Manchester City 2 Brighton 2: City player ratings as City and Brighton play out a thriller. | OneFootball

Manchester City 2 (Erling Haaland 11 (P)’, Omar Marmoush 39′,

Brighton 2 (Pervis Estupiñan 21′, Abdukodir Khusanov (OG) 48′,

Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City drew 2-all with Brighton at the Etihad. The biggest story before the game was Ederson’s absence from the Manchester City matchday squad. Ederson was withdrawn from the Brazil squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers yesterday so his absence from the City squad wasn’t a huge surprise.

The City player ratings reflect the nature of the game from a Manchester City point of view. Pep Guardiola’s side gave as good as they got, but no City player stood out, although Omar Marmoush and Nico did have their moments throughout the game.

First half

Brighton kicked off the crucial fixture, and in the game’s opening minutes, there was an intent to their play and pressing. The visitors looked like a team who had won their past 6 games in all competitions based on their start to the game in the opening three minutes.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side had the ball in the back of the net in the 6th minute through Kaoru Mitoma. Mitoma bundled the ball home after Stefan Ortega had made a quality save. But Mitoma’s goal was disallowed as Mitoma was adjudged to have fouled Ortega in the process of bundling the ball into City’s net. After a brief VAR check, the goal was disallowed, and the game continued. But the Brighton move, which led to the disallowed goal, was a warning shot for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Erling Haaland gives Manchester City the lead from the penalty spot.

In the 9th minute, Manchester City would earn a penalty. Some quality pressing from Nico helped City regain possession in a dangerous area of the pitch. A neat piece of interplay between Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush played Marmoush in on goal. He was fouled by Adam Webster which earned City’s spot kick. Haaland emphatically dispatched the penalty to give Manchester City the lead in the 11th minute. The goal was Haaland’s 100th goal involvement in the Premier League in another milestone for City’s number 9.

Brighton equalise in the 21st minute through Pervis Estupiñan.

Brighton would equalise the 21st minute. After Georgino Rutter was fouled by Nico on the edge of the area it gave the visitors a free kick in a dangerous position. Pervis Estupiñan hit a superb free-kick around the Manchester City, which went in off the post with Stefan Ortega stranded. You do have to first question the foul on Rutter and Stefan Ortega’s reaction to Estupiñan’s free kick.

Two minutes later Savinho would see a shot well saved by Bart Verbruggen on the edge of Brighton’s six-yard box. The Brazilian international was played in after a flowing City move but his shot was well saved. Perhaps Savinho should have done better with his shot from a good position in the Brighton area.

Savinho would then waste a golden opportunity to give Manchester City the lead in the 32nd minute. Some neat play from Omar Marmoush played in the Brazilian on City’s right-hand side. Savinho drove into Brighton’s penalty area but his finish went well wide of the Brighton goal. It actually defied logic how much Savinho missed the target by.

Brighton would then nearly take the lead in the 35th minute. Yankuba Minteh drove into the City area, but his left-footed strike sailed wide from a good position in the penalty area.

Omar Marmoush gives Manchester City the lead with an absolute rocket.

Omar Marmoush would restore Manchester City’s lead in the 39th minute. Brighton once again gave away possession in a dangerous area of the pitch and Ilkay Gundogan set up Marmoush on the edge of Brighton’s penalty area. The Egyptian international fired a rocket that beat Bart Verbruggen from 20 yards which went in off the post to give City a 2-1 lead. It was a superb strike from Marmoush which highlighted the quality of his finishing.

Brighton should have made it 2-all in the 43rd minute. A sloppy pass from Josko Gvardiol gifted an opportunity to Joao Pedro in a dangerous area of the pitch. But the Brazilian striker fired wide from a good position in the Manchester City penalty box which saved Gvardiol’s blushes.

Manchester City would take a 2-1 lead into the interval after a thoroughly entertaining first half. Brighton was a constant threat to City’s defence, and Pep Guardiola’s side was up for the fight, which made for a riveting first half.

Second half

The second half began exactly where the first half left off. Manchester City began the half brightly but Brighton would equalise in the 48th minute through Jack Hinshelwood. Brighton delivered a quality set piece from a corner and Jack Hinshelwood’s finish went in off of Abdukodir Khusanov to make it 2-all. The goal would go down as an own goal for the unfortunate Khusanov. It was Khusanov who played Hinshelwood onside following Adam Webster’s knockdown from the corner. It was game on once again right at the beginning of the second half.

Following their equaliser Brighton went up a gear. The Seagulls were full of life and Manchester City were struggling to keep up. Pep Guardiola’s side survived several close calls, and it was becoming apparent in the 54th minute that Brighton was beginning to gain the ascendancy in the match.

Stefan Ortega would keep the game level with a good save in the 63rd minute. A sublime ball over the top of City’s defence teed up Kaoru Mitoma on the volley on the left-hand side of City’s penalty area. But his rasping volley was saved by Stefan Ortega behind for a corner.

After a sustained spell of possession, Manchester City should have taken the lead in the 79th minute. Nico hit the post with an unmarked header from six yards out after a quality corner from Ilkay Gundogan. Nico should have hit the target, but instead, the game remained 2-all as it entered the final 10 minutes.

Carlos Baleba squanders a golden opportunity for Brighton.

Brighton should have taken the lead in the 82nd minute. After a driving run from Joao Pedro the Brazilian striker played in a quality ball into City’s area from the left wing. Carlos Baleba met the ball unmarked from the penalty spot. But he fired his shot well over when it appeared to be easier to score.

Manchester City almost took the lead in the 90th minute. A dangerous free kick from Kevin De Bruyne hit Ilkay Gundogan and went just wide of Bart Verbruggen’s goal. Gundogan knew nothing about the chance but it almost paid off for Pep Guardiola’s side.

That would be the last chance of note as the game finished 2-all. The result was a fair one, and in the chase for Champions League qualification for next season, Pep Guardiola’s side will know the equation they face after this weekend’s results.

The City player ratings can be seen below. This matches City player ratings are more difficult than usual as although several of Manchester City’s players stood out, I didn’t believe there was a standout player for Pep Guardiola’s side on the day.

Summary

City player ratings

Stefan Ortega-6/10: He should have done better for Pervis Estupiñan’s free-kick, but he did make a vital save in the second half.

Rico Lewis-6.5/10: For me, Lewis was Manchester City’s best defender on the day. Mitoma had his moments but Lewis did contain him and offered something in possession.

Abdukodir Khusanov-5.5/10: He was unfortunate for the own goal, but it was his lapse that played Hinshelwood onside in the build-up. That was a blight on his performance, which was otherwise strong.

Ruben Dias-6.5/10: Dias defended well and led from the front as Manchester City’s captain.

Josko Gvardiol-6/10: He had his moments going forward, but he was also sloppy in possession. Not his best display of the season and definitely not his worst either.

Nico-7.5/10: A good performance from Nico, although at times he was guilty of giving the ball away, especially early in the match. But he grew into the game and he could’ve been the hero if his late header didn’t hit the post.

Ilkay Gundogan-7.5/10: Gundogan’s best performance for some time. He grabbed an assist for Marmoush’s goal and played well in midfield.

Savinho-5/10: Savinho could’ve had a huge impact on the game if his finishing was up to standard. He squandered two golden opportunities in the first half and was taken off early in the second half. The young Brazilian international must improve his finishing to become a better player.

Omar Marmoush-7.5/10: The Egyptian international scored one and put himself about, especially in the first half. He drifted out of the game in the second half but he showed plenty in today’s match.

Jeremy Doku-6.5/10: Doku looked to be Manchester City’s most dangerous attacking player, especially in the second half. But his end product was again lacking. One such instance when he failed to spot a run from Erling Haaland stood out. Once he fixes that side of his game, he will be a world-beater.

Erling Haaland-6.5/10: Converted his penalty with ease and did show signs of a partnership with Marmoush especially in the first half. He drifted out of the game after halftime as he suffered from a lack of service.

Substitutes

Bernardo Silva-6/10: Came on for Savinho and provided control when Manchester City needed it. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury and was substituted.

Phil Foden-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.

Kevin De Bruyne-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.