Manchester City left outside top four as Khusanov hands Brighton a draw

This showdown of Champions League contenders ended with spoils shared so Manchester City, in fifth place, still lead Brighton, who are seventh, by a point. The draw is a rosy result for Newcastle, as they are sandwiched between them and have played a game fewer so have an opportunity to leapfrog City.

Match day 29 for City and Brighton fired the gun on the final 10 matches and with many teams in the chase for a shot at the European Cup, final-day excitement surely awaits.

Pep Guardiola concurs. “It looks like it,” he said. “Nine games until the end of the season. I’m always confident. I am a master. I find positivity in ­everything. I know it will be difficult. Bernardo [Silva was injured] today, Ederson is injured again. Many things happen and we know it. Nine games, nine finals.”

He was baffled at Jérémy Doku’s second-half booking by Simon Hooper for diving when the winger leaped over Jan Paul van Hecke to avoid being cleaned out. Guardiola said: “He doesn’t jump, he can break his leg. Jeremy is not a diving player. I said to the referee that if he doesn’t jump he can be kicked hard.”

Fabian Hürzeler illustrated his mentality by downplaying what was a first Brighton point at the Etihad Stadium. “It is a fact,” the manager said. “But more is a disappointing feeling that we didn’t go home with three points. It is about chasing performance, getting to the next level. We showed an impressive performance, played our style and showed we can compete with any team in the league.”

In a rollercoaster finish, host and visitor went close to snatching all three points. Nico González’s header smacked off Bart Verbruggen’s left post, then Carlos Baleba skied over with Stefan Ortega’s goal gaping. A point each felt fair, though, and each side remain what they have been all term. City are a powderpuff proposition, Brighton an improving force.

Guardiola’s headline selection decisions had read as curios. To bench Phil Foden, Silva, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne jarred as a route to seek victory. He is difficult to argue with and when Omar Marmoush skipped inside, Adam Webster chopped him down and Hooper awarded a penalty Erling Haaland converted, the masterplan was up and running 11 minutes in.

But this is City 2024-25, not the vintage that reeled off the past four titles. Moments before, Kaoru Mitoma had a strike disallowed for bundling into Orgeta at close range. Brighton’s fortunes had tipped 180 degrees but a front-foot approach suggested how they would prosper.

They harried City, causing loose passes from Rico Lewis and González. When Haaland weaved into position to unload, Diego Gómez flew back to execute a slide-tackle that needed to be precise.

As was Pervis Estupiñán’s equaliser. To the right of City’s D, the left-back struck a howitzer of a free-kick that ranged low, pinballing off the left post, Ortega a statue when he should have dived at least.

A key element missing this season from City is precision. Guardiola speaks of how his unit is built for passes, but countless times these have been misplaced, as when Ortega’s hoof went straight to Brighton. Better geometry showed when Savinho and Marmoush exchanged measured balls and the Brazilian raced at Verbruggen’s goal. But, as he pulled the trigger, Van Hecke sprinted over and the attempt ballooned wide.

Ilkay Gündogan was the next culprit to be imprecise, an effort being scuffed to safety. But the German compensated via a next act. González pilfered possession, tapped to Gündogan and he tapped to Marmoush. The Egyptian took a breath, then aimed a long-range finish off the left post and City led, again, with the break approaching.

Seconds after, though, City’s fragility handed João Pedro a gilded opening. From a left-back zone Josko Gvardiol passed right, Rúben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov dawdled, and João Pedro shot, narrowly missing.

Khusanov was soon to find a goal, but the wrong one. At a Brighton corner from the left Webster headed on and Jack Hinshelwood stabbed at the ball: it was going wide but Khusanov somehow steered home.