Man City drops more points to dent Premier League title challenge
Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes took another blow after a 1-1 draw with Brighton on Wednesday. Not even Erling Haaland’s 150th goal for the club was enough to stop City from dropping points at home for the second time in as many games and recording a third-straight draw. Kaoru Mitoma’s equaliser stopped Pep Guardiola’s team from closing the gap to first-place Arsenal to three points.
The City manager blamed missed chances for the latest setback. “We were expecting goals but it’s not about that, we have to score goals. We could not do it, and we have to accept it,” he said. Aston Villa also missed out on the chance to move within three points of first-place Arsenal after a goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
Manchester United’s first game since firing Ruben Amorim on Monday ended in a 2-2 draw at relegation-fighting Burnley and new Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior watched on from the stands as his team was beaten 2-1 by Fulham.
Newcastle scored in the 12th minute of added time to beat Leeds 4-3. According to the Premier League it was latest winner on record in the competition. And Antoine Semenyo also struck in added time as Bournemouth beat Tottenham 3-2 in what could be his last game before a widely anticipated move to City. City held again: For the second time is as many games City blew a lead at home to ease the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the standings.
After the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday Pep Guardiola’s team was held again, this time by Brighton. Haaland’s 41st-minute penalty put City ahead at halftime. But after Mitoma’s equalizer on the hour, Haaland was guilty of wasting a golden chance to score the winner when he shot straight at Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen late on.
“It’s not just one or two players, it’s all the players up front,” Guardiola said. A run of three draws also included a 0-0 with Sunderland on New Year’s Day. Second-placed City is five points behind Arsenal, having played a game more. The gap to the top could be extended to eight points if Arsenal beats Liverpool on Thursday.
Villa is third and level on points with City after a 0-0 draw at Palace — the second time in three games that Unai Emery’s team has dropped points. Sesko double not enough for United: Darren Fletcher couldn’t lead United to victory in his first game as interim coach, with Jaidon Anthony scoring a long-range equalizer for second-from-bottom Burnley.
Two goals from Benjamin Sesko saw United bounce back from Ayden Heaven’s early own goal. But Burnley salvaged a draw with the stunning strike from Anthony. United has won one of its last six games and only three from 12.
Fletcher said afterward that he would remain in charge for the FA Cup tie against Brighton on Sunday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick among the candidates to become interim coach until the end of the season.
“It’s an amazing experience. I’m disappointed we didn’t win the game, I can’t hide that, but the experience of leading the team out, preparing the team, the support, it’s a pleasure, an honor,” Fletcher said. Chelsea loses: Rosenior has a job on his hands at Chelsea. The Club World Cup winner is eighth in the standings after extending its winless run to five games.
