Manchester City closed the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal by running out comfortable 4-0 winners against Brighton on Thursday night.
Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring with a superb diving header, before two Phil Foden strikes gave Pep Guardiola‘s side a 3-0 cushion at half-time.
Substitute Julian Alvarez added to scoreline with a close range finish after the hour mark, as Man City negotiated a potentially tricky away assignment with ease.
The result saw Man City move a point behind Arsenal, with the reigning champions still having a game in hand on their rivals as they bid for a fourth successive title.
Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill rates the players at the Amex Stadium.
Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring for Man City in their 4-0 victory over Brighton
Phil Foden’s stunning season continued with another two goals on Thursday at the Amex
Pep Guardiola’s side move a point behind leaders Arsenal after their comfortable victory
BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1)
Jason Steele – 5
Hardly stood a chance of stopping any of Manchester City’s three goals in the first half. Forever reliable when the ball was at his feet, unlike his defenders!
Joel Veltman – 5
Showed his frustration amid this battering by booting the ball away to earn a caution and that contributed to him suffering the indignity of being hooked at half-time.
Lewis Dunk – 5
Amusing seeing him totally desert his defensive line to follow Phil Foden wherever he went, as per the man-to-man plan which unravelled as soon as Kevin De Bruyne headed home unmarked.
Jan Paul van Hecke – 5
Manchester City can be a nightmare to face. One moment, Julian Alvarez is your striker. The next, it’s Phil Foden or Kevin De Bruyne.
Valentin Barco – 4
Possibly the worst way to mark your first Premier League start, his makings contributing to this mess such as when he gave away the ball for Phil Foden to score. Will learn from this.
Valentin Barco, centre, marked his Premier League start by giving the ball away for Foden’s second
Jakub Moder – 5
Followed Kevin De Bruyne here, there and everywhere – if you want his shirt, Jakub, just wait until full-time – but the Belgian was all on his own to head home to get this demolition going.
Carlos Baleba – 5
Had to admire Brighton’s overall dedication to the press but often, Baleba and Co were chasing shadows. Only ever one winner in the battle of the midfields here.
Adam Lallana – 5
Hooked at half-time as Brighton tried desperately to get back into this game from 3-0 down. Not his night as he hardly made himself noticed in the 45 minutes he was on the field.
Joao Pedro felt he deserved a penalty when he was tripped in the box by Josko Gvardiol
Pascal Gross – 5
Deflection helped Phil Foden score his controversial free-kick. Hoped to win a penalty at the start of the second half under pressure from Rodri but in truth, it would have been soft.
Joao Pedro – 5.5
Beaten to the ball by Ederson as he tried to kickstart an unlikely comeback. Felt he deserved a penalty when tripped by Josko Gvardiol but clearly, Brighton’s luck was not in.
Danny Welbeck – 5.5
No faulting his work rate, and I include his defensive duties in that. Had one last chance to score but summing up Brighton’s luck, he ballooned it and was substituted.
Substitutes
Simon Adingra (for Lallana, 45) – 5.5
Odeluga Offiah (for Veltman, 45) – 5.5
Igor Julio (for Moder, 56) – 5.5
Mark Jeremiah O’Mahony (for Welbeck, 75) – 5.5
Manager
Roberto De Zerbi – 5
Had a plan for his players to mark a man each but once they conceded, it all went downhill from there. Brighton were hardly helped by the refereeing, mind!
MANCHESTER CITY (4-1-4-1)
Ederson – 7.5
As well as the occasional save, Manchester City’s fourth goal of the evening originated from a pass from Ederson. Stood by his own penalty spot, he created that chance by himself. Remarkable.
Kyle Walker – 8
Totally relentless down the right wing, assisting Kevin De Bruyne for the opener and making the run to meet Ederson’s long ball when he fooled Valentin Barco by cutting inside.
Manuel Akanji – 7
While Brighton buggered up passing out from the back, Akanji and Co showed them how it’s done. Worth remembering that he only cost £15million when he was signed. Bargain.
Nathan Ake – 7
Could not get control of the ball when the game’s first chance fell to him. Not to worry, as Manchester City soon got the party started thereafter, while the defenders did their jobs.
De Bruyne celebrates with Kyle Walker after the full back assisted his goal in the first half
Josko Gvardiol – 7
With Phil Foden moving into more central positions, Gvardiol often had the left wing to himself. Perhaps fortunate that he did not give away a penalty for a collision with Joao Pedro.
Rodri – 7.5
Midfield machine who will not be beaten in the Premier League and substituted at 4-0 to save his legs for the next challenge of Nottingham Forest. Best in the business.
Bernardo Silva – 7
Stopped Valentin Barco from passing his way out of the box so that Phil Foden could get their third goal. Tidy technician kept Manchester City ticking along nicely from the right.
Mateo Kovacic – 7
Often, Kovacic can go under the radar, but perhaps that is because he performs his role with such simplicity and ease. Masterful midfielder who is key to their patterns of play.
De Bruyne showed stunning technique to score his first headed goal in the Premier League
Kevin De Bruyne – 8
Followed here, there and everywhere by Jakub Moder, but all on his own when he dispatched his diving header to get this rout going. Who knew he had that technique in his locker? Yikes.
Phil Foden – 8.5
Picking up pockets wherever and whenever as Pep Guardiola realises special players deserve that freedom. Scored twice, one of which came after he won a free-kick when he slipped.
Julian Alvarez – 7
Got his goal – and Manchester City’s fourth – as his team tormented Brighton without Erling Haaland. Had other chances to score, such as an attempt blasted wide when the angle was tight.
Foden was given freedom by Pep Guardiola and starred once again for Man City this season
Substitutes
Jack Grealish (for Foden, 72) – 6
Matheus Nunez (for De Bruyne, 72) – 6
Jeremy Doku (for Silva, 78) – N/A
Sergio Gomez (for Rodri, 79) – N/A
Rico Lewis (for Walker, 79) – N/A
Manager
Pep Guardiola – 7.5
A professional performance from a Manchester City side that know exactly what they have to do the pressure is on. Five wins to go, and the title is theirs.
Referee
Jarred Gillett – 4
Never a free-kick. Phil Foden tripped over himself and no one else. Manchester City took advantage of Gillett’s kindness. Referee won no friends in Brighton.
