LONDON – Manchester City’s Premier League title defence hit another bump on Wednesday night, as Brighton & Hove Albion held them to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland ended a quiet spell with a first-half penalty for his 150th City goal, but Kaoru Mitoma struck back after the break with a brilliant finish to earn Brighton a point. It’s now three league draws in a row for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The result could leave City up to eight points behind leaders Arsenal by the end of the week, adding to the pressure as injuries and uneven form continue to bite.
Manchester City Controls the First Half, Haaland Makes History
City began on the front foot and moved the ball with their usual patience against a well-drilled Brighton team under Fabian Hürzeler. Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva kept play ticking in midfield, though early chances were limited.
The breakthrough arrived in the 41st minute. Haaland made a smart run into the box and was brought down. He took the penalty himself and rolled it into the bottom corner. It was his 150th goal for Manchester City in all competitions, along with his 20th Premier League goal of the season.
City went into half-time in front and looked good value for it, with more than 65% possession and a few close moments. Foden also came close, with one effort clipping the post.
Mitoma Levels It With a Moment of Quality
Brighton looked sharper after the restart and started to find space on the break. In the 60th minute, Yasin Ayari picked out Mitoma at the edge of the area. The winger aimed and fired a low, accurate shot into the bottom right corner beyond Ederson.
The equaliser changed the mood inside the stadium and gave Brighton fresh belief. At the other end, Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke stood tall and dealt with wave after wave of City pressure. Haaland nearly had a second with a header that went just wide, while substitute Julián Álvarez forced a strong save from Jason Steele.
City pushed hard late on, including a frantic scramble in stoppage time, but the winner wouldn’t come. Guardiola looked unhappy on the touchline as the whistle confirmed another draw, following recent stalemates against mid-table opposition.
Guardiola Points to Missed Chances as Injuries Still Hurt City
After the match, Guardiola said his side had enough opportunities to win, but didn’t finish them. He also praised Brighton for the way they punished lapses in focus.
City’s problems this season have been made worse by injuries, with key names such as Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne missing in recent months. Haaland’s milestone was a bright spot, but the dropped points give Arsenal a chance to move further clear at the top.
For Brighton, this was another strong result in a steady campaign. They sit in mid-table and have taken points from several big-six teams, with Mitoma again providing the moment that mattered most.
Current Premier League Standings (as of 8 January 2026)
Top of the Table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 20 | 15 | 3 | 2 | +26 | 48 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 20 | 13 | 4 | 3 | +26 | 43 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 20 |
Mid-Table Focus: Brighton & Hove Albion
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Newcastle United | 20 | |||||
| 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 20 |
City face a tricky away trip next, while Brighton will look to build on another eye-catching point. With the title race tightening, Guardiola’s team can’t keep leaving points behind.
