Champions Manchester City have hit back and maintained their advantage in the tight Premier League title race. Team manager Pep Guardiola’s Skyblues won comfortably 4-0 (3-0) at Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday evening and jumped to within one point of league leaders Arsenal FC (77 points) – but still have a catch-up game in hand.
Kevin De Bruyne (17th) with his first header goal in the Premier League, Phil Foden (26th, 34th) with a brace and Julian Alvarez (62nd) scored the victory for Manchester. The defending champion had to do without the injured top striker Erling Haaland and took advantage of Liverpool FC’s mistake (74) on Wednesday (0-2 in the derby at Everton).
With five games left, Guardiola’s team has the title in their own hands again, and City is in the final of the FA Cup against city rivals and record champions United. In the Champions League, the triple winner was eliminated in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid the previous week.