Guardiola’s team dropped points three times in a row; Haaland has gone four matches without a goal from open play; Manchester City lost 6 points in 3 rounds and missed out on the title race.

At 03:30 on January 8th Beijing time, in the 21st round of the Premier League, Manchester City played Brighton at home.

In the first half, Doku earned a penalty, which Haaland converted to open the scoring, putting City ahead 1-0 at the break; in the second half, Japan’s Mitoma leveled the score, and Bernardo Silva’s shot struck the post.

In the end, Manchester City drew 1-1 with Brighton, marking their third consecutive draw in the league, dropping 6 points in 3 rounds. After playing ahead of others, they now trail league leaders Arsenal by 5 points, effectively falling behind in the title race.

Manchester City vs Brighton,Guardiola lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Haaland leading the attack; Bernardo Silva, Reyna, Foden, and Doku formed the midfield quartet; Gonzalez played as the lone defensive midfielder; Nunes, Husanov, Ake, and Ake made up the back four, with Donnarumma in goal. The starting lineup’s combined market value was 619 million euros.Meanwhile, Helzer set up a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Japan international Mitoma starting as the left winger. The starting lineup’s market value was 267 million euros.

In this match, Manchester City dominated possession at home but continued to struggle offensively. Haaland, the most expensive forward in football, had 8 shots with 4 on target but only scored a penalty, failing to score from open play in four consecutive league games. Haaland’s inconsistency, inability to perform in crucial moments, and lack of support remain major weaknesses in City’s attack. Doku was sharp and earned the penalty, but Haaland’s off form meant a missed opportunity. Japan’s Mitoma equalized, exposing City’s disorganized defense and weak offense. Ultimately, City drew 1-1 at home with Brighton, marking their third straight league draw and losing 6 points in 3 rounds. Guardiola’s team has now faltered three times in the Premier League title race.

Throughout the match,Manchester City held 60% possession and had 22 shots, 6 of which were on target; Brighton had 6 shots with 3 on target.. The problem with City dropping points lies in Haaland’s inconsistent output and the lack of a reliable second scorer. These three consecutive draws might mean City are out of the title race.