Man City Cruise to Emphatic Victory, Extending Premier League LeadMan City Cruise to Emphatic Victory, Extending Premier League Lead Manchester City cruised to a resounding 4-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium, extending their lead atop the Premier League table to five points. City dominated from the outset, with Kevin De Bruyne orchestrating the attack. The Belgian playmaker opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, curling a sumptuous free-kick into the top corner. Erling Haaland doubled the lead just six minutes later with a clinical finish from close range. Brighton offered little attacking threat, and City continued to control the game. Phil Foden made it 3-0 in the 47th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Haaland’s initial shot was saved. Riyad Mahrez added a fourth in the 53rd minute with a low drive from the edge of the box. Brighton pulled one back through Leandro Trossard in the 55th minute, but it was a mere consolation. City continued to dominate possession and create chances, but they were unable to add to their tally. The victory was City’s eighth in a row in the Premier League, and it extends their lead at the summit to five points over Arsenal, who have a game in hand. Haaland has now scored 21 goals in 16 league appearances, continuing his impressive goalscoring form. “We played a really good game,” said City manager Pep Guardiola. “We were aggressive, we played with intensity, and we created many chances. We could have scored more, but we are very happy with the performance.” Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi was disappointed with his team’s performance, particularly in the first half. “We were not good enough in the first half,” he said. “We conceded many chances, and we were punished for our mistakes. We tried to improve in the second half, but we were always chasing the game.” City will now face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, while Brighton will host Middlesbrough in the same competition on Saturday.
