City Stumble Again as Brighton Snatch Point at the Etihad

Haaland milestone not enough for champions

Manchester City dropped points for a third game in a row as Brighton held them to a frustrating 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland reached another historic landmark with his 150th goal for the club, but it was not enough to stop the champions slipping further behind in the title race.

The draw follows similar results against Sunderland and Chelsea and hands Premier League leaders Arsenal the chance to move eight points clear. For City, it was another night of missed chances and growing concern.

Brighton strike after City control

City struggled early on, with Brighton starting sharply and testing an unfamiliar City back line. Injuries to Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones forced Pep Guardiola to pair 21-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov with debutant Max Alleyne in central defence. Brighton sensed opportunity and asked early questions.

Despite dominating possession, City created little in the opening stages. Bernardo Silva and Haaland both went close, but the hosts lacked fluency. The game changed shortly before half-time when Jérémy Doku was brought down in the box. After VAR intervention and furious protests from the City bench, a penalty was awarded.

Haaland made no mistake, calmly drilling the spot-kick into the corner to give City the lead and spark belief that momentum had finally shifted.

Missed chances come back to haunt City

After the break, City pushed for a second goal but failed to find it. Silva struck the post after pouncing on a loose pass, while Haaland and Rayan Cherki both had clear opportunities to put the game beyond reach.

Those misses proved costly. Kaoru Mitoma, making only his second start since returning from injury, punished City with a low finish from the edge of the box. It was his first goal since September and a moment that silenced the Etihad.

Brighton almost completed the turnaround moments later, but Diego Gómez somehow failed to convert from close range. City pressed late on, yet wastefulness remained the theme as chances came and went.

Title race slipping away

This draw leaves City frustrated and vulnerable. Injuries are mounting, confidence looks fragile and the margin for error is gone. With Arsenal pulling clear, City now face an uphill battle to defend their crown.