Manchester City moved to within a single point of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium. The defending champions have now won ten consecutive games on home soil, and have never lost a head-to-head clash on their own turf.What a stunning vengeance! Nigerian pearl Awoniyi pushes Liverpool into a Forest trapThere was plenty of focus on Brighton’s scoring woes coming into this clash, with the visitors not finding the back of the net with any of their last 54 efforts at goal before kick-off, but City had failed to score in their last two outings as well. Pep Guardiola’s men were strangely shot-shy in the opening stages, with their first attempt not arriving until the 22nd minute. Luckily for them, it dropped to Erling Haaland and, rather inevitably, was converted. Ederson’s brilliant pass from the back found the Norwegian, who rounded the onrushing Robert Sánchez, shrugged off Adam Webster and slotted into an empty net.Roberto de Zerbi’s men were very much in the game, respectably holding their own against an under-par City side. Luck has not been with the Seagulls of late and that showed no sign of changing as the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty. Bernardo Silva’s appeals were initially waved away after a coming together with Lewis Dunk, but after play had continued for a couple of minutes, referee Craig Pawson was instructed by VAR to have a look at the incident on the pitchside monitor. The man in the middle subsequently pointed to the spot, from where Haaland drove the ball into the corner, netting for the 17th time in the league already this season.Brighton would have considered themselves unlucky to be two behind at the break and set about mounting an unlikely comeback. So often their inspiration, Leandro Trossard again stepped up to the plate, finding space on the edge of the area before rifling home in the 53rd minute, beating Ederson at his near post.The Belgian international had a chance to level the contest as he broke free down the left, but as the angle tightened Ederson made himself big and smothered the effort. Ultimately, the Brazilian’s intervention allowed City to extend their advantage moments later. Silva’s snapped pass to the edge of the box found Kevin De Bruyne in space, and the midfielder produced a world-class finish to find the far corner and seal a crucial victory.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 13Saturday Nott.Forest – Liverpool 1-0 (0-0)/Awoniyi 55/Everton – Crystal Palace 3-0 (1-0)/Calvert-Lewin 11, Gordon 63, McNeil 85/Man.City – Brighton 3-1 (2-0)/Haaland 22, 43 pen, De Bruyne 75 – Trossard 53/19.30: (2.30) Chelsea (3.40) Man.Utd. (3.45)Sunday16.00: (2.19) Aston Villa (3.50) Brentford (3.60)16.00: (2.11) Leeds (3.45) Fulham (3.60)16.00: (6.00) Southampton (4.00) Arsenal (1.63)16.00: (2.35) Wolverhampton (3.35) Leicester (3.40)18.30: (2.16) Tottenham (3.45) Newcastle (3.50)Monday 22.00: (1.60) West Ham (3.90) Bournemouth (6.50)***odds are subject to change***©FlashScore
