Brace yourselves, football fans! ⚽
In a thrilling turnaround, Brighton & Hove Albion shocked Manchester City with a 2-1 victory at the Falmer Stadium on Saturday. This unexpected defeat marks the defending Premier League champions' fourth straight loss across all competitions—a streak they haven't seen since way back in August 2006! 😱
The match started off strong for City, with Erling Haaland netting a goal in the 23rd minute and nearly adding more to his tally in a dominant first half. City looked poised to cruise, racking up five shots on target. But football can be full of surprises! 🧐
After halftime, Brighton came roaring back. With a reinvigorated squad, substitutes Joao Pedro and Premier League newcomer Matt O'Riley each found the back of the net. Their goals secured a comeback victory that had the home crowd roaring! 🔥
This loss follows City's recent defeats to Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup, Bournemouth in the league, and a crushing 4-1 loss to Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League. Star midfielder Bernardo Silva admitted the team is in a \"dark place.\" 🌑
Manager Pep Guardiola is facing uncharted territory, witnessing his team lose four consecutive games for the first time under his leadership. With Liverpool pulling ahead by five points after their 2-0 win over Aston Villa, City fans are feeling the pressure. 😬
Injuries haven't helped City's cause. Key players like Nathan Ake, John Stones, Jack Grealish, and Ruben Dias were all sidelined against Brighton, along with long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb. The team's depth is being tested to the max. 🩼
\"Of course, it's November, we are not far away from rival teams in this position before the international break,\" Guardiola commented. \"Winning games is about having fit players who can train and improve our results.\" 💪
He added, \"We need to clear our heads, go into the international break, and have players come back fit. The success we've had in past seasons was because we had fewer injuries. I want the players to be consistent and play at the level we showed in the first half.\" 🏃♂️
The road ahead won't be easy, but if there's one thing we've learned, it's to never count Manchester City out. Stay tuned—this season is just heating up! 🔥⚽
Reference(s):
Manchester City upset by Brighton, suffer fourth straight loss
cgtn.com
