Arsenal’s Liverpool Clash Looms Large After City Stumble

Manchester City’s inability to secure victory against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday puts added pressure on Arsenal ahead of their crucial clash with Liverpool on Thursday. City’s 1-1 draw extends their winless run to three Premier League matches and leaves them five points behind the Gunners.
City took the lead four minutes before halftime when Erling Haaland converted a penalty awarded after Diego Gomez fouled Jeremy Doku in the box. VAR confirmed the decision, and Haaland made no mistake from the spot. The goal was his 150th for Manchester City, ended a three-match scoring drought, and took him to 20 Premier League goals for the season.
The second half saw City seek to extend their advantage, with Bernardo Silva coming agonizingly close when he intercepted a Brighton error. However, his shot struck the woodwork. The match became heated when a confrontation erupted between City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper, with both players receiving yellow cards.
Brighton equalized in the 60th minute through Kaoru Mitoma, who demonstrated composure and quality. The Japanese international received a pass from the flank, positioned himself at the edge of the penalty area, and curled a precise low shot into the far corner.
The visitors assumed control after scoring, dictating the tempo and creating several chances to claim victory. Mitoma nearly turned from scorer to provider when he found Gomez inside the penalty area, but the midfielder’s shot was saved by Donnarumma. Mitoma’s rebound attempt from near the goal line struck the post. In the final moments, Haaland had a golden opportunity to win the match when he broke through Brighton’s defense, but Verbruggen’s excellent save ensured the points were shared.