Manchester City thrash Brighton to soar to the top of Premier League table again

Liverpool’s hopes of staying top of the standings were dashed as Manchester City came out for the second half looking more like champions against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva earned Manchester City a 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday (April 20) that helped the champions regain top spot in the Premier League. After Liverpool climbed to the summit with a 4-0 mauling of Manchester United on Tuesday, City struggled to issue a response in the first half at the Etihad Stadium against a well-organised Brighton.

Liverpool had trailed City by 14 points as recently as January but they have surged back into the title race after winning 11 or their last 12 league games. However, Liverpool’s hopes of staying top of the standings were dashed as City came out for the second half looking more like champions, breaking the deadlock through Algerian forward Mahrez in the 53rd minute.

That opener settled City’s nerves with the hosts scoring a second 12 minutes later as Foden’s effort from distance was helped past Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez by a deflection. With Brighton beaten, Silva added a late third to seal the win that moved Pep Guardiola’s side onto 77 points from 32 games. They are one point ahead of Liverpool as they seek a fourth title in five years.

“We had to win 14 games in a row to win the title before,” Guardiola said. “If we drop points they (Liverpool) will be champions, if we win all our games we will be champions. We are now mathematically sure of qualification for the Champions League (next season). Now we know what we have to do.”

Watch Bernardo Silva's goal against Brighton here...