LIVEBrighton 0-4 Man City - Premier League - Live score, team news and updates as Julian Alvarez slots fourth after Phil Foden double and INCREDIBLE Kevin de Bruyne diving header

This game is just petering out now, it's been a forgone conclusion ever since Phil Foden doubled Manchester City's lead.

It's just about getting to the end of the match for Brighton now, it's just not been their night.

The Amex is emptying at a rapid rate.

Carlos Baleba goes into the book for a tug on Matheus Nunes, and now Pep Guardiola makes a triple change.

Sergio Gomez, Jeremy Doku, and Rico Lewis all come into the fray while Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Kyle Walker all make way.

Danny Welbeck tries his luck from outside the box and it goes nowhere near the net. Not his finest shot ever.

That will be his last contribution of the night, he is replaced by Irish youngster Mark O'Mahony.

Josko Gvardiol is now involved at the other end, this time sending a cross into the arms of Jason Steele.

I'm still at a loss as to why Brighton did not just get a penalty, Gvardiol definitely got away with one there.

Joao Pedro is convinced he should have a penalty, but the referee says no.

The striker dribbles through the Manchester City defence beautifully before going down under the challenge of Josko Gvardiol.

VAR then checks but says no, but I'm very surprised, I think that's a really poor decision.

The Brighton fans do too, I just heard some very fruity words being targeted at the referee. The person showed exactly how you shouldn't voice your anger.

The stadium all go 'oooo' in unison as Carlos Baleba nearly lobs Jason Steele with a header into his own net.

Luckily for Brighton, Steele backpedals quick enough to stop it going into the net.

That would have been an awful own goal but also would have summed up the evening the hosts are having.

To be fair to Brighton, they still aren't giving up on scoring a goal.

Substitute Simon Adingra bursts forward on the counter-attack before sending a low strike wide of the pots.

The problem for them is that they just don't look likely to score, while they are so weak at the back.

He does get on the scoresheet!

Moments after nearly scoring a screamer, Julian Alvarez puts the ball into an empty net.

It starts with Kyle Walker racing through, beating one defender, and then winning a 50/50 challenge with goalkeeper Jason Steele. Alvarez was never going to miss when the ball fell to him

It's certainly questionable defending from Brighton, I must say.

Phoar, what a goal that would have been.

Julian Alvarez is desperate to get his name on the scoresheet tonight and he comes close with what would have been a cracker.

Alvarez cuts inside on the left and sends a dipping effort just wide of the mark from distance.

He struck it so well.

The Brighton players scream for a penalty!

The ball strikes the arm of Nathan Ake in the box, but it's tucked into his body, so it isn't given.

Jan Paul van Hecke then sends a header over the bar from a corner, it didn't ever look like it would cause Ederson any trouble.

Brighton make another change.

Jakub Moder's night comes to an end, in truth, it wasn't one of his finest performances in the middle.

Igor Julio replaces him.

Joao Pedro is trying to do it all on his own.

The striker does well to beat a few Man City players while driving into the box and nearly manages to accidentally assist himself via a deflection.

However, Ederson rushes out to collect the ball.

Man City have now taken control once again.

The stadium is so flat, it's hard to put it into words how downbeat the Brighton fans are right now.

Yes, the game may be practically over, but remember Coventry city at the weekend...

I guess that was against Manchester United though.

Brighton have come out of the traps a little better.

Pascal Gross wants a penalty after he goes down under the challenge of Rodri, but after a quick VAR check, it's not given.

I'm not sure it was a penalty, but Rodri definitely did have a hold of Gross, maybe on another day it could have been given.

Well, we are back underway.

Roberto De Zerbi has decided to make two changes at the break, Odel Offiah and Simon Adingra have both come on.

Joel Veltman and Adam Lallana are the unlucky pair to make way.

I think this post from Mail Sport's Chief Sports Writer, Oliver Holt, hits the nail on the head.

Manchester City save their best football to this part of the season, they know how to get the job done.

I said we are not used to seeing him score with his head and this is why.

Before tonight Kevin De Bruyne had never scored a Premier League goal with his head.

If that's the only header he does score, I think it's more than good enough. He will never score one better.

What a season Phil Foden is having.

It feels like everything he does turns into perfection, the man can simply do no wrong.

His brace this evening takes him to 24 goals in all competitions this season, incredible numbers.

He is just one goal away from a third Premier League hat-trick of the season. I wouldn't bet against him getting it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, that was one hell of a header by Kevin De Bruyne.

I'm not sure many people thought the Belgian midfielder had that in his locker, he already has everything else perfected.

My uncle texted me saying that it was the 'best header he has ever seen', which might be a stretch, but it still tells you just how good it was.

Now, go and see it for yourselves.

There goes the whistle, what a half of football by Manchester City.

Some thought this match could have been a potential banana skin for the Champions, but they have hardly got out of second gear and are three to the good.

Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden have stolen the show, with the former scoring one of the best headers of the season, and the latter bagging a brace.

Brighton have simply not been able to live with City and the Amex is as flat as a pancake.

You can only see this getting worse for the Seagulls.

The chant 'Is this the Etihad?' is being sung in reference to the quietness of the stadium.

I'm not sure by which set of fans though, it's offensive to both.

Three minutes of stoppage time are in order, I bet Brighton wish there was none.

It feels like football during the Covid-19 era, it's that quiet you can hear the screams of the players.

The Brighton fans are stunned.

The Amex looks like it is already emptying.

Manchester City are putting on a clinic, passing it around like they are in a training session.

Kevin De Bruyne then tries his luck after beautiful link-up play with Phil Foden, but his effort is deflected wide.

Both players are playing some stunning stuff.

The Man City fans are really enjoying themselves at the moment.

Their team is on fire, the tricks are coming out, and in response, the fans cheer.

Currently, they are singing a song that reveals how much they don't like Manchester United. I can't repeat it, but you get the gist.

Things really aren't going well for the Seagulls.

Just after the restart, Joel Veltmen gets a yellow card for kicking the ball away after a foul.

The frustration is there for all to see.

Oh dear, Brighton, what are you doing?

Phil Foden has his brace, and I bet he didn't think he'd get an opportunity like that tonight.

Brighton try and play out the back, and they play one pass too many. Bernardo Silva wins the ball on the edge of the area and Foden sweeps the ball home.

I said it could get messy, and it is. Foden is just relentless.

This could be a really long night for Brighton now.

Manchester City have been brilliant, they aren't allowing the hosts to have any joy while they have the ball.

You feel it could get messy, it normally does when City are in form like this.

Guess who? It's Phil Foden once again with his 15th goal of this Premier League season.

It's not as stunning as the first one, but City won't care, Foden hit's a free-kick straight into the side of Pascal Gross and it goes past Jason Steele in goal.

Brighton fans aren't happy, they don't think City should have had a free-kick in the first place, and they'd be right.

It looked like Foden had been tripped for the foul, but it was actually a slip.

Kevin De Bruyne is in full flow tonight.

The Belgian midfielder drives at the Brighton defence and he has them backpedaling, but his effort is deflected wide.

Julain Alvarez then once again sends an effort wide from the corner.

The chances are starting to flow.

Manchester City are straight on the front foot from Lewis Dunk's effort and Julian Alvarez comes close to doubling their lead.

The Argentine flashes a low drive just wide of the post, it was really close.

That goal has kicked Brighton into gear.

Lewis Dunk nearly provides them with the perfect response, but his header goes straight at Ederson.

That was a very good chance.

What a header that is!

Kevin De Bruyne doesn't score many with his head, but wow, he has just scored one of the best headers I have seen in a while.

Kyle Walker's cross is deflected and it looks like De Bruyne should go with his feet, but he dives with his head and finds the top corner.

Robin Van Persie-esque, a perfect start for City!

Manchester City have a good opportunity from a free-kick.

Carlos Baleba flies in on Mateo Kovacic and after a short advantage, the whistle is blown.

Nathan Ake gets on the end of Phil Foden's delivery, but he can't keep his effort on target.

What a ball though, majestic from Foden.

Brighton are showing they will have their fair share of possession today.

They make Manchester City chase them around while they simply passing it around them.

The ball eventually goes out of play, but they showed how good they are with the ball there, Brighton.

That counter-attack should have brought so much more.

Joao Pedro does really well and brings the ball forward, the crowd roars as they sense the opportunity.

However, Joel Veltman tries a clever first-time pass after receiving the ball from Pedro, which goes straight into a Man City player.

They should have done better there.

That was half a chance for Danny Welbeck!

Brighton nick the ball off Manchester City in their own half and the ball ends up in the path of Welbeck.

The striker takes it first time and it goes straight into the hands of Ederson.

That shows the attacking intent Brighton will have tonight.

Kyle Walker motivates the Man City side as they huddle before the match, and it's the away side that will get us underway.

'Hey Jude' is finished, I'm ready, the sides are ready, and so are the fans.

This is going to be a belter (I hope).

Oh, I love pyro displays just before kick-off. It's always a spectacle.

The players are out and ready to go, but first, we have to endure the Premier League music, sadly.

The fans seem up for it, they are already having a clap and a sing-song before kick-off.

Roberto de Zerbi, Brighton boss, speaking to Sky Sports:

We have to play well and we have to make points because we are fighting to reach another season in Europe. It is not finished yet for us.

Pep Guardiola is the best coach and it is very tough playing against City and Pep. We are proud and we know what we need to do play (against them).

It is a very tough season, very tough part of the season. From January to now it has been difficult to choose the first XI and the first XI I put on the pitch I think has enough to fight for us, for our fans, and for our club.

Matt Barlow, Mail Sport, at the Amex Stadium:

Russ Cook, the Hardest Geezer, who ran the length of Africa is here, parading in a Brighton scarf before kick-off.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, speaking to Sky Sports:

The games against Real Madrid and Chelsea were tough and we had two days to rest and it is important to be ready. What we have done this season, not just this season, but other seasons, we should not do it.

The challenge is the next game. We won a lot of titles in the Premier League because we just think about the next day. Thinking too far away is a big mistake.

20 more minutes, that's all we have left until the ball gets rolling.

I'm itching to get going, I just feel tonight could be a cracker of a 90 minutes, don't you?

The teams are just finishing their final preparations at the moment, so not long to go now!

Wow, 550 is a huge number of matches.

When Adam Lallana steps onto the pitch tonight, that's how many career appearances he will have made in the sport.

Imagine how many he could have reached up without all the injuries!

Phil, Manchester: Virtually no chance of Europa League or of relegation. I hope the Brighton players minds are part-focussed on a sunny beach.

Still six games to go, Phil...

Manchester City fans, how good is it to see Phil Foden back in a Premier League starting 11?

The City superstar has sat on the bench for their last two fixtures in the league, but he returns today.

The England international has 21 goal involvements so far in the league this season, 14 of them goals. His best scoring return in his league career.

How he would love to return with another goal.

In my head, Brighton should definitely be in the conversation for Europe, however, the table says differently.

The Seagulls sit in the bottom half of the table in 11th on 44 points, six points off of seventh-place Newcastle.

If they win tonight, which is a huge ask, they may still be in the fight for the European spots.

But, anything less than three points should spell the end of their hopes of playing in Europe next season.

They still have something to play for!

Matt Barlow, Mail Sport, at the Amex Stadium:

Interesting one in the Brighton line up… Valentin Barco, 19 -year-old Argentine signed from Boca Juniors for £7.8m in January makes his first Premier League start.

No major absentees in the City team bar Erling Haaland.

They will probably turn more to Phiol Fofden and a certain Kevin de Bruyne in the striker's absence.

De Bruyne loves life away from the Etihad, seven of his nine Premier League goal involvements this season have come in his six away appearances.

Can he grab any more tonight?

Oooh, I was so close!

Pep Guardiola does make changes, three in fact, just one less than the four I predicted.

He hasn't done anything crazy though, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol come in to replace John Stones and Jack Grealish in the starting 11.

Ederson also returns back in goal in place of Stefan Ortega.

Brighton's goalkeeper merry-go-round is back in full flow.

Jason Steele is preferred in net, replacing Bert Verburggen who looked like he had become the first choice.

Roberto De Zerbi also makes two more changes with Adam Lallana and Valentin Barco coming in.

Adam Webster returns from injury to make the bench.

The fans are starting to descend on the Amex.

Look at those Manchester City fans, they all look very happy. The man on the right looks like he has a love for Erling Haaland going by his hat. Unfortunately for him, he won't see him tonight.

But who will he see up front instead?

It’s been well-documented that Manchester City love a title run-in.

They specifically come into their own during April, they are on an 11-game winning streak in the league during the month.

To prove their dominance during this month even further, City have won 22 of their last 24 League fixtures in this month. This is a crazy statistic.

It’s not the time of year you want to be playing them.

I remember watching this hit the back of the net, my jaw dropped.

Last May, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw, and Julio Enciso unleashed an absolute Thundercracker to earn the hosts a point.

The goal ended up winning the Premier League Goal of the Season award and also came second in the FIFA Puskas award.

Could he pull this out of the bag again? I highly doubt it.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City boss, speaking on Wednesday:

I have huge admiration (for Roberto De Zerbi) and it is growing every season. They had a lot of problems, important players were sold like Colwill, Caicedo, Mac Allister.

They have a lot of injuries and play three competitions but the way they play is always there. He is doing an incredible job at Brighton.

The Brighton defenders would have been delighted when they heard this news.

Erling Haaland will not feature tonight, as confirmed by Pep Guardiola in his press conference on Wednesday day.

It’s a major blow for City to lose the league’s joint top scorer when they are embroiled in a fierce title race, but they have plenty of other firepower to call upon.

It will be interesting to see what Pep Guardiola decides to do. He loves to surprise us.

Roberto De Zerbi must be making a long team talk because Brighton arrived at the Amex some time ago.

I wonder what they do in the hours before the warm-ups? I'm assuming there will be lots of meetings.

Either way, the players certainly look excited for tonight's action.

The Amex is looking rather peaceful right now.

It certainly won't be later, I have a feeling the stadium will be bouncing by the time kick-off rolls around.

If Brighton are to take any points off of Manchester City tonight, they will need their fans to create a strong atmosphere.

As Roberto De Zerbi said, night games do bring them.

Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton boss, speaking on Wednesday:

I love playing in the night because there is a different atmosphere. I think our fans have been fantastic every game at the Amex and away. If we start the game with good attitude and right behaviour the fans can understand and support more.

Brighton are the type of team that can hurt the big-hitters in the Premier League.

During Roberto De Zerbi’s reign, they have beaten the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Man United, and Tottenham, but they are yet to beat Manchester City. To be fair, not many people do.

If tonight’s encounter was being played at the Etihad, it would be tough to see the Seagulls getting anything, but it’s not, it’s at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton have only lost twice at home all season, against West Ham in August and then Arsenal earlier this month. They love the home comforts.

However, their form of late is not the best, they are winless in their last four matches.

They will need to bring their A-game if they are to cause City problems.

Arsenal fans, I wouldn’t get your hopes up tonight.

Manchester City love a goal or two away at Brighton, and that’s and understatement. Pep Guardiola’s side have scored 18 goals in their six Premier League visits to the Amex Stadium.

I remember when they came from 1-0 down on the final day of the 2018-19 season, to win 5-1. The Gunners will be hoping they don’t do that today.

Put it this way, I’m pretty confident this one won’t end 0-0.

Last night, the dynamic of the title race changed once again.

This season has seen one of the most enthralling battles for the Premier League that we have seen in the last three decades or so. The three-horse race has been gripping.

Well, it seems we have now lost one of the riders. Last night, Liverpool’s hopes were left in tatters by their bitter rivals Everton at Goodison Park. They were bullied and well beaten by the Toffees.

That, alongside their 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace, the Reds’ title charge seems all but over, which leaves us with two horses remaining.

Unlike Liverpool, Arsenal enhanced their title credentials this week with a 5-0 thumping of rivals Chelsea. They are going to fight for glory until the end.

Now it’s time to see how Manchester City fare in what has proved to be a pivotal week in the title race.

They normally thrive.

It feels like a lifetime since Manchester City played in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s side love this time of year, they are made for it. When the pressure is on, they usually deliver, and the pressure is on tonight.

City travel to Brighton needing to win to stay in control of the title race. If they do so, they will sit just one point behind Arsenal with a game in hand.

Tonight, they do not have an easy task though, they face a Brighton side who caused them problems in this very fixture last year, and don’t cower into their shells when facing the big sides.

Both sides like to hold the ball, both sides are aggressive, and both sides like to go on the front foot.

Do you want to know what that sounds like to me? A recipe for a sensational match.

Fancy some more Premier League action? Of course, you do!

Once again, it’s a huge evening in the title race. It feels like every day there is a match that can affect it. It was definitely affected last night.

After Everton’s victory over Liverpool last night, it feels like we are down to a two-horse race between Manchester City and Arsenal, with the former in action this evening.

Pep Guardiola’s side sit four points behind leaders Arsenal, but they have two games in hand over Mikel Arteta’s side. The first of those comes tonight against Brighton.

If City want to keep their destiny in their own hands, they can’t afford to slip up tonight against Roberto De Zerbi’s side. If they do, Arsenal fans will be beaming.

Right, let’s get this show on the road.