7 JANUARY 2026
M ANCHESTER CITY 1 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER.
For their first away game of 2026 the Albion travelled North to take on Manchester City in the Premier at the Etihad Stadium, the match being broadcast by Sky Sports, Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Following a winless run of six games in the Premier, the Albion beat Burnley 2-0 at the Amex on the 3 January and for the trip to the Etihad the Albion made three changes to their starting line-up from the Burnley game, with Jack Hinshelwood, Maxim De Cuyper and Pascal Gross replacing Joel Veltman, Brajan Gruda and Charalampos Kostoulas (injured).
It was Pascal Gross's first start for the Seagulls on his second coming. Last time out City had drawn 1-1 at home to Chelsea in the Premier on the 4 January and for Albion's visit Manager Pep Guardiola made five changes to his starting line-up from the Chelsea game, with Abdukodir Khusanov, Max Alleyne (on his debut), Nathan Ake, Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku replacing Ruben Dias (injured), Josko Gvardiol (injured), Nico O'Reilly, Rodri and Rayan Cherki.
Last season the Albion were unbeaten against City in the Premier, winning 2-1 at the Amex on the 9 November 2024, with the goals coming from Joao Pedro (78m) and Matt O'Riley (83m), whilst City's goal was scored by Erling Haaland (23m). In the reverse fixture at the Etihad on the 15 March 2025 the teams drew 2-2, with Albion's goals being scored by Pervis Estupinan (21m) and Abdukodir Khusanov own goal (48m). City's goals were scored by Erling Haaland penalty (11m) and Omar Marmoush (39m).
Earlier this season on the 31 August 2025 at the Amex it was 2-1 to the Albion, with their goals coming from James Milner penalty (67m) and Brajan Gruda (89m), whilst City's goal came from Erling Haaland (34m). It was all Albion from the start and with only two minutes on the clock a cross from Diego Gomez was met by a Pascal Gross header from close-in but City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a superb double save to keep out the goal-bound header and follow-up shot. Minutes later Lewis Dunk and Georginio Rutter combined to send Ferdi Kadioglu clear but Donnarumma left his line to make another superb save to clear the shot.
On the half-hour a Gomez through pass sent Rutter clear on goal but an excellent defensive tackle by Abdukodir Khusanov averted the danger. At this stage Albion could have been 3-0 up and out of sight. The inevitable happened on 42 minutes when after a VAR check Gomez was adjudged to have fouled Jeremy Doku in the box and Erling Haaland converted the resultant penalty-kick. 0-1.
Just before the break Tijjani Reijnders shot was cleared off his own goal-line by Dunk.
Half-time 0-1.
First action of the second-half saw Yasin Ayari gift the ball to Bernardo Silva in the box but fortunately for Ayari and Albion, the City midfielder fired his shot wide. On the hour the Albion were level when Ayari sent Kaoru Mitoma clear on the left and the Japan international left two defenders in his wake before firing a low shot into the City net for the equaliser. 1-1.
The momentum was now with the Seagulls as Gomez missed a sitter and Mitoma saw his shot strike the base of the City post. City still posed a threat as Kadioglu headed clear off his own goal-line and for the second time in the half Ayari gifted the ball, this time to Haaland in the box but the Norwegian's shot was straight at Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen.
Final-score 1-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 6 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 16.
Manchester City had 21 attempts at goal, with 6 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 6.
VERDICT - An excellent performance by the Albion which could have resulted in a win at the Etihad. The Albion are now unbeaten in their last four games with City.
Now for the second trip to Manchester in four days and a FA Cup clash with Manchester United!
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Jack HINSHELWOOD, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Maxim DE CUYPER; Yasin AYARI (James MILNER 83), Pascal GROSS; Ferdi KADIOGLU, Diego GOMEZ (Brajan GRUDA 77), Kaoru MITOMA (Tommy WATSON 83); Georginio RUTTER (Danny WELBECK 77).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Olivier BOSCAGLI, Diego COPPOLA, Harry HOWELL, Charlie TASKER.
Manchester City line-up (4-1-4-1):- Gianluigi DONNARUMMA; Matheus NUNES (Rico LEWIS 73), Abdukodir HUSANOV, Max ALLEYNE, Nathan AKE (Nico O'REILLY 73); Nico GONZALEZ (RODRI 64); Bernardo SILVA (Capt), Tijjani REIJNDERS, Phil FODEN (Rayan CHERKI 73), Jeremy DOKU; Erling HAALAND.
Subs not used: James TRAFFORD (G/K), Reigan HESKEY, Ryan McALDOO,Stephen MFUNI, Divine MUKASA.
Referee: Thomas Bramall (Sheffield).
Fourth Official: Tony Harrington.
VAR Official: Alex Chilowicz.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 6 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Maxim De Cuyper, Pascal Gross, Kaoru Mitoma, Tommy Watson.
Manchester City: 1 - Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Possession: Albion - 40%. Manchester City - 60%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Jan Paul Van Hecke (Albion).
Attendance: 51728.
NEXT GAME:
19 JANUARY 2026 - AFC BOURNEMOUTH - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 20.00. "LIVE" ON SKY SPORTS