FODEN AND DE BRUYNE STAR AS MAN CITY HAMMER BRIGHTON
Manchester City moved to within a point of Premier League leaders Arsenal as Phil Foden inspired a clinical 4-0 win away at Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday night.
City opened the scoring courtesy of a superb long-range header from Kevin de Bruyne which finished off a clinical attack that saw Foden and Kyle Walker combine to unpick Brighton.
And Foden bagged a quick-fire brace in the remainder of the first half to put the defending Premier League champions in complete control of the game, with his first goal coming from a deflected free-kick, and his second being served up to him when Brighton youngster Valentin Barco gave the ball away on the edge of his own box trying to play through the press.
Julian Alvarez made it 4-0 after half-time following a challenge by the marauding Walker on Brighton’s goalkeeper Jason Steele. The hosts felt aggrieved at the decision to allow the goal to stand, and had a number of claims for penalties turned down, but Roberto de Zerbi’s side did manage to stem the flow of goals to restrict the damage on the night.
City’s margin of victory helps narrow their goal difference deficit to the leaders Arsenal, and Pep Guardiola’s side will head into the weekend just a point off top spot and with a game in hand.
