Haaland Milestone Overshadowed by Another Draw for Manchester City

Erling Haaland returned to scoring form with his 150th goal for Manchester City, but the Premier League leaders’ title challenge continues to falter after a 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side have now drawn three consecutive games, allowing Arsenal to potentially open up an eight-point lead at the top of the table if they beat Liverpool on Thursday.

---

Match Summary

Brighton threatened from the start, exploiting City’s depleted defence due to injuries to Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, and John Stones. Youngsters Max Alleyne (20) and Abdukodir Khusanov (21) were thrown into the backline, and Brighton looked dangerous on multiple occasions:

• Pascal Gross unleashed a header that was superbly tipped over by Gianluigi Donnarumma, though the rebound was missed.
• Georginio Rutter released Ferdi Kadioglu with a perfect pass, but the shot was straight at Donnarumma.
• Rutter himself was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Khusanov.

City capitalised on Brighton’s wastefulness to take the lead in the 41st minute: Jeremy Doku was fouled in the box by Diego Gomez, and Haaland calmly converted the resulting penalty, marking both his Premier League 35,000th goal since 1992 and his 150th City goal.

Bernardo Silva nearly doubled the lead, hitting the post, but Brighton fought back. Kaoru Mitoma scored a stunning strike from the edge of the area to equalise, capitalising on a defensive lapse. Gomez then missed a point-blank chance to retake the lead, and both sides settled for a draw.

---

Manchester City Analysis: Missed Opportunity

Three consecutive draws have dented City’s momentum after a stellar end to 2025 that included eight straight wins. Guardiola’s makeshift backline struggled to control Brighton’s attacking threats, and City failed to hold on to leads in consecutive home games.

Haaland had further chances, flicking a header cleared off the line and seeing a low effort saved by Bart Verbruggen, but City’s finishing lacked the sharpness needed to secure the win. The flat atmosphere from the Etihad crowd reflected a side struggling to recapture their rhythm.

This is only the third time in Guardiola’s managerial career that City have drawn three straight games, highlighting the challenges his squad faces with injuries and rotation.

---

Brighton Analysis: Regretful but Resilient

Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton side will rue the missed chances, particularly in the first half. The Seagulls dominated parts of the game and had gilt-edged opportunities that they failed to convert.

Mitoma’s strike rescued a point, extending Brighton’s unbeaten run against City to four meetings. Despite the draw, Brighton showcased resilience and tactical awareness, exploiting City’s defensive gaps and pressing effectively in key moments.

---

What’s Next?

• Manchester City: FA Cup third-round tie vs Exeter on Saturday, 10 January (15:00 GMT).
• Brighton: FA Cup third-round trip to Manchester United on Sunday, 11 January (16:30 GMT).

---

Player of the Match

Brighton & Hove Albion:

• J. van Hecke – 7.98
• Kaoru Mitoma – 7.15
• Georginio Rutter – 6.95

Manchester City:

• Gianluigi Donnarumma – 5.50
• Max Alleyne – 5.23
• Abdukodir Khusanov – 5.15
• Erling Haaland – 4.64

---

Summary:

Manchester City’s Premier League title charge faces serious questions after three draws in a row, despite Haaland reaching 150 City goals. Brighton showed grit and attacking intent, leaving the Etihad with a deserved point, but also some regrets for missed opportunities. Guardiola must now find ways to reinvigorate his squad ahead of a crucial FA Cup and league run.