HAAL GONE PETE TONG

THERE are troubles in Manchester on the blue side as well as the red.

- by PATRICK AUSTEN-HARDY

While the focus last week was on Ruben Amorim's shoddy United, the Citizens have problems on their side of the fence.

This is Etihad boss Pep Guardiola’s worst-ever start to a season.

City have lost two of their first three Premier League matches in a season for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign.

The last team to recover from a start like that and go on to win the title was Manchester United in the 1992-93 campaign.

But a title chase may be the last thing on Guardiola’s mind as last season’s issues of not taking chances and being caught on the counterattack reared their heads again.

Erling Haaland fluffed two big chances and directed a closerange header directly at Bart Verbruggen while the game was still goalless.

When Haaland finally scored on his 100th Premier League appearance, City looked well set to recover from their limp 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham last week.

The Norwegian’s close-range finish after a clever pass from Omar Marmoush put City in control as Brighton struggled to lay a glove on the visitors.