Brighton avenged their Carabao Cup loss to Manchester City as they held on for a narrow 1-0 win over the Premier League leaders on Saturday.
Yasin Ayari‘s early strike proved the difference as the Seagulls delivered on manager Fabian Hürzeler’s stated desire for revenge after their penalty shoot-out defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
It was a second successive Premier League defeat for leaders City after opening the campaign with seven wins in a row.
Champions Arsenal will now have the chance to move above City when they travel to Liverpool on Sunday.
Brighton opted to stay in the Manchester area after the cup game at the same venue and will feel their decision has been vindicated.
Although they had to withstand fierce late pressure to do so, by bouncing back from the cup agony and last weekend’s defeat at Liverpool, Hürzeler’s side are now just two points off the top.
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