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By Jess AndersonBBC Sport at Etihad Stadium
Last updated on 1 minute ago.From the section Premier League
Julian Alvarez has added four top-flight goals to Erling Haaland's nine this seasonManchester City avoided a third consecutive Premier League defeat as two first-half goals secured victory over Brighton at Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola's side had lost their previous two top-flight matches - away to Wolves and Arsenal - and have never recorded three consecutive league defeats under the Spaniard.
The defending champions showed their intent early on as Julian Alvarez opened the scoring after just seven minutes, floating an effort over the head of Brighton keeper Jason Steele after a delightful run and cut-back from Jeremy Doku.
Erling Halaand ended a run of three matches without a goal 10 minutes later as he pounced on a Carlos Baleba mistake in the middle of the park and sent a thunderous left-footed shot into the back of the net.
A more composed second half from the visitors saw Ansu Fati capitalise on a poor Manuel Akanji clearance inside the penalty area.
The goal made for a nervy final period as City clung on and Brighton pushed for an equaliser with City forced to see out stoppage time with 10 men when Akanji was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Doku was a constant threat throughout down the left-hand side, setting up Alvarez for the opener and twice going close with long-range curling efforts.
Argentine forward Alvarez had the opportunity for a second with a curling free-kick and Phil Foden was unlucky not to see his effort nestle in the top corner.
The victory moves City top of the Premier League before Arsenal face Chelsea later on Saturday.
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Manchester City
Squad number18Player nameOrtega- Squad number25Player nameAkanji
Squad number2Player nameWalker- Squad number24Player nameGvardiol
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva- Squad number16Player nameRodri
- Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number5Player nameStones
Squad number47Player nameFoden- Squad number9Player nameHaaland
- Squad number11Player nameDoku
- Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
- Squad number6Player nameAké
- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
Brighton & Hove Albion
Squad number23Player nameSteele
Squad number6Player nameMilner
Squad number5Player nameDunk
Squad number3Player nameIgor Julio
Squad number7Player nameMarch
Squad number20Player nameBaleba
Squad number13Player nameGroß
Squad number24Player nameAdingra
Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
Squad number22Player nameMitoma
Squad number9Player nameJoão Pedro
Squad number11Player nameGilmour
Squad number28Player nameFerguson
Squad number29Player namevan Hecke
Squad number31Player nameAnsu Fati
Squad number34Player nameVeltman
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 3-2-4-1
- 18Ortega
- 25AkanjiBooked at 90mins
- 2Walker
- 24Gvardiol
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 16RodriBooked at 38mins
- 19ÁlvarezSubstituted forAkéat 90+6'minutes
- 5StonesSubstituted forRúben Diasat 75'minutes
- 47Foden
- 9Haaland
- 11DokuSubstituted forGrealishat 75'minutesBooked at 84mins
Substitutes
- 3Rúben Dias
- 4Phillips
- 6Aké
- 8Kovacic
- 10Grealish
- 21Gómez
- 27Nunes
- 31Ederson
- 82Lewis
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Steele
- 6MilnerSubstituted forVeltmanat 45'minutes
- 5Dunk
- 3dos Santos de PauloBooked at 64mins
- 7MarchBooked at 36minsSubstituted forvan Heckeat 90+4'minutes
- 20BalebaSubstituted forGilmourat 66'minutes
- 13Groß
- 24Adingra
- 18WelbeckSubstituted forFergusonat 16'minutes
- 22Mitoma
- 9João PedroSubstituted forAnsu Fatiat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Verbruggen
- 4Webster
- 8Dahoud
- 11Gilmour
- 14Lallana
- 28Ferguson
- 29van Hecke
- 31Ansu Fati
- 34Veltman
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Foul by Phil Foden (Manchester City).
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Bernardo Silva.
Substitution, Manchester City. Nathan Aké replaces Julián Álvarez.
Second yellow card to Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) for a bad foul.
Foul by Manuel Akanji (Manchester City).
Ansu Fati (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Jan Paul van Hecke replaces Solly March because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Billy Gilmour (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Substitution, Manchester City. Jack Grealish replaces Jérémy Doku.
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