Guardiola enduring worst run of managerial career as Man City lose again

Pep Guardiola lost a fourth straight match for the first time in his managerial career Saturday after Manchester City fell 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Defeats to Tottenham Hotspur (League Cup), Bournemouth (Premier League), and Sporting CP (Champions League) led to forecasts of a destabilizing crisis at the reigning English champions. Those predictions may ring true after quickfire second-half goals from Seagulls substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O'Riley condemned City to yet another loss.

Erling Haaland put the visitors ahead midway through the opening period. It was a deserved lead until after the break when Brighton gradually increased the pressure on Ederson's goal and it was finally breached in the 78th and 83rd minutes.

Guardiola may gesture toward injuries to explain his team's dour run. Rodri, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Jack Grealish, and long-term absentee Oscar Bobb were all unavailable for the trip to the south coast. Still, his side had no shots on target in the second half despite boasting Haaland up front, Phil Foden in midfield, and other stars including Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, who were introduced off the bench when City held a one-goal advantage.

Mateo Kovacic's perfectly weighted pass set up Haaland's opener but he and fan favorite Ilkay Gundogan are among the notable players who've failed to make amends for the absence of 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri. Since the start of the last Premier League campaign, Manchester City have lost five matches - and Rodri didn't feature in any of those games.

Pedro's scrappy close-range finish after some desperate City defending and O'Riley's well-taken goal also dealt Guardiola with the unfamiliar sensation of tasting a Premier League defeat after leading at halftime. The last time it occurred was another fixture at Brighton in May 2021, although City had already clinched the top-flight title by that date.

"Last season we dropped too many points and the gaffer told us to believe in ourselves this season," Brighton's Pedro told Sky Sports post-match, according to BBC Sport, "and we are doing well this season against the big teams."

Brighton are now fourth in the Premier League table, four points behind second-place Manchester City.

Liverpool plumped up a five-point cushion in top spot with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in Saturday's late kickoff.