In the 21st round of the English Premier League, Manchester City hosted Brighton, but the next leg ended in a 1-1 draw, not a victory. With this, Guardiola's team started 2026 with a difficult start: they didn't manage to defeat their opponent in the first three matches of the new year, and points were lost again.
Despite the match being at "Etihad," the guests' attacks seemed more dangerous, and the episodes were sharper. One of the mid-first halves became a turning point in the game: Max Allen, who had made his debut on the same day after being sent back from loan, made a mistake on the tackle. Jorginho Rutter went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, leaving Abdukodir Khusanov behind. At that moment, the Uzbek defender switched on the "additional engine": he caught up from behind at incredible speed, took the ball, and, standing right in front of us, nullified the clean goal. In short, when the fans said "uuu," Khusanov said "no."
Shortly after, in the 37th minute, Jeremy Doku was stopped in the penalty area. At first, the referee continued the game, but after the VAR review, the decision changed: a penalty. Erling Haaland took a precise 11-meter shot, putting City ahead. This goal was also psychologically important for the Norwegian striker - a short goalless streak was broken.
In the second half, Brighton leveled the score with an unexpected but very precise attack. The ball accidentally landed in Ayari, which found Kaoru Mitoma. The Japanese striker moved to the center and, with a powerful shot, "stuck" the ball into a far corner. 1:1 - and City dropped points again.
cityxtra.co.uk ratings: who looked like?
A reputable source - cityxtra.co.uk experts assessed City's players after the match as follows:
Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6.5/10
He made a few saves in the beginning, especially a good save from Gross's header. There was still a lack of confidence in the corner, but he is still one of the strongest in goalkeeping.
Mateusz Nunes - 6.5/10
On the right wing, he played in coordination with Bernardo, opening up several times behind the defense. However, the decisive gears were less accurate.
Abdukodir Khusanov - 7.5/10
In this game, he fully demonstrated his self-confidence. Alleyn skillfully used speed when insuring his error. According to experts, the chances of becoming an elite-level central defender in the coming months are very high.
Max Alleyn - 7.5/10
Not bad for a debut: there was an opportunity after the corner, but he couldn't capitalize. Nevertheless, overall, it seemed convincing.
Nathan Ake - 6.5/10
Although he didn't shine brightly, he played steadily. His extensive movement in the wing defense showed that his physical condition was good.
Nico Gonzalez - 6.5/10
He fulfilled his duty before the defense. The young central defenders had a lot of responsibility behind them, but they "lifted" the burden.
Phil Foden - 5.5/10
Simply put, not at the level he expected. Despite being in the favorite position, he had little impact on the game.
Tidjani Reynders - 6/10
He wasn't as active as he had been in recent games. The change in the back defensive line may have forced him to be more cautious.
Bernardo Silva - 6/10
Not bad, but in decisive situations, there was a lack of clarity. At the beginning of the second half, a great opportunity was also missed.
Erling Haaland - 6.5/10
Fatigue showed in the first half, intensified in the second. He broke the silence by scoring from a penalty.
Jeremy Doku - 7/10
One of the most stable figures in attack. It's dangerous for each other, and there's a noticeable increase in productivity this season.
Reserved
Rodri - 6/10
He made an important block, helped maintain the tempo. Gradually returning to its best state.
Nico O'Reilly - 6/10
After entering the field, he looked confident. It is expected to open again in the coming weeks.
Rico Lewis - 6/10
Despite playing poorly, after coming off the bench, he performed his duties accurately.
Ryan Cherki - 7/10
He brought the game to life: he added dynamism to the team, and he also gave a good pass to Haaland. He will seriously compete for the starting lineup in the upcoming matches.
Conclusion
City played at home, but dangerous episodes in the game were more on Brighton's side. Khusanov's sprint remained one of the most important moments of the match: if it weren't for that episode, not 1:1, the scenario could have gone completely differently. But there's one fact: in 2026, "City" hasn't tasted victory yet - and fans are now asking the question "when?" even harder.
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