Brighton v Manchester City LIVE: Premier League updates as Man City look to close gap on Arsenal

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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.

The final whistle goes as Man City celebrate an important win in the title race. This game had the feel of a banana skin, but they’ve negotiated it superbly and go second, a point off the leaders and with a game in hand.

City break at pace as Alvarez tees up Doku, who should score but Steele makes a decent save with his feet.

Brighton’s mentality has been hugely impressive and they push hard for a consolation goal late on, winning a corner that City manage to clear to safety.

The Brighton fans jeer as the official awards their side a free-kick. They clearly feel they’ve been harshly done to with some of the decisions tonight, and perhaps they have a point.

The game moves into five minutes of additional time.

This result will see City move into second place in the table, one point behind the leaders Arsenal and with a game in hand. The goal difference deficit has been reduced too… although not quite as much as it looked like it might at one stage.

The home side have stuck to their task throughout this second half and are still pushing forward. Joao Pedro should score but slides a terrific chance wide from close range. He can’t believe he’s failed to put that away, but it kind of sums up his team’s night.

Guardiola hugs his captain as he leaves the field and has an animated conversation with the right-back… not one of his tactical dressing-downs but a chat that looked like it was dripping with praise. Walker has been superb tonight.

This is a dream scenario for Guardiola, who rests yet more of his key players. Walker, Rodri and Bernardo are withdrawn, with Lewis, Gomez and Doku coming on.

Baleba halts a City counter and goes into the book.

Foden and De Bruyne have been pure class tonight and Guardiola gives them both a deserved rest, with Grealish and Nunes coming on.

Joao Pedro is convinced he should have a penalty as he tangles legs with Gvardiol, but the referee says no. There wasn’t a great deal of contact, but it looked like it could have been a spot-kick, however VAR disagrees. The Brighton fans are absolutely furious.

Kyle Walker hasn’t operated like this for years, but he’s playing really high and wide for City tonight, and he gets in behind again, narrowly failing to pick out a City shirt with his cross.

City started the evening with a goal difference 12 lower than Arsenal, but that deficit is now down to eight. There’s a chance this evening for City to eat into that advantage yet further, with a game in hand still to come.

Walker has been given a bit of license to push forward from right-back tonight, turning back the years a little. He cuts inside and slides in to flick the ball away from Steele and into the patch of Alvarez, who slots home. Brighton are very unhappy, they feel Walker has fouled Steele there, but it’s a 50-50 and VAR agree that the goal should stand. 4-0.

Brighton lose the ball playing out down their right and Alvarez attempts a whipped shot into the far top corner that was very close to picking it out. He grimaces in frustration – it’s not quite clicking for him at the moment.

Brighton give the ball away at the back and Foden feeds Alvarez who shoots straight at Steele. That was a proper chance, but he snatched at it a little.

It’s a third substitution for the home side.