Manchester City suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats after a 1-0 home loss to Brighton, with two players rated 4/10 in the Manchester Evening News player ratings. The Seagulls earned revenge for their Carabao Cup defeat at the Etihad in midweek as they held on for the victory.
Yasin Ayari gave the visitors the lead early in the first half after a needless error from Matheus Nunes at the back allowed the ball to pop up for him in the box. Iliman Ndiaye missed City's best chance to level before the break as he headed wide from an Elliot Anderson cross.
Second-half pressure without reward
Enzo Maresca's side dominated the game in the second half but were unable to put the ball in the net despite the introduction of Rayan Cherki and three other substitutes. City remain top of the table for now, but Arsenal can overtake them with a point or better at Anfield on Sunday.
Here are the player ratings from the Manchester Evening News.
Defensive struggles and standout performers
Donnarumma delivered some really poor passes out that put his teammates under needless pressure and invited Brighton on, earning a 4. Nunes made a terrible error for the Brighton goal, although he made some good attacking runs in the second half, finishing with a 5.
Khusanov's play at the back wasn't always great, but his pace was useful for bringing City out of pressure, earning a 6. Dias was easily the most composed of the defence, dealing with everything that came his way, with a 7. Gvardiol played like his midweek rest had made him forget what he was supposed to be doing, receiving a 4.
Anderson looked like he was on another level to everyone else on the pitch, terrific in and out of possession, earning an 8. Bouaddi had some good moments but too much jumping around the pitch that made him look out of position, with a 6. Fernandez probably had his worst game in a City shirt, as nothing he tried came off and it broke down several promising opportunities, earning a 5.
Ndiaye missed one really good chance, one good one, and went close with another, finishing with a 6. Doku was incredibly dangerous until it came to the final pass or shot, which let him and the team down repeatedly, with a 5. Haaland had a few half-chances but couldn't get involved as his scoring streak came to an end, earning a 5.
Substitutes make limited impact
Cherki, on for Bouaddi at 55 minutes, changed the game when he came on but his impact waned, earning a 7. O'Reilly, on for Fernandez at 64, was solid in both midfield and then at left-back, with a 6. Foden, on for Gvardiol at 79, delivered decent balls in the final third, earning a 6. Allan, on for Ndiaye at 79, got stuck in straight away, with a 6.
Not used were Rulli, Reis, Guehi, Lewis and Kovacic.
