Manchester City

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Could Arsenal's result in the north London derby on Sunday afternoon impact Manchester City's performance against Nottingham Forest?

The current Premier League leaders kick off at 14:00 BST at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, meaning City will know the result by the time they begin at 16:30 BST.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Manchester Evening News reporter Simon Bajkowski said "little things" could make the difference in the title race.

"I think they [Manchester City] will be a lot more confident after last night [against Brighton]," he said. "In 2024, Arsenal have really been the form team and they've been the one that have been dominating every team they have played, racking up huge scores and City and Liverpool, to an extent, have been hanging on in there.

"There is an interesting parallel from last season where City had beaten Arsenal in February to go top of the league and then travelled to Forest. Arsenal have got the derby on Sunday which is a huge game for them but City will know the result before they kick off.

"Will that play into the game as much as them needing the points and Forest needing the points? It's the time of the season where every little thing could make the difference."

Here is a selection of the key facts and figures before Nottingham Forest host Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, 16:30 BST.

• Nottingham Forest have lost just three of their past 16 top-flight home games against Manchester City - in 1985, 1990 and 1993.

• City have lost both of their Premier League games in the Midlands so far this season, going down 2-1 at Wolves and 1-0 at Aston Villa. They last lost three consecutive such visits between March and December 2008.

• Forest have kept just one clean sheet in their past 23 Premier League games, with that coming via a 2-0 win over West Ham in February.

• Pep Guardiola will become the 19th manager to take charge of 300 Premier League games in this match, and just the fifth to do so for a single club. Six of the last seven bosses to do so have lost their milestone match - the exception being a 3-0 win for Jurgen Klopp against Aston Villa earlier this season.

• Nuno Espirito Santo has won three of his past five Premier League encounters with City, including his most recent one with Spurs in August 2021 (1-0). In fact, the Portuguese has lost just one of his four home top-flight matches against Pep Guardiola, a 1-3 loss to Wolves in September 2020.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says it is a "dream come true" to be fighting for the Premier League again.

The defending champions, who face relegation battling Nottingham Forest on Sunday, are one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand after thumping Brighton 4-0 on Thursday night.

If they were to go on and win the trophy, they would become the first team to win the competition four times in succession.

"Of course, all the teams in that [title race] are tired - it's normal at the end of the season," Guardiola said. "But in the same time, it's so exciting. Fighting again for the Premier League? It's a dream come true.

"I could not expect it, honestly. I know always you dream to be there. But what happened in the past? I had this season that maybe we would not be able to do it."

Midfielder Phil Foden was once again the talisman for City with two goals in their win over the Seagulls and Guardiola will be hoping his form can carry them to another league title.

"Phil has a sixth gear but he cannot play all the time in sixth gear - he has to play in second and third," he said. "I think, with time, he will learn that.

"I would love for him to go in sixth gear every single action but after you are less precise - that is not effective. He has to know when he has to be aggressive and when he has to be more calm.

"Everything is so quick - football has to be slower sometimes [in order] to become quicker after to surprise the opponent. He will understand the game through years and years and experiences. But he loves to play and his work ethic is unbelievable.

"We are really pleased and happy for him and hopefully in the last month ahead of us he doesn't stop."

Listen to full commentary of Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City on Sunday from 16:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live

Manchester City will be giving their Premier League rivals a familiar uneasy feeling after the manner in which the dismissed Brighton at Amex Stadium on Thursday.

A fixture that many thought might be a banana skin was negotiated with consummate skill, a three-goal lead at half-time ending up as a comfortable 4-0 win.

Arsenal may be the current Premier League leaders but City are only a point behind with a game in hand and it is that time of the year when they usually embark on an unstoppable surge as they go in search of a fourth successive title.

City are unbeaten in 18 league games since the loss at Aston Villa in December and visit struggling Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday.

The romp at Brighton was inspired by the usual suspects, even with main marksman Erling Haaland still out injured.

Kevin de Bruyne got things under way with his first header in 68 Premier League goals, a magnificent airborne effort, while Phil Foden added two before half-time.

Arsenal have responded well to suggestions they were slipping with wins at Wolverhampton Wanderers and at home to Chelsea - but City just have that end of season "look" about them once more.

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Simon Bajkowski, Manchester City writer for the Manchester Evening News, sees few obstacles in the way of Pep Guardiola's side after they thrashed Brighton 4-0 on Thursday night.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, he said City's performance suggested they are finding their highest levels at just the right time.

"It was a level of dominance from City that we haven't seen in a while," he said. "It was seen as a game where they could slip up. Guardiola said beforehand it was probably one of the toughest games of the ones that they have left.

"In the first half, they overwhelmed Brighton completely. It was the complete opposite of the performance on Saturday at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final. They were just full of energy, sharp, precise and dominant."

Phil Foden scored his 50th and 51st league goals as City moved one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

"Obviously they went out of the Champions League against Real Madrid - they just kind of didn't do enough and then in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, they looked really tired," Bajkowski continued.

"The question going into the Brighton game was whether City would be able to keep up or run out of steam. I think the performance against Brighton answered a lot of questions and if City can get through Sunday against Nottingham Forest then they will really be strong favourites to win it again."

We asked for your views on Manchester City's 4-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Thursday.

Here are some of your answers:

Brighton fans

Charlie: Brighton were OK at the start of the season, but I get the feeling De Zerbi has given up. He cannot take Brighton any further and that is felt in the players, and him never picking the same team twice. Yet another goal given away trying to play out. Totally outclassed.

Raymond: Still punching above our weight due to injuries, but many players are not Premier League quality. Man City are a cut above.

JJ: The end of the season can not come soon enough. It is painful to watch our slow passing in our own box versus a team of City’s quality. If De Zerbi wants to stay we should back him, if not we need to move on very quickly and plan for next season.

Matthew: Brighton are in relegation form and no signs point to that changing come next season (bar a miraculous recruitment drive). With the loss of more key players to bigger clubs like Mitoma, possibly Joao Pedro, Estupinan and Gross, then one wonders how thin Brighton’s squad will be next year.

Graham: Pathetic! Their insistence on playing back to the keeper was sheer insanity! Put themselves under unnecessary pressure and led to their downfall. The goalkeeper had more touches in the first 15 minutes than the rest of the team. If teams are going to make it this easy for City, you may as well hand over the trophy now!

Manchester City fans

Peter: Great performance by the whole City team. The result was never in doubt after De Bruyne’s brilliant header. This team set about the task with determination and they are now serious contenders to win four titles in a row. Brighton are a selling club so will always be a mid-table team and they offered very little.

Scott: A really good performance against a lacklustre Brighton. I have to say, we did get away with two penalties, and the Foden free-kick was a slip - not a foul. I would not be surprised if Foden wins the PFA Players' Award this year. On to the next game, keep playing well and our fate is in our own hands.

Michael: Comprehensive. I was there and at no point were Brighton a threat. City dominated and always had the game under control. The crowd did not like Foden but both he and De Bruyne pulled the strings.

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Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp discussing Manchester City's 4-0 win at Brighton on Sky Sports: "Why I admire Manchester City so much is what Pep has created with his team, which is one of the hardest things in the world.

"How do you make multi-millionaires run, and run hard when you haven't got the ball?

"It's not just all about playing out from the back and that side of the game. That's why I love Man City. It's relentless.

"Manchester City are so hard to press. Not only do they outnumber you but they also have the goalkeeper who can hit passes like that [to Kyle Walker in the build-up to the fourth goal].

"Ederson makes you press-resistant. When you have got that asset, when you are under pressure, that is like Kevin de Bruyne."

Former Manchester City and Arsenal defender Gael Clichy on Sky Sports added: "You work so hard to achieve and they made history last year. But if City can get that fourth trophy in a row, it will take them somewhere else.

"But also I think Arsenal deserve it, with young players and the goals they score. They would be a perfect champion."

Manchester City have been made aware that Newcastle United will listen to offers in excess of £80m for 26-year-old Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes this summer. (90min), external

Guimaraes' £100m release clause will only be active for one month, from late May to late June. (Fabrizio Romano, via Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden speaking to Sky Sports after his two goals against Brighton: "There are a challenging team. They like to go man-to-man. I think with Kev's first goal and a bit lucky with my first one, we grew into the game. I think we were frightened going forward.

"I have always said that I see myself centrally. This year I have moved inside and it has helped me massively. I enjoy it in the middle. It's where I want to be. At the moment, I am just enjoying my football and playing with freedom."

On playing with Kevin de Bruyne: "I think when he is at it, he is the best player in the Premier League. It is nice that I am playing inside with him and hopefully we can do it more.

"We just want to win game-by-game and push for the title. We don't get ahead of ourselves. Now the next game is coming quickly. Try to recover and we go again."

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to BBC Match of the Day: "I give a lot of credit because I know the opposition we face. Brighton have been struggling with a lot of absences this season. And even so they still play with courage and never give up, they will continue to do it.

"But it is a good result for us, really good. We scored four goals, that's the key. We spoke as a team that if we did not have the ball we would suffer. The players, they did it very well.

"I said before, what we have done in the past, it does not mean we will do it in the future. There are five games left, we know the margins are so tight. We have to win every one. Each game we are closer."

On Kevin de Bruyne's opener: "It was a great header. He's more than welcome if he wants to try it again."

Is the title now just between Manchester City and Arsenal? "It is not. What happened to Liverpool, two defeats in a row, it can happen to Arsenal, it can happen to us. What is important is that still we are there. There is a lot of games to play."

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Manchester City goalscorer Kevin de Bruyne speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a good game. I think we played really good in the first half and every game is a lot of pressure. All we can do is prepare as we did today and win the game that is in front of us."

On his header: "It doesn't happen too much. Kyle [Walker] gave a good cross and I think the only way I could reach it is by jumping to it. I will take it but it's not something I am good at!"

On Phil Foden: "I think he will end up centrally. I saw Phil from the beginning and I think it takes a while to get used to a Pep team.

"I think now he is trusted to play centrally and Phil does what he does for six or seven years already. He has been doing this for years, has helped us win titles and he has gone up another level."

On the title race: "I trust my team. All respect to Liverpool and Arsenal, they are amazing. Arsenal are doing what they need to do and we are also needing to do it. Work hard and be humble enough to keep pushing."

• Manchester City are now unbeaten in 30 games in all competitions (W24 D6), making them the third English top-flight side to go 30+ matches without defeat, after Nottingham Forest (40 in 1978) and Manchester United (twice - 34 in 1993-94 & 33 in 1998-99).

• Phil Foden scored his 50th (and 51st) Premier League goal, becoming only the third player to score 50 top-flight goals under manager Pep Guardiola while aged 23 or younger - after Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.

• Brighton have won just six of their last 27 Premier League games (D11 L10) – since the start of this spell in September - only Burnley (5), Nottingham Forest (5), and Sheffield United (3) have won fewer.

• Brighton have lost back-to-back Premier League home games, as many as their previous 22 at the Amex Stadium beforehand (W12 D8 L2). The Seagulls have lost successive league home games while also failing to score each time for the first time since a run of four from February-March 2022.

• Kevin De Bruyne's opener for Manchester City was his 68th goal in 255 Premier League appearances – but the very first time he scored a header in the competition.

• In his 390th Premier League appearance, Manchester City’s Kyle Walker provided two assists in the same game for the first time in the competition.

Manchester City moved to within one point of Premier League leaders Arsenal by thrashing Brighton 4-0 at Amex Stadium.

The visitors took the lead through Kevin de Bruyne's excellent diving header in the 17th minute.

Phil Foden scored a second from a free-kick before doubling his tally, capitalising on defensive errors to give City a 3-0 half-time lead.

Julian Alvarez completed City's scoring midway through the second half after fine work from full-back Kyle Walker.

The result means City leapfrog Liverpool to go second in the league table, having played one game fewer than the Reds and leaders Arsenal.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Brighton fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Manchester City fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

The team news for the Premier League game between Brighton and Manchester City is in, with less than an hour to go until kick-off at Amex Stadium.

Follow all the build-up and live text updates of the match here

In an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, external, Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon singled out Kyle Walker as one of the toughest defenders he has faced.

"I do not dread coming up against any defenders, but Kyle Walker is one I know is going to be tough because I know it is going to be a hard game," said Gordon.

"I look forward to challenges like that as it is normally when I perform to my best."

Gordon scored against Manchester City at St James' Park in January with Newcastle facing Pep Guardiola's side four times this season.

He gave an insight into how he tries to raise his game to face such an intimidating opponent.

"I would look at the mental side to beat someone like Walker psychologically," he said. So, I would cover his runs and let him know he is in for a hard game. You have to just figure out different ways to beat players like him, like catching them in transition because he plays so high.

"The total distance I cover every game is around 11km, but high speed running will be around 1,600 to 1,700m every game. Against Walker, it was 1,800m! We went man for man against City so we were man-marking each other and me and him were just racing down the line the entire game."

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On the latest episode of My Mate's A Footballer, Leeds striker Patrick Bamford has been talking about his former team-mate Kalvin Phillips' travails since moving on loan to West Ham in January:

"Kalvin has been training with [Manchester] City and, no matter what, training with top players will up your level. But there is a big difference from training every day, and playing a few minutes here and there, to playing match after match. Unfortunately he’s gone to West Ham and he doesn’t have the match sharpness.

"Because he has gone mid-season, it's like he is playing catch-up. To go to any team during the January transfer window is tough but it is easier if you are playing beforehand. It's unfortunate he's been thrown in at the deep end.

"Social media is horrible - it’s unfair on him. He hasn't just gone from being England player of the year to all of a sudden not being good enough to play for any team in the Premier League.

"Next season, if he gets a good pre-season and a run of games, whatever team he is with, you’ll see the best of Kalvin again."

Listen to the last episode of My Mate's A Footballer on BBC Sounds

Manager Pep Guardiola has spoken to the media before Manchester City's trip to face Brighton in the Premier League on Thursday (20:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• On the injury situation: "Erling [Haaland] is not ready for tomorrow. It is not a big problem. The other two [Phil Foden and John Stones] are ready."

• On whether facing Roberto de Zerbi's Brighton is easier this season: "Harder. My admiration for him is growing every season. They had a lot of problems and important players like Colwill, Caicedo, Mac Allister were sold. They have a lot of injuries and have played in three competitions, but the way they play is always there. He is doing an incredible job at Brighton."

• On getting to a month from the end of the season still favourites for the title and in the FA Cup final: "At the start of the season I would have signed [for this]. Being in the latter stages means you can be there until the end - or in one week you can lose all titles. The team again behaved unbelievable this season. We won two titles [Super Cup and Club World Cup], we are in the final of the FA Cup, were in the latter stages of the Champions League and we are there in the Premier League."

• On Nottingham Forest's reaction to VAR Stuart Attwell and the need to respect match officials: "I absolutely disagree [with Forest]. I never had doubts [about integrity]. They feel the pressure. We put pressure on them for the passion of the game, but when I sit here and reflect, they try to do their best and are under scrutiny with the cameras there. If they make a mistake, they feel bad - it's normal. The game is so difficult - it is fast and quick, decisions have to be made in one instant. It's not easy."

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