Liverpool beat Aston Villa to go five points clear at top of Premier League
Nunez & Salah score to give Reds comfortable win
Brighton earlier came from behind to earn stunning 2-1 win over Man City
Guardiola has suffered four successive defeats for first time as City boss
Other results: Brentford 3-2 Bournemouth, Fulham 2-0 Crystal Palace, West Ham 0-0 Everton, Wolves 2-0 Southampton
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Brighton 2-1 Man City
The visitors have responded pretty well to going behind.
Kevin de Bruyne drifts into space down the left but Igor Julio rises above Erling Haaland to clear the cross.
City come again, with De Bruyne finding space on the edge of the area. His effort curls wide.
Brighton 2-1 Man City
Steve Sidwell
Former Aston Villa and Brighton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
Baleba coming on for the second half has really given Brighton the platform to get back into this game.
The way he drives with the ball, presses up high, he's got an eye for a pass. Superb individual play from him.
Brighton 2-1 Man City
The Brighton fans are singing "you're getting sacked in the morning" to Pep Guardiola.
Not sure he is, but you know.
This could also be the first time Man City have lost four games in a row since Stuart Pearce was manager.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton 2-1 Man City
Manchester City's last shot was in the 63rd minute.
They've barely had a sniff in the past 25 minutes.
Brighton 2-1 Man City
Alan Smith
Former Arsenal forward on Sky Sports
It's absolutely brilliantly crafted. He times his run to perfection.
Baleba is once again involved with a piercing pass, Joao Pedro then takes over and slips in his team-mate who keeps his cool. What a finish for someone back from injury after his debut - what a reintroduction!
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We are in the end of times! City stare at the prospect of 4 defeats in a row!
Thomas, Coventry
Brighton 2-1 Man City
Steve Sidwell
Former Aston Villa and Brighton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
That is Brighton down to a T. They never know when they're beaten. When they score one and smell blood they go for it.
It's real intricate play between Welbeck and Pedro and Pedro finds a fantastic defence-splitting pass. Then O'Riley has the composure just to slip it past Ederson.
A wonderful team goal from Brighton.
Brighton 2-1 Man City
How will Man City respond now?
They probably have around 10 minutes to reply or Pep Guardiola is facing four successive defeats for the first time in his managerial career.
Matt O'Riley
What a turnaround.
Another substitution returning from injury scores.
It's brilliant from Brighton. Quick sharp passing and Joao Pedro's through ball cuts open the Man City defence and Matt O'Riley slots through Ederson.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton 1-1 Man City
Alan Smith
Former Arsenal forward on Sky Sports
I thought the chance was gone but Joao Pedro was just where you wanted him. They have been pushing and pressing and asking questions and I think they deserve that.
He missed a good chance 10 minutes ago so he will be relieved about this the substitute.
Brighton 1-1 Man City
This is Joao Pedro's first appearance since 22 September. It's a welcome return for him and Brighton.
Only Aston Villa's Jhon Duran (eight) has more goals as a substitute in the Premier League since the start of last season than him (five).
Brighton 1-1 Man City
Steve Sidwell
Former Aston Villa and Brighton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
It's starts from Van Hecke's raking ball out to Mitoma. He controls instantly, it comes back to him and he puts in into the box. It's a melee of bodies. Fortunately it drops to Joao Pero and he has the composure to lift it over Ederson and into the back of the net.
Joao Pedro
A deserved equaliser.
That's a bit of a mess from a Man City perspective to be honest.
Kaoru Mitoma has too much space to deliver a cross from the left. It's cut out by Jahmai Simpson-Pusey but it richoetes around the area.
Rico Lewis goes to ground and successfully blocks initially but the visitors can't clear. It breaks for Joao Pedro and he lashes home past Ederson.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton 0-1 Man City
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, the 19-year-old Man City centre back, is the latest to go into the book.
Not entirely sure what for to be honest! Potentially delaying the restart.
Brighton 0-1 Man City
Steve Sidwell
Former Aston Villa and Brighton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
Baleba doesn't mind if players are around him. He can receive under pressure and beat players and move forward with the ball.
He takes so much pressure off the Brighton back line when he does that.
Brighton 0-1 Man City
Carlos Baleba now swots Erling Haaland aside to win the ball back for Brighton.
Moments before that Josko Gvardiol did really well to clear a dangerous Matt O'Riley cross from the left.
Brighton 0-1 Man City
Carlos Baleba has added real energy to the Brighton midfield.
He breaks through a couple of challenges before winning a foul.
Brighton 0-1 Man City
Another change for the visitors.
Kevin de Bruyne continues his return from injury, coming on for Savinho.
Brighton 0-1 Man City
While we wait, Pep Guardiola opts to make his first change.
Ilkay Gundogan, who has looked a bit more assured than in recent weeks, is replaced by Bernardo Silva.
Brighton 0-1 Man City
We've got a delay while one of the assistant referees has his earpiece/technology checked/fixed.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 28 |
| |
| 2 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 23 |
| |
| 3 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| |
| 4 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 19 |
| |
| 5 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 18 |
| |
| 6 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 18 |
| |
| 7 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 18 |
| |
| 8 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 18 |
| |
| 9 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 16 |
| |
| 10 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 16 |
| |
| 11 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| |
| 12 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 15 |
| |
| 13 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 12 |
| |
| 14 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 12 |
| |
| 15 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 18 | -4 | 10 |
| |
| 16 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 10 |
| |
| 17 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 7 |
| |
| 18 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 27 | -11 | 6 |
| |
| 19 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 21 | -11 | 5 |
| |
| 20 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 4 |
|
Manager: Arne Slot
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Unai Emery
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Arne Slot
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Unai Emery
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
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Having won just one of their six Premier League home games against Aston Villa between 2009 and 2014 (D2 L3), Liverpool have now won five of their last six at Anfield against the Villans (D1).
Only Manchester United (12) and Chelsea (7) have won more Premier League away games against Liverpool than Aston Villa (6, level with Arsenal).
Aston Villa have lost 16 of their last 18 Premier League away games against sides starting the day top of the table (D2), including each of the last nine in a row. Indeed, they’ve only won one of their 23 such games, beating Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road in January 2000.
Liverpool have conceded the first goal in their last two Premier League games, but avoided defeat in both (2-2 v Arsenal, 2-1 v Brighton). Indeed, their win against Brighton was the 100th time they’ve come from behind to win a Premier League match, the third team to reach this milestone in the competition.
Both of Aston Villa’s Premier League defeats this season have come against the two north London sides, losing 4-1 against Tottenham last time out. The Villans last lost consecutive league games in May 2023.
Only Manchester City (32) have faced fewer shots on target than Liverpool in the Premier League this season (34), with the Reds also conceding the fewest goals (6) and having the lowest xG against figure this term (8.1).
No team has scored more Premier League goals this season from either crosses (6) or set-piece situations (5, excluding penalties) than Aston Villa (level with Arsenal in both cases).
Liverpool’s Arne Slot has become just the fifth manager to win as many as eight of his first 10 Premier League games in charge, after John Gregory (1998), Guus Hiddink (2009), Carlo Ancelotti (2009) and Ange Postecoglou (2023). Of the previous four, only Postecoglou failed to win his 11th match in the competition.
No player has been involved in more Premier League goals so far this season than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (12 – 7 goals, 5 assists). The Egyptian has also had the most touches in the opposition box this term (96), while of players to have had 20+ shots, no-one has hit a higher percentage of them on target (67% - 20/30).
Only Erling Haaland (16) has had more big chances than Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins in the Premier League this season (14). However, Watkins has scored with just four of these, the lowest conversion rate of any of the seven players with 10+ big chances (28.6%).
