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ANTOINE SEMENYO GOAL ENOUGH AS BOURNEMOUTH BOOST EUROPEAN PUSH WITH FULHAM WIN

Antoine Semenyo struck inside 53 seconds as Bournemouth reignited their quest for continental qualification with a 1-0 Premier League victory over fellow European hopefuls Fulham at the Vitality Stadium.

Forward Semenyo clinically pounced on an early error from Cottagers captain Antonee Robinson to claim his 10th goal of the season and earn the Cherries a first win in seven league games.

Evanilson went close to doubling the hosts’ lead when he struck the woodwork before Andoni Iraola’s men hung on to climb to eighth – above their opponents and Brighton on goal difference.

Ryan Sessegnon wasted the best of Fulham’s chances to equalise – heading straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga in the first half – before seemingly being substituted incorrectly during the second period.

Bournemouth began the evening having taken just two points from a possible 18 during a dramatic drop-off in form since going fifth with a 3-1 success at relegated rivals Southampton on February 15.

Defender Marcos Senesi replaced Illia Zabarnyi in the only change from the Cherries’ 2-2 draw at West Ham, while Cottagers boss Marco Silva stuck with the team which defeated champions-elect Liverpool 3-2.

Bournemouth raced ahead inside a minute.

Alex Scott led the counter attack following a loose pass from Timothy Castagne and, after Robinson’s mistake, Semenyo nipped in to cut inside Joachim Andersen and curl the ball into the bottom-left corner.

The hosts should have increased their advantage in the 16th minute when Evanilson rattled the crossbar from only four yards out after Scott headed Milos Kerkez’s cross from the left back across goal.

Fulham also looked dangerous going forward during an entertaining first half.

Rodrigo Muniz threatened three times in quick succession, including flashing across goal following defensive dithering from Bournemouth centre-backs Senesi and Dean Huijsen, before the unmarked Sessegnon tamely nodded into the arms of Kepa.

Senesi was shown a yellow card for a lunging challenge on Andersen, despite winning the ball, while Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno kept out a low shot from Scott in added time.

Bournemouth boss Iraola replaced Senesi with Zabarnyi for the second half and almost saw his side double their lead in the 55th minute when the legs of Leno denied Tyler Adams.

Fulham manager Silva then looked unhappy amid confusion as he made a triple substitution which took around two-and-a-half minutes to complete.

Tom Cairney, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez came on, with Sessegnon, who was withdrawn alongside Sander Berge and Muiz, appearing to be brought off incorrectly due to an admin error.

Bournemouth stopper Kepa clawed away an Alex Iwobi effort and comfortably saved from Sasa Lukic as the west London visitors pushed for a leveller.

At the other end, VAR deemed Leno got fingertips to the ball when Evanilson went down in the box seeking a penalty, 10 minutes from time.

The hosts comfortably held on during seven minutes of added time to claim an overdue victory – their first at home since thrashing Nottingham Forest 5-0 in January – and put their European push back on track.

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football Sports News

JAMIE REDKNAPP GIVEN 12-MONTH DRIVING BAN AFTER BEING CAUGHT SPEEDING

Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool footballer Jamie Redknapp has been banned from driving for 12 months after being caught speeding in his luxury SUV.

Redknapp, 51, admitted two counts of speeding in his Audi Q8 in June and November last year which took his licence over the points limit.

Bexley Magistrates’ Court heard the ex-England international was clocked doing 28mph in a 20mph zone in Wandsworth on June 26 last year, and on November 2 he was caught travelling at 58mph in a 50mph zone on the M4 near Reading.

Redknapp did not appear at the court hearing on Monday but had previously notified magistrates of a guilty plea.

This was his second “totting” offence, as he had a previous six-month disqualification in 2021, the court heard.

Before the two speeding counts last year, Redknapp already had 12 points on his licence.

Redknapp, of west London, was also ordered to pay costs of £608.

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football Sports News

HARVEY BARNES SHINES IN NEWCASTLE 4-1 WIN AGAINST MAN UNITED

Harvey Barnes sent head coach Eddie Howe the best possible get-well message as Newcastle brushed aside Manchester United 4-1 to climb into fourth place in the Premier League table.

Barnes struck twice after the break at a packed St James’ Park after Alejandro Garnacho had cancelled out Sandro Tonali’s opener, with Bruno Guimaraes’ late strike completing a first league double over the men from Old Trafford since the 1930-31 season to put a smile on Howe’s face in his hospital bed.

Assistant Jason Tindall looked on as the Magpies claimed a fourth successive league win to leave themselves just a point behind third-placed Nottingham Forest with a game in hand.

For Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, who handed goalkeeper Altay Bayindir a league debut in place of the error-prone Andre Onana, there were flashes of positivity going forward, but a calamitous defensive frailty, the Turkey international included, proved fatal.

The hosts were first to threaten when, after Kieran Trippier had picked off Joshua Zirkzee’s crossfield pass and fed Jacob Murphy, the wide man whistled a skidding third-minute shot just wide of Bayindir’s far post.

Zirkzee forced Nick Pope into a fine reaction save after combining beautifully with Bruno Fernandes to work his way to the edge of the penalty area as the visitors responded. Still, Newcastle took a 24th-minute lead when Trippier slid the ball into Alexander Isak’s feet. He teed it up before clipping a pass into the run of Tonali, who volleyed sweetly past Bayindir.
Bayindir produced a stunning save to keep out Isak’s 34th-minute volley from a Tino Livramento cross as the pressure mounted, and his side was back in it within three minutes when Manuel Ugarte played in Diogo Dalot and he sped upfield before feeding Garnacho to shoot across Pope and in off the foot of the post.

Pope denied Garnacho a second at the end of another pacy break as the half-time whistle approached, but the teams went in level at the break.

Teenage Harry Amass blazed over after Dalot had gone down under Tonali’s covering challenge as the second half resumed at breakneck pace.

But it was the Magpies who regained the lead within seconds when Livramento skipped past Dalot and crossed for Murphy to stab the ball back across for Barnes to score.
Zirkzee’s afternoon came to an unfortunate conclusion 10 minutes into the second half when he appeared to damage a hamstring as he embarked on a mazy run from his half and had to be replaced by Rasmus Hojlund, with Mason Mount and Patrick Dorgu coming on for Garnacho and Amass at the same time.

But Newcastle smelled blood and pinned the Red Devils back, deep inside their half, and they extended their lead with 64 minutes gone when Noussair Mazraoui slipped under pressure from Barnes, who raced in on goal before blasting the ball emphatically past Bayindir.

Bayindir’s afternoon took a further turn for the worse when his 77th-minute clearance was headed back by Joelinton to Guimaraes, who made no mistake with just the keeper to beat.

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football Sports News

SCOTLAND RELEGATED FROM NATIONS LEAGUE TOP TIER AFTER 0-3 DEFEAT TO GREECE

Scotland were relegated from Nations League A after a 3-0 home defeat by Greece.

Steve Clarke’s side made a decent start but goals from Giannis Konstantelias, Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis had the visitors 3-1 up on aggregate with just 15 seconds of the second half played.
The Hampden crowd expressed their dissent on several occasions as Scotland never really looked like getting back into the game.
They now drop down to the second tier of the competition ahead of the next set of group games in the autumn of 2026.

Scotland had Ryan Christie back in the team after suspension with Lewis Ferguson the only player to drop out following the 1-0 first-leg win.

Greece made six changes including handing a first start to Karetsas, the 17-year-old wide player whose introduction helped change the flow of the game in Greece’s favour in the second half on Thursday.

Sir Alex Ferguson made a pre-match appearance, holding up a number 10 shirt in tribute to Denis Law before a minute’s applause for Scotland’s joint-record goalscorer in the first home international since his death.

The hosts started on the front foot.

Che Adams had a penalty appeal rejected before Scott McTominay had an angled shot saved after being played through by Kenny McLean.

Andy Robertson soon fired wide and McTominay then saw a shot deflected into the side net.

But Greece levelled the aggregate score in the 20th minute with their first meaningful attack.
Robertson was outnumbered as Karetsas fed overlapping right-back Georgios Vagiannidis, whose cutback found the untracked Giannis Konstantelias and the midfielder swept the ball home from 10 yards.

Scotland almost responded quickly. McTominay sliced wide from the edge of the box before playing in John McGinn, who was denied by goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis.

Greece looked dangerous as the half progressed and they doubled their lead in the 42nd minute after the Scotland midfield again failed to track Konstantelias.

Robertson ran into the middle of the box to close the midfielder down after he collected a pass from the left wing, but that just left Karetsas unmarked. Konstantelias teed up the teenager, who curled the ball first time into the top corner.

Konstantelias produced another assist 15 seconds after half-time, collecting a loose pass from Christie and setting up Tzolis to finish.

Boos rang out from the home fans after Scotland were stretched again and Karetsas curled beyond the top corner.

The home fans were audibly unconvinced by Clarke’s first attempt to change the game in the 55th minute, notably the decision to take off Billy Gilmour. McLean and Adams also went off as Kieran Tierney and Lewis Ferguson joined the midfield and striker George Hirst made his Hampden debut.

There was little evidence of a cutting edge for Scotland. Hirst headed off target from two difficult chances and the scoreline could have been worse.

John Souttar’s goal-line clearance from Vangelis Pavlidis saved Grant Hanley’s blushes after the defender’s slip and Tzolis blazed over on the break.

Clarke went for broke in the 73rd minute by bringing on strikers Tommy Conway and James Wilson and handing them wide roles but the best chance fell to Tierney, then playing at left-back, with only seconds left. Tzolakis made a good diving save.

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football Sports News Transfer News

CARLO ANCELOTTI TIGHT-LIPPED ON ALEXANDER-ARNOLD MOVE

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to be drawn on the club’s pursuit of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Champions League holders were rebuffed when they made an initial enquiry about the England right-back’s availability a few days ago.

Liverpool are determined to hang on to the 26-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer, and a reported potential second approach from the Spanish club, this time backed by a firm cash offer in the region of £20million, is unlikely to sway their resolve.

Ancelotti, asked about January signings, told a press conference: “It is difficult for me to talk about that in this context. But we are going to have to wait and see.

“We are focused on all these games in January and the game tomorrow (against Valencia) and I’ve got nothing more to say. It’s not sensible for me to speak about the market right now.

“I’m not going to speak about it because right now, here, is not the place to talk about it.

“We will see what will happen but I have a great squad. We have got injuries and problems with that but we are also able to overcome them.”

When Madrid first made contact it is understood they were told there was no inclination to sell Alexander-Arnold and and no intention of discussing the matter further as Liverpool are purely focused on the dual challenge of the Premier League and Champions League, both of which they currently top of the table in.

That stance will not change despite the inevitable increased speculation during the January transfer window, heightened by the fact the player is now free to sign a pre-contract agreement.

In fact, Liverpool are still hoping to broker a deal which keeps the academy graduate at the club.

Dialogue with the player and his representatives – his brother Tyler looks after his interests – over a new contract has been ongoing for several months and the club have been given no indication Alexander-Arnold would like to leave.

While team-mates Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, also both out of contract in the summer, have spoken out about their personal situations in recent months, Alexander-Arnold has remained tight-lipped.

When asked about his future last month he said: “I have been at the club 20 years now and I have signed four or five contract extensions… and none of those have been played out in public. This one won’t be either.”

However, that will not stop the ongoing speculation or Madrid escalating their charm offensive.

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football Sports News

YOUTHFUL CHELSEA BEAT ASTANA TO REMAIN TABLE LEADERS AT CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Chelsea all-but confirmed passage to the last 16 of the Conference League with a 3-1 win against Astana in Kazakhstan as Enzo Maresca handed full debuts to two academy graduates.

Defender Josh Acheampong, 18, and 19-year-old midfielder Samuel Rak-Sakyi each played for the club at under-eight level and enjoyed comfortable first starts in the senior team, as the visitors triumphed in temperatures of around minus 10 in the Kazakh capital Almaty.

Fellow teenager Marc Guiu, a relative veteran with six previous Chelsea starts, scored twice inside the opening 18 minutes before Renato Veiga headed in his second for the club before half-time.

Astana were themselves playing 600 miles from home as their regular stadium underwent renovations, and they gave those who had made the arduous journey reason for cheer when Croatian striker Marin Tomasov pinged one in off the post in a moment of rare quality from the hosts.

Maresca handed a second senior start to 18-year-old Tyrique George and left at home the majority of the XI that started Sunday’s 4-3 win over Tottenham, with Pedro Neto – who is suspended for the weekend’s meeting with Brentford – the only player to make the 7,000-mile round-trip.

Neto had Chelsea’s first chance in freezing conditions in Kazakhstan, skating in off the right and striking low towards the near post, goalkeeper Mukhammedzhan Seysen dropping low to his left to save.

Guiu’s opener was a fine solo effort. Collecting the ball almost on the touchline wide on the right, he stood up the full-back Aleksandr Marochkin before powering beyond him into the box and prodding the ball inside the post for his second Chelsea goal.

Astana were already looking hopelessly stretched. Neto was next to take advantage, rocketing around the outside of his defender and crossing low towards Guiu. Seysen dived to get hands on the ball but could only turn it back into danger where it ricocheted between Guiu and Marochkin and over the line.

Carney Chukwuemeka had a shot deflected wide after being given space but Astana did not heed the warning. From the resulting corner, Veiga was given the freedom of Almaty to rise and plant his header past the goalkeeper.

A torrid night for Astana was made more palatable when Tomasov slipped the attentions of Veiga and rifled in the goal of night, his strike sailing up and wide of Filip Jorgensen’s reach and in off the post.

Ato Ampah replaced Neto in the second half for his first senior Chelsea appearance, while Harvey Vale was sent on for a first appearance since 2022.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fizzed an effort inches wide as he sought his second goal since joining in the summer, as Chelsea eased off their hosts in the second half.

Forward Shim Mheuka was also handed a Chelsea debut aged 17 to become the club’s second youngest player in Europe behind Dominic Solanke, then 18-year-old midfielder Kiano Dyer completed the roster of those making their bow in blue.

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football Sports News

GARY NEVILLE QUESTIONS PROFESSIONALISM OF RASHFORD AND CASEMIRO OVER USA TRIPS

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 01: Phil Neville attends the World premiere of "The Class of 92" at Odeon West End on December 1, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Gary Neville has questioned the professionalism of Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Casemiro over their trips to the United States during the international break.

Rashford was in attendance at Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday night and was seen leaving the venue following an NBA match between New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

The forward was pictured courtside with friends before he posed and signed shirts with NBA star Jalen Brunson during his trip while midfielder Casemiro flew to Orlando for a family holiday to Disney World, as seen on his Instagram.

Former Manchester United defender Neville has raised question marks over the choice of destination from the pair, and highlighted jet lag as a factor.

On the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, he said: “The professionalism, looking after your body and making sure you’re best prepared for the next training session is critical to every decision you make during the season.

“He [Marcus Rashford] has got a mental break, he’s got to get away and has got to rest with friends – then you talk about the choice of venue, how far do you fly, what’s the time difference, is that going to give a jet lag issue, is that going to give a stiffness issue from being on a flight for 12 hours?

“This is on Casemiro more than Rashford but if I’m 30 years old and I’m looking after my body – and he’s won five Champions Leagues and is an unbelievable player, but if he was away with Brazil for 10 days, we would say he would struggle this weekend because he’s been away.

“They [Casemiro and Marcus Rashford] have chosen that international break. If you are talking about the minor details in being as professional as you can be and as prepared you can be for a training session on a Monday night, that isn’t the best choice of venue.

“I’m not that wound up about [Marcus] Rashford and Casemiro going over to the United States but what I’m asking is, if you’ve got a four-day break, Portland is a 12-hour flight and an eight-hour time difference, your jetlag is bad, and you feel a bit [rough].

“They went to Portland and I’m asking the question based on professionalism – you’re playing badly, the team are losing, you’re 13th in the league, and there is a new manager coming in – would you choose that trip as a break to recharge your batteries? That’s not a recharging trip. It’s not right that.”

Ruben Amorim took charge of his first Manchester United training session this week following his arrival as new head coach, with the club releasing a seven-minute video on Monday showing both him and the players at Carrington.

Amorim starts his reign as boss with a trip to Ipswich in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Sports News Tennis

‘I DID MY BEST” – RAFAEL NADAL BOWS OUT OF TENNIS AFTER SPAIN DEFEAT

Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal reacts against Netherlands' Botic Van De Zandschulp during a Davis Cup quarterfinal match at Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Rafael Nadal soaked in the emotion of a memorable but bittersweet evening in Malaga as his professional career came to an end.

The 38-year-old opted to make the Davis Cup Finals his last event having accepted last month that his body would no longer allow him to compete at the highest level.

He was hoping for one final victory on home soil but Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp spoiled the party with a 6-4 6-4 victory, and Spain’s quarter-final elimination was confirmed after Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in the deciding doubles.

The Spanish fans, some of whom had paid seven-figure sums for tickets, flocked to the Martin Carpena Arena in their thousands, draped in red and yellow flags and scarves and ready to cheer on their national hero one more time.

Nadal said at a press conference on Monday that he wanted to leave the emotion for when the end came, with his focus on trying to win Spain a sixth Davis Cup title during his long and historic career, but there were tears in his eyes during a stirring rendition of the national anthem.

“Of course it has been an emotional day, nerves before what can be my last singles match,” he said.

“Feeling the national anthem for the last time like a professional has been very special. And then of course a little bit of mixed feelings makes things a little bit more difficult.

“But that’s it. We went on court. We live that moment. I tried to do my best. I tried to, at the same time, stay as positive as possible in every single moment, to play with the right energy. It was not enough. Congrats to Botic. That’s all. He was better than me.”

It was only Nadal’s second ever Davis Cup loss in singles, with the other coming on his debut against Czech Republic’s Jiri Novak way back in 2004.

It was later the same year that Nadal sent waves through the sport by beating Andy Roddick in the final as an 18-year-old, one of 29 straight singles victories until now.

Nadal backed captain David Ferrer’s decision to pick him ahead of higher-ranked Roberto Bautista Agut but insisted there was no pressure to do so.

“Of course it hasn’t been an easy decision for the captain,” said Nadal. “But at the end I really believe that David put on the field the player who he feels that had the better chance to win.

“Because I give him, since the beginning, the input that he doesn’t need to feel any pressure to put me, honestly, and I was not sure to play. I even give him more chances to put Roberto on the field than me during the whole week.

“Probably watching that today, the decision to put me on the court as second player didn’t work.”

He admitted he was expecting to be dropped if Spain progressed, and added with a smile: “It’s in some ways good maybe if that was my last match. I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one. So we close the circle.”

This was just Nadal’s eighth official tournament this season, while his only singles matches since the Olympics in July came in an exhibition event in Saudi Arabia last month.

There were glimpses of the old Nadal in some full-blooded forehands, with fist pumps and roars greeting every point won.

But Van de Zandschulp is a quality player and, although Nadal made it tight after trailing 4-1 in the second set, he could not quite conjure the old magic.

After shaking hands with his opponent, Nadal waved and blew kisses to his adoring crowd, not knowing it would be for the last time.

Alcaraz gave Spain hope with a 7-6 (0) 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor, saying afterwards the win was for Nadal, who was cheering him on from the sidelines.

But Alcaraz was unable to complete the job as he and Granollers were edged out 7-6 (4) 7-5 by Van de Zandschulp and Koolhof – who does prolong his career – in a tense final doubles.

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football Sports News

ARNE SLOT SAYS CITY’S LOSS DID NOT GIVE LIVERPOOL AN EXTRA EDGE

Liverpool Head Coach, Arne Slot

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted his Premier League leaders needed no motivation from Manchester City’s defeat at Brighton to beat Aston Villa and take a five-point lead into the international break.

A sense of opportunity swept through Anfield just before kick-off following news of the defending champions’ loss on the south coast but Slot said that was not the driving factor behind their 2-0 win – the 15th victory in 17 games this season.

“I cannot tell what the fans felt, I can only say if my players need extra motivation that would not be a good idea,” said the Dutchman.

“If you play at Anfield in front of your own fans you should only be motivated. You should not need motivation from another match.”

Liverpool’s 28 points from 11 matches has been bettered only once in the last 34 seasons, in 2019-20 when they had 31 points at the same stage and went on to win the league comfortably.

Having beaten Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday to make it four wins from four in the Champions League, just days after coming from behind to defeat Brighton, it has been a significant week in Slot’s short Anfield career.

But he is not getting carried away by his rivals’ slip-ups as he is aware fortunes can quickly change.

“It was definitely a big week but every game is,” he added.
“Hopefully we will have a lot of these weeks to come. We are trying to compete for the league, for the Champions League and for the cups as well.
“We also know it is a long season as well and the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and City are capable of winning so many games in 17 as we did.”

The only downside to the victory, secured by goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah, was a hamstring injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold which is likely to rule him out of England’s forthcoming Nations League matches.

“That is difficult to say how serious it is but it is always a serious if a player goes out in the first half,” said Slot.

“He asked for it because he felt something, so that is first of all not a good sign.

“It is always difficult so close after the game to tell you exactly what it is but let’s wait and see.

“I would be surprised if we will see him playing for the England national team this week but hopefully he can.”

For the first time Villa have lost four successive matches under manager Unai Emery.

“Obviously the result is not good but how we played I am confident. I am confident because I think we are in the right way after this match,” he said.

“We wanted to get points but today against Liverpool we can accept the result because they are really feeling strong at home and not really dominating and creating chances against us.

“They won and we accept it.”

Villa had two penalty appeals in the second half, one for a shirt pull on Pau Torres and another for a foul on the defender.

“For me it was clearly a penalty because he pulled the shirt of Pau Torres. I know that in Europe this is a penalty, but here in England they want to use VAR,” he said.

“In this situation it was clear. I always respect the decisions of referees and I accept it, but for me, when I watched it, with VAR it was a clear penalty.

“It was a very important moment in the game because if we could have the chance to shoot the penalty, maybe the match would have been different.

“I accept the result and the referee’s decision (but) I don’t agree.”

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football Sports News

BRIGHTON FIGHT BACK TO STUN MAN CITY AS CHAMPIONS SUFFER FOURTH SUCCESSIVE LOSS.

Brighton staged a sensational late fightback to come from behind and send Manchester City to a fourth consecutive defeat with a pulsating 2-1 win at the Amex Stadium.

Substitute Matt O’Riley appeared in the area in the 83rd minute to tuck away Joao Pedro’s pass for his first Brighton goal to stun the Premier League champions, minutes after Pedro had himself equalised following a penalty box scramble.

Erling Haaland’s goal after 23 minutes had looked like City’s winner for much of the game, the Norway striker finishing off following a sublimely calibrated pass from Mateo Kovacic.
Yet this was a display of supreme courage on the home side, Fabian Hurzeler’s players refusing to let go lightly of a chance to leap into the top four.
They deservedly levelled when half the City team descended on Danny Welbeck as he received the ball in the box. In the panic, no one spotted Pedro, who leapt onto the scene to finish.

And it fell to Pedro to provide the ball for O’Riley, appearing for only the second time since moving from Celtic after injury wrecked his early months at Brighton, who capped a famous night on the south coast with the coolest finish amid scintillating drama.

City had already lost three in a row for the first time since April 2018 and their injury problems had not abated. Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, run ragged when only half-fit in the defeat against Bournemouth, made only the bench, so 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was handed his first league start in central defence.

Yet a fourth consecutive loss awaited Pep Guardiola for the first time in his managerial career, though the early signs had been that City’s blip was righted.

Kovacic, the visitors’ best player in the first half, drove upfield and slipped the ball to Savinho who was thwarted by Bart Verbruggen as he aimed for the corner.

The opening goal though was not long in arriving. Yasin Ayari gave the ball away near halfway to Kovacic and City’s midfield powerhouse cruised forward again. His ball to find Haaland was perfectly pitched, the striker’s run meticulously routed in between Igor Julio and Jan Paul van Hecke, and though Verbruggen blocked the initial shot, Haaland won the foot race with Van Hecke to crash the ball in off the crossbar from a yard out

Haaland saw his near-post drive turned against the post by Verbruggen then moments later glanced a header over from a corner, as City threatened a second.

Brighton had weathered a storm and they turned up the pressure on City before the break.
There might have been a penalty when Josko Gvardiol went to the ground and blocked Welbeck’s effort seemingly with an arm, the chance coming after Kyle Walker had misjudged the flight of the ball, but play continued.

The second half would see Brighton throw everything at the champions in search of a route back. Jack Hinshelwood headed straight at Ederson from Pervis Estupinan’s deep cross, then Kaoru Mitoma turned Walker in the corner with impudent trickery and teed up Estupinan, whose delivery was again spot on though Georginio Rutter was not so concentrated with his wayward header.

Ederson had to race from his goal to smother at the feet of Mitoma, and then Pedro drew agonised cries around the Amex when he followed up a featherlight touch to bring the ball down with an awful shot dragged wide with the goalkeeper to beat.

It looked like City would hold out, but Pedro and O’Riley had other ideas.