Brighton & Hove Albion – Manchester City: City’s Concerning Form Continues (2-1)

City started this game well, dominating possession in a 3-2-4-1 shape and going ahead midway through the first half. However, Brighton’s pressing intensity was boosted in the second half, and City’s own pressing showed serious vulnerabilities, resulting in an incredible fourth straight defeat for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Tactical analysis and match report by Josh Manley.

Brighton & Hove Albion have had a relatively promising start to the Fabian Hürzeler era since their opening day victory over Manchester United. Manchester City, meanwhile, are undergoing something of a crisis by their lofty standards. The Champions League defeat against Sporting CP this week made it three defeats in a row for Pep Guardiola’s side following the previous losses at AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur.

Brighton started in a 4-2-3-1 shape with a back four of Joël Veltman, Jan Paul van Hecke, Igor Julio, and Pervis Estupiñán. Yasin Ayari and Jack Hinshelwood partnered in central midfield, while Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma played wide. Georginio Rutter then supported Danny Welbeck up front.

City meanwhile played with a 4-3-3 formation, with Kyle Walker, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Joško Gvardiol, and Rico Lewis in the defensive line. Mateo Kovačić was the deepest midfielder, with Phil Foden and İlkay Gündoğan ahead of him. Savinho and Matheus Nunes were the . . .