This Brighton and Hove Albion title challenge – as it must now be classed – flies in the face of the saying that money always talks in football. Manchester City have been found guilty of breaching financial rules and also fielded the most expensive midfield in Premier League history here, yet the match-winners cost a fraction in comparison.
Looking at Brighton's winning goal, it was created by a cross that flashed across the City goal from Diego Gómez, an £11m signing who was playing in Major League Soccer in the United States not so long ago. Maxim de Cuyper, a £17.5m arrival from Club Brugge, was credited with the assist after Yasin Ayari tapped in.
Ayari cost £3.5m from Swedish club AIK and scored in the 5-0 wins over Coventry and Palace, and now has this winner to add to his collection. The 23-year-old is another example of Brighton polishing these gems and putting them together in a team that can win against any opponent in the Premier League.
Yasin Ayari (centre) celebrates scoring for Brighton - Getty Images/Matt McNulty
It could keep them at the top end of the table for a good while longer. They have already shown they can defeat Arsenal in a one-off match and they look to have the ingredients to stay the pace with them. In Fabian Hürzeler they have one of the brightest young coaches in the Premier League and he has a squad that are all on the same page.
Leicester upset the odds 10 years ago with a settled team, while this Brighton team has a deeper squad. When the substitutes came on in the second half, they slotted into a well-rehearsed system.
"We faced adversity. There was a little bit of luck but in the end they deserved it because they worked hard for it," said Hürzeler. "I want players who want to compete, to dominate. They all have the winning mentality inside of them. These kinds of performances are not about one or two players, everyone has to stick together."
Hürzeler has played down a title challenge but his team have been among the most impressive in the first part of the season. The German coach, 33, has been in English football for two years but has learnt quickly the tried-and-tested response of taking each game as it comes. Next is Getafe in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
While Hürzeler was reluctant to name individual performers, Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was another key player in this win. He kept out Iliman Ndiaye and repelled Erling Haaland, who lost a physical battle with Lewis Dunk. "You're going down with the Palace," chanted the jubilant Brighton fans, with City now losing two Premier League games in a row.
City head coach Enzo Maresca will be content with the number of chances his team created but there must be concerns at the other end. He tried a change of formula, dropping Marc Guéhi to the bench for the first time this season, yet his team were still prone to individual errors.
"We are the second team in scoring in the Premier League. We are scoring goals but in this moment we are conceding silly goals. We can avoid that," Maresca said. His team have conceded 10 goals in their last six games, which is not the foundation of a title challenge, even if City have been stacking up points.
Maresca picked a midfield that cost £327m to recruit this summer, with Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernández and Ayyoub Bouaddi picked together for the first time. There were some signs they could all play together, although City looked more dangerous when Rayan Cherki came off the bench to break up the trio.
Pascal Gross cost a nominal fee when he returned to Brighton but his hard work and intelligent passing means Brighton can control periods of the game even against the very best.
Brighton and Hove Albion's Pascal Gross made life difficult for Manchester City's Elliot Anderson - PA/Martin Rickett
The goal came when Brighton switched play from a free-kick, although City thought Anderson was victim rather than perpetrator. Former Inter Miami winger Gómez provided the cross that opened up City, with Gianluigi Donnarumma guilty of not coming out to claim the ball, then Matheus Nunes slipped at the vital moment.
"Unfortunately it is happening for our players but I think it is part of the game, part of football, it happens many times against us, we need to analyse and understand what we can do better," Maresca added. City also felt Dunk used his arm to block the ball in the penalty area, although no spot-kick was given.
It was a sweet goal by Ayari, who had missed a penalty in the shoot-out last week when the teams played in the EFL Cup. Brighton stayed in Manchester after the defeat, masterminding a win that means they have now defeated all of the traditional heavyweight teams in the Premier League.
"I wasn't aware of that. For me it's more important, not about history, it's about giving something back to the supporters. They've spent a lot of time and money," Hürzeler said.
05:19pm
"We'll take it game by game. See what happens because we have loads of games. Just focussing every day on what's ahead of us and the job we have. We will continue to do that and see where it leaves us at the end of the season. We are happy with the way we are playing - not just the results but the way we are playing too. We have to continue to develop that style and ruthlessness and we can do great things."
Bart Verbruggen was instrumental in Brighton's win over Manchester City - Getty Images Europe/Jan Kruger
05:14pm
05:04pm
Man City 0 Brighton 1
Bournemouth 2 Leeds 0
Brentford 2 Forest 0
Coventry 3 Sunderland 1
Hull 2 Ipswich 2
05:02pm
Erling Haaland looks on in disappointment after the defeat - AFP/Darren Staples
Brighton celebrate a tremendous victory - Reuters/Phil Noble
04:59pm
Important to note they've also scored 16 goals in the process without reply.
04:57pm
Bournemouth 2 Leeds 0 (Adli)Kroupi threads a phenomenal pass through Ampadu's legs to the onrushing Adli, who rounds off the win with a delightful finish.
Amine Adli and Junior Kroupi celebrate together after Bournemouth go two goals up against Leeds United - Reuters/Maja Smiejkowska
04:53pm
Brighton have done it. Their impressive season continues as Hurzeler's side condemn Man City to back-to-back Premier League defeats. This result also means that Brighton close the gap on the hosts at the top of the table to just two points. They've avenged that midweek League Cup loss in style.
04:52pm
We're halfway through four minutes of added time. Can Brighton hold on for a statement victory?
04:49pm
O'Reilly misses a sitter. Verbruggen blocks Khusanov's effort and the rebound falls to O'Reilly who somehow directs it wide from a few yards out. He has to score that. It was agonisingly close to a late Man City leveller.
04:47pm
Brighton are so close to a second, which would have settled this tie. Rutter spearheads a counter attack and cleverly plays in Hinshelwood, who is one-on-one with Donnarumma and attempts an ambitious chip over the goalkeeper. However, his effort drifts into the side netting. Nearly game, set and match for the visitors.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is here at the Etihad Stadium, sat next to CEO Ferran Soriano.
04:46pm
City's chances have fallen to Iliman Ndiaye, rather than Erling Haaland. Haaland has been preoccupied with battling Lewis Dunk. Enzo Maresca surely won't be too concerned if this stays 0-1 - his team have created lots of attacks. But their defence is a problem, with 10 goals conceded in the last six games.
04:43pm
Still, Brighton are holding firm against Man City. Foden and Allan have entered the action, with Ndiaye and Gvardiol withdrawn. Brighton have made five changes since the 64th minute, with Hadjam, Wieffer, Hinshelwood, Yalcouye and Rutter all on from the bench.
04:37pm
Hull City 2 Ipswich 2 (Enciso)The playmaker bags a stunner as he whips an exquisite effort from outside the box into the net. Enciso has now scored in back-to-back league matches.
Julio Enciso has dragged Ipswich Town back level - Reuters/Scott Heppell
04:36pm
How have Man City not scored?! O'Reilly darts into the box and squares the ball for Ndiaye, who knocks his close-range effort wide.
04:35pm
Brentford 2 Forest 0 (Igor Thiago)Forest's wastefulness in front of goal has been punished, with Igor Thiago adding a second for Brentford.
04:30pm
Hull City 2 Ipswich 1 (McBurnie)Two goals in quick succession for the hosts. McBurnie sneaks a low free-kick into the net. Despite Walton's best efforts, he couldn't keep it out. No one could have envisioned this on the basis of Hull's poor first half display.
Oliver McBurnie's strike has Hull City in front for the first time this afternoon - PA/Mike Egerton
04:27pm
It's wave after wave of Man City pressure. O'Reilly also recently replaced Fernandez as Maresca continues to plot a route back into this contest.
04:25pm
Coventry 3 Sunderland 1 (Le Fee)The visitors are awarded a penalty after Pinnock is deemed to have handled O'Nein's goalbound effort. Le Fee steps up and converts. Is the comeback on?
Enzo Le Fee nets his penalty for Sunderland - Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
04:21pm
Cherki and Nunes link up, with the latter driving into the box. He cuts inside and shoots, but his fierce effort is superbly saved by Verbruggen. Haaland can't quite latch onto the rebound. Cherki is starting to pull the strings for the hosts.
This game could go either way. City have been bright, with Ndiaye hitting the crossbar and Mateus Nunes forcing an excellent save from Bart Verbruggen. But Brighton are not parking the bus and are also bringing on fresh legs. Mats Wieffer and Jaouen Hadjam are on and have slotted into the gameplan.
04:19pm
Hull 1 Ipswich 1 (Iroegbunam)The Hull midfielder has his first Premier League goal as no one in an Ipswich shirt puts any pressure on Iroegbunam, allowing him to advance incredibly far forward into the penalty area before smashing into the net.
04:18pm
I wonder who this fan supports? - AFP/Darren Staples
04:14pm
The hosts are struggling in this second half. They're lacking attacking invention and a spark. Cherki has just come on for Bouaddi as Maresca attempts to shake things up.
04:10pm
Coventry 3 Sunderland 0 (Rudoni)Things go from bad to worse for Sunderland... Coventry are in dreamland. It's a horrible goal for Sunderland to concede. Rudoni's long-range strike deflects off Alderete's outstretched leg and flies past Roefs into the net.
Coventry City are flying against a helpless Sunderland - Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
04:06pm
Brighton threaten at the start of the second half as Ayari attempts to run provider, squaring a perfectly-weighted ball across to De Cuyper, who wastefully directs it off target. Man City are very lucky to remain just one goal behind.
04:04pm
We are back under way at the Etihad, along with the other four 3pm fixtures. Man City and Brighton are both unchanged at the break.
03:54pm
03:52pm
03:49pm
City have got their timing wrong in the final third - an extra touch, dragging shots, even the great Erling Haaaland has met his match in Lewis Dunk. This is also the first time City's trio of summer signings have started in midfield together. Elliot Anderson has taken control of possession, with Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernandez in more advanced positions. That is £327m worth of central midfielders.
03:45pm
Unreal defending from Dunk, who does well to track Haaland before making a crucial block. The towering Norwegian striker has cut a frustrated figure so far, but he can always hurt you in an instance.
03:43pm
Brentford are still on top as Jensen whips a free kick against the crossbar. Forest have been so open at the back.
03:40pm
Coventry 2 Sunderland 0 (Awoniyi)Sunderland are in trouble... Awoniyi displays brilliant attacking insists to dispossess O'Nein, before planting a deflected effort into the net. The visitors are being outplayed.
Taiwo Awoniyi deservedly extends Coventry City's advantage against Sunderland - Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
03:39pm
Brighton threaten as Kostoulas plays in the onrushing Gomez. Man City need Donnarumma to rush out off his line and lead the Brighton man away from goal. At the other end, Haaland has been on the periphery and is patiently waiting to impact this encounter.
03:32pm
Bournemouth 1 Leeds 0 (Evanilson)Against the run of play, Bournemouth have the lead and it's a terrible mistake from Trafford, who was excellent at Sunderland last weekend. Trafford's wayward pass out from the back is intercepted by Kluivert, who unselfishly slides the ball to Evanilson. The striker gobbles up the opportunity as Bournemouth's impressive run goes on.
03:31pm
Brentford 1 Forest 0 (Milenkovic, own-goal)Ouattara latches onto Kelleher's long kick up the pitch, reaches the byline and fires a cross into the box which takes a wicked deflection off Milenkovic and trickles into the net. Forest's difficult league season continues.
03:30pm
Despite going a goal down, it's all Man City at the moment. They're really growing until the contest and you feel a goal is coming for the hosts.
03:25pm
Hull 0 Ipswich 1 (Florentino)The away side have a deserved lead. Ouattara's industry out wide sets up Florentino, who lashes a clinical effort into the net from a tight angle.
03:24pm
Chema Andres is carded after bringing down Ayyoub Bouaddi. The hosts then waste a huge chance as Ndiaye glances Anderson's ball wide from close range. The former Everton man will be kicking himself.
Chema Andres has picked up a yellow for a professional-ish foul on Ayyoub Bouaddi. It was a smart foul as City were away on a counter-attack. Brighton themselves are playing nice football when they get possession. It has not been a smash and grab.
03:18pm
Coventry 1 Sunderland 0 (Sakamoto)The Japanese winger has put the hosts in front as Trai Hume is caught out when trying to clear, allowing Sakamoto to pounce and plant the ball into the far bottom corner. As it stands, Sunderland remain rooted to the bottom of the league table.
03:17pm
The striker thought he had opened the scoring after bundling the ball into the net from Bogle's cross. However, the ball struck his arm as it travelled into the net. Michael Salisbury has been sent over to the monitor and announces that the goal won't stand.
03:13pm
Man City 0 Brighton 1 (Ayari)It's a wonderful team move from Brighton. Gomez, De Cuyper and Ayari combine, with the latter slotting a close-range effort into the net. It's dreadful defending from the hosts. Nunes won't want to watch that back again.
Enzo Maresca has his arms up in the air, exasperated at Manchester City's defending. Brighton switched play to Diego Gomez, whose cross went right across the face of the goal. Maxim De Cuyper got lucky with a ricochet and it fell for Yasin Ayari to finish from close range.
"You're going down with the Palace," chant the cheeky Brighton away fans.
03:09pm
Noel Gallagher watches on at the Etihad Stadium - Reuters/Phil Noble
03:06pm
Forest did the double over Brentford home and away in the Premier League last season. With just one top-flight win this campaign, Glasner's side would treasure a much-needed victory.
03:04pm
With Liverpool and Arsenal facing each other on Sunday, Man City will view this encounter as a key contest with at least one of those aforementioned clubs guaranteed to drop points tomorrow.
03:01pm
The five 3pm games are under way.
02:55pm
We are moments away from the following 3pm kick-offs:
Man City vs Brighton
Bournemouth vs Leeds
Brentford vs Forest
Coventry vs Sunderland
Hull vs Ipswich
02:43pm
Erling Haaland is in good spirits during the warm up - Reuters/Phil Noble
02:38pm
02:38pm
Can Lewis Dunk captain his side to a win at the Etihad Stadium? - AP/Jon Super
Pascal Gross has arguably been Brighton's best player this season - AP/Jon Super
02:35pm
Chelsea have beaten 10-man Manchester United 2-0 in the capital thanks to Morgan Rogers' solo strike and Cole Palmer's penalty. Lisandro Martinez was dismissed for picking up two yellow cards in quick succession and conceded the penalty which sealed Man Utd's fate. Michael Carrick's side are 16th and have just one win from their opening nine Premier League matches, while Chelsea creep into the top four.
02:24pm
02:23pm
In City-related matters, Jack Grealish is battling for his future next season and faces becoming the Premier League's most high-profile free agent following his breach of discipline at Everton.
The 31-year-old, who became the first £100m signing by an English club in 2021, is out of contract in eight months and his hopes of staying on Merseyside took a hit when the club decided he would not play in the Carabao Cup win over Newcastle.
While City head coach Enzo Maresca described Grealish as "a good boy with a big heart", there are no signs of him getting a contract extension at the Etihad Stadium after being loaned out in the last two seasons.
Grealish is expected to be fined by Everton for an unauthorised absence from training and it is unclear when he will be back in David Moyes' squad, with the club facing Newcastle again on Monday in the Premier League.
He had started the previous four matches and a return to playing regularly will be the key to securing a club next season.
"It is not correct to talk about Jack as he is an Everton player and I don't have all the information," said Maresca, who worked with Grealish when he was in Pep Guardiola's backroom staff. "I still think he is a good guy, a good boy with a big heart."
Jack Grealish's second loan spell at Everton isn't panning out as planned - Getty Images Europe/Molly Darlington
02:18pm
Marc Guéhi is on the bench for Manchester City after starting every previous Premier League game this season, so it will be Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol as centre-backs against Brighton.
This is the second time in four days these teams have faced each other, with Enzo Maresca bringing back first-choice players after changing his line-up for the EFL Cup. Gianluigi Donnarumma is back in goal - Maresca says his team is "Donnarumma and 10 others" despite his goalkeeper's mistakes - and Erling Haaland is up front.
Fabian Hürzeler has made six changes to the Brighton team that took City to penalties in midweek, with Pascal Gross, Yasin Ayari, Diego Gómez, Oliver Boscagli and Costinha keeping their places.
02:12pm
02:12pm
Enzo Maresca soaks up the appreciation from the home fans - Manchester City FC via Getty Images/Isaac Parkin
Elliot Anderson has made a great start at his new club - Manchester City FC via Getty Images/Isaac Parkin
01:57pm
Lisandro Martinez is sent off and concedes a penalty after ridiculously barging Wesley Fofana in the face. Senne Lammens gets a hand on Cole Palmer's penalty, but it still sneaks into the bottom corner and Chelsea now lead 2-0.
Lisandro Martinez is shown a red card to compound Manchester United's misery - Getty Images Europe/Justin Setterfield
Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring Chelsea's second goal - Reuters/David Klein
01:53pm
Hull:Tzolakis, Coyle, Ajayi, Egan, Mendy, Giles, Belloumi, Iroegbunam, Slater, Stroud, McBurnie.
Subs: Phillips, Morita, Gelhardt, McNair, Norton-Cuffy, Herrington, Crooks, Mouzakitis, Cho.
Ipswich: Walton, Ouattara, Diop, O'Shea, Davis, Palacios, Florentino, Fatawu, Enciso, Philogene-Bidace, Emersonn.
Subs: Scherpen, Furlong, Matusiwa, Flemming, Greaves, Akpom, Nunez, Maeda, Clarke.
Referee:Thomas Kirk.
01:52pm
Coventry:Rushworth, van Ewijk, Mfuni, Pinnock, Dasilva, Yirenkyi, Torp, Sakamoto, Rudoni, Gboho, Awoniyi.
Subs: Bentley, Grimes, Simms, Mason-Clark, Kesler-Hayden, Latibeaudiere, Thomas-Asante, Hamer, Cherif.
Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, Alderete, O'Nien, Mandava, Sadiki, Xhaka, Rigg, Le Fee, Nilson Angulo, Brobbey.
Subs: Ellborg, Danso, Methalie, Talbi, Meunier, Isidor, Ahoka, Ta Bi, Fofana.
Referee:Simon Hooper.
01:51pm
Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, van den Berg, Ajer, Lewis-Potter, Sangare, Janelt, Ouattara, Jensen, Schade, Thiago.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Wilson, Anthony, Collins, Damsgaard, Diouf, Nunes Gomes, Schuster.
Forest:Sels, Jair Cunha, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina, McAtee, Schlager, Williams, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Delap.
Subs: John Victor, Diomande, Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, Wood, Kalimuendo, Yates, Netz, Munoz.
Referee:Darren England.
01:49pm
Bournemouth:Petrovic, Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert, Adams, Christie, Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier, Evanilson.
Subs: Di Gregorio, Cook, Soler, Brooks, Doak, Diakite, Adli, Junior Kroupi, Rodriguez.
Leeds: Trafford, Justin, Elvedi, Muharemovic, Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson, Wilson, James, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Zetterer, Longstaff, Aaronson, Nmecha, Bijol, Stach, Bahoya, Bard, Gruev.
Referee:Michael Salisbury.
01:49pm
Man City:Donnarumma, Matheus Luiz, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, Anderson, Bouaddi, Ndiaye, Fernandez, Doku, Haaland.
Subs: Rulli, Guehi, Kovacic, Cherki, Vitor Reis, O'Reilly, Allan, Foden, Lewis.
Brighton:Verbruggen, Costinha, Vuskovic, Dunk, Boscagli, Gross, Andres, Gomez, Ayari, De Cuyper, Kostoulas.
Subs: Steele, Hadjam, Hinshelwood, Rutter, Minteh, Wieffer, Svoboda, O'Riley, Yalcouye.
Referee:Craig Pawson.
01:46pm
Fabian Hurzeler has also rotated his line-up, making six alterations. Lewis Dunk, who missed the deciding penalty last time out, starts in defence. Maxim De Cuyper, Luka Vuskovic and Charalampos Kostoulas also begin the contest.
01:45pm
Enzo Maresca makes 10 changes from the midweek League Cup action. Most notably, Marc Guehi and Rayan Cherki are bench. Erling Haaland, Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Jeremy Doku all return to start.
01:41pm
Shortly after half-time, Morgan Rogers has scored a sensational solo goal to break the deadlock for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after running through Man Utd's defence. The visitors missed numerous chances in the first half and had a goal disallowed, but now they've been punished by Rogers' brilliance. Are Chelsea about to apply more pressure on the beleaguered Michael Carrick? You can follow the latest updates here .
01:35pm
01:30pm
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of this Saturday's 3pm Premier League kick-offs.
The most eye-catching fixture sees Manchester City host Brighton & Hove Albion for the second time this week at the Etihad Stadium. On Wednesday evening in the League Cup, Enzo Maresca's side squeezed past Fabian Hurzeler's men on penalties (4-3) thanks to second-choice goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli's heroics after drawing 2-2 in normal time.
Nevertheless, despite this disappointment and the 2-0 loss to Liverpool last weekend, Brighton sit third in the league, just five points behind table-toppers Man City, who suffered their first domestic defeat against Aston Villa seven days ago, which ended their perfect record in this season's Premier League.
Speaking in his Friday press conference, Maresca said: "I think we're going in the right direction. I said in the last press conference, after so many years to change manager and many players it takes time to compete again and in this moment we are competing.
"We changed many players and the manager but good thing about the club is we are competing in all the competitions and we know it takes time when you make this many changes but in this moment, we continue in the same way."
Manchester City celebrate after overcoming Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties on Wednesday - Getty Images Europe/Matt McNulty
Following a rocky start to the campaign, high-flying Bournemouth have won their previous five matches in all competitions without conceding, beating the likes of AC Milan, Manchester United and Aston Villa by three-goal margins. Bournemouth host Leeds United as they aim to carry on this tremendous unbeaten run at the Vitality Stadium.
Marcus Tavernier was instrumental in Bournemouth's 3-0 dismantling of Manchester United last weekend - Getty Images Europe/Marc Atkins
Elsewhere, Brentford are at home against Nottingham Forest, who have only tasted victory once in the Premier League and are winless in their latest four games, losing three of them, while the division's two bottom sides, Coventry City and Sunderland, lock horns in the Midlands with both clubs plotting an ascent out of the relegation zone. The final 3pm game sees two newly-promoted teams clash as Hull City entertain Ipswich Town in Yorkshire.
Team news for all these matches will follow shortly.
