle Walker had two assists, and Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez also scored in the win, which sends City a point behind leaders Arsenal. The three-time defending champions have a match-in-hand on the Gunners as well.
Brighton fall to 11-11-11, winless in their last four Premier League matches and stuck in 11th with 44 points.
What’s next?
City goes to relegation-haunted Nottingham Forest for an 11:30am ET Sunday kickoff, 2.5 hours after Brighton head to Bournemouth.
How to watch Brighton vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Thursday (April 25)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch live online via NBC.com
Brighton vs Manchester City live updates — By Nick Mendola
Brighton vs Manchester City final score: 0-4
Goalscorers: De Bruyne (17'), Foden (26', 34'), Alvarez (63')
Brighton 0-4 Manchester City (63rd minute)
Julian Alvarez!
Halftime — Brighton 0-3 Manchester City
City have been ruthless as they're well on their way to second-place and one point behind Arsenal with a match-in-hand.
Pep Guardiola's men have held 66% possession and have taken nine of the game's 12 shot attempts.
It took about 15 minutes for City to figure out a decent Roberto De Zerbi plan, but now the Italian needs another one.
Foden bags a brace — Brighton 0-3 Manchester City (34th minute)
A rough play atop his own box by Brighton teenager Valentin Barco teaches a quick lesson.
Bernardo Silva cuts off Barco's pass and the ball goes right to Foden, who buries it. 3-0.
Free kick goal! Brighton 0-2 Manchester City (26th minute)
Phil Foden slips and wins a free kick.
He doesn't waste it, taking a left-footed shot that turns off Pascal Gross' back to beat Steele. 2-0.
De Bruyne diving header! Brighton 0-1 Manchester City (17th minute)
Phil Foden carries through traffic and cuts a nice ball toward the end line.
Kyle Walker winds up with a chance to cross from the right, and Kevin De Bruyne leaps to nod past Jason Steele.
A pretty goal. 1-0.
Brighton offer stiff opening challenge in organization
Brighton has contested City's possession further up-field than most, as the visitors have kept the ball but struggled to find danger.
A free kick from the far left leads to a sliding chance for Nathan Ake around the quarter-hour mark, but it's sent over the goal.
Brighton lineup
Steele, Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Gross, Baleba, Gross, Moder, Barco, Pedro, Welbeck
Manchester City lineup
Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Alvarez'
Brighton focus, team news
Brighton's slump in form has been surprising, but should it be? They have suffered so many injuries throughout this season, especially in attack, and the players who are left look extremely jaded after their Europa League exploits. De Zerbi needs to somehow rejuvenate them because if you look at their fixtures after this game, there is still a chance they can finish in the European spots. If Man City win the FA Cup then seventh-place in the Premier League will be a UEFA Conference League spot.
OUT: Kaoru Mitoma (lower back), Solly March (knee), Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), James Milner (thigh), Billy Gilmour (knee), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Adam Webster (muscular), Julio Enciso (knock), Tariq Lamptey (muscular), Pervis Estupinan (ankle)
Manchester City focus, team news
Erling Haaland was missing for Man City at the weekend and he will be missing again. Kevin de Bruyne was pushed to his limits over the last week too, so he may sit out, but Guardiola does have the luxury of not having any injuries and it is all about meticulous rotation between now and the end of the season for City as they aim to win the Premier League and FA Cup trophies.
OUT: Erling Haaland (fitness)
