Manchester City 1 (Erling Haaland 41′ (P))Brighton 1 (Kaoru Mitoma 60′)Manchester City drew 1-all with Brighton at the Etihad Stadium last night. When the starting lineups were announced Pep Guard...
Manchester City 1 (Erling Haaland 41′ (P))
Brighton 1 (Kaoru Mitoma 60′)
Manchester City drew 1-all with Brighton at the Etihad Stadium last night. When the starting lineups were announced Pep Guardiola had made five changes to the starting lineup that drew with Chelsea. The exciting news was that Max Alleyne started in the heart of Manchester City’s defence. Given how impressive Alleyne had been during his loan spell at Watford, the young defender seemed more than ready to step into Manchester City’s defence.
Rather than produce a minute-by-minute match report, here are my thoughts on Manchester City’s performance and what transpired at the Etihad last night. The result is a costly one for Pep Guardiola’s side as it hands Arsenal the opportunity to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, with City now five points behind the Gunners, who have a game in hand on City.
Manchester City once again will be kicking themselves for missing gilt-edged chances.
Poor finishing and decision-making in the final third cost Manchester City against Sunderland and Chelsea. In both games, Pep Guardiola’s side wasted too many chances and good positions to prosper. To beat Brighton, City had to take their chances. Come the final whistle, Pep Guardiola’s side had once again shot themselves in the foot.
Bernardo Silva should have put City 2-0 up straight after halftime. Manchester City’s press caught Brighton playing out from the back, and Bernardo was left with a golden opportunity to put City in the ascendancy. But he hit the post with Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen beaten. That was the first miss that cost City.
Erling Haaland missed an even better chance in the 81st minute last night. Once again, City forced Brighton into an error when they played out in their own area. Rayan Cherki seized the opportunity and set up Haaland for a simple finish. However, Haaland telegraphed his shot, and Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen made a simple save. That chance should have given City the lead. Haaland’s miss perhaps sums up Manchester City’s play in the final third at the moment.
Rayan Cherki would make it a hat trick of squandered chances for Manchester City in the 87th minute. The French international had a good chance that he hit over the bar. Cherki was in a great position on the left-hand side of the Brighton area, and it did seem that he was odds-on to score. Instead, Cherki fired his shot over the bar, and that would be the final significant chance of the night for City.
Speaking after his team’s draw with Brighton, Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his team’s finishing isn’t at the level required. He explained: “I like a lot of the way we played. Many new players and good things – I love that. But we didn’t score goals. Too many clear chances. It’s not just one or two players, it’s all the players up front.”
“Scoring goals is part of our job when we analyse the game. We played exceptionally well.”
“In the good moments in the past, always take the chances.”
Phil Foden looks tired and his performances have dropped off of late.
During the first stage of this season, Phil Foden was one of Manchester City’s best players. His move into midfield had prospered, and Foden had become an integral component of this City side. Recently, Phil Foden’s performances have dropped off, and he looks fatigued from a heavy workload. Foden wasn’t at his best last night when his team needed him to put in a big display.
It is hard to put any blame on Phil Foden. Like many of his teammates, he has played far too often this season. Injuries and international duty have hit Pep Guardiola’s squad hard. Foden has been valiant in his ability to play as often as possible, but last night he looked short of a gallop. Foden needs a rest, and hopefully he gets it this weekend when Manchester City take on Exeter City in the third-round of the FA Cup.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for City as Max Alleyne and Abdukodir Khusanov impressed.
Although Manchester City dropped two points and could potentially fall eight points Arsenal at the top of the Premier League if Mikel Arteta’s side beat Liverpool. There was a major positive to come from last night’s match for Pep Guardiola’s side. That was the performance of Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne in the heart of City’s defence. The young centre-backs more than held their own last night against Brighton.
Brighton had their moments going forward last night. There is no doubt about that. But Alleyne and Khusanov did not look out of place playing in the Premier League. Both young centre-backs were impressive at the Etihad. Alleyne oozed class in possession, and his time at Watford has seen him grow as a player. He was also strong in a duel and he looks to be ready to play a role for this City side. Khusanov was impressive and his pace and strength stood out in his performance. You’d like to see Khusanov be a bit more brave in possession but that will come the more he plays.
Pep Guardiola praised the performances of Max Alleyne and Abdukodir Khusanov last night against Brighton. He told the media after his team’s draw with Brighton: “They played exceptional. Khusanov was incredible. He helped us so much with long balls in behind. He controlled all the width. He will grow up and he has to be more involved in the play and build up but it is a question of time. He was top.”
“Max arrived two days ago and did one training session yesterday. Of course, in the past he was training with us a lot. I say thank you to Watford and Javi Gracia, they helped him a lot to grow up as a football player.”
“He was fast in transition and was really exceptional. He missed one ball but the rest, he was top.”
Final thoughts.
Manchester City will be kicking themselves with last night’s result. They didn’t have it all their own way as Brighton did have their moments last night at the Etihad despite what the statistics say. Missing three gilt-edged chances cost City dearly and it does look like Manchester City’s injury crisis has hit Pep Guardiola’s squad in more ways than one. Missing players is one thing, but a host of players are carrying too heavy a workload at the moment. That is also standing out in City’s overall performances.
Manchester City have now drawn their past three Premier League matches. They have lost ground to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. As of right now, a title challenge seems a long way away and City need a win for their confidence and they also look to need reinforcements to come in the January transfer window.
Category: General Sports
