After Vincent Kompany lashed in a superb winner for Manchester City against Leicester on Monday, he might well have thought it would be the most dramatic moment of midweek football around Europe.
Liverpool and Tottenham both conspired to relegate the center-back’s howitzer down that particular list, but the Belgian’s effort was, nevertheless, of incredible importance to his club, allowing them to maintain the upper hand in the Premier League title race going into the final day of the season.
We kicked-off a memorable campaign in style the last time we visited Brighton – let’s end this one in similar fashion! ⚽️
🔵 #BHAMCI #mancity pic.twitter.com/xJg2PF0xch
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 12, 2019
For a long period of Monday’s game, it seemed that Brendan Rodgers’ side were about to burst the 12-game winning run that had taken the Citizens to the verge of the title, yet Kompany’s intervention – as brilliant as it was unlikely – carried them to a 13th victory in a row.
“Today there was a little bit of frustration because everyone was saying: ‘Don’t shoot, don’t shoot!’ – I could really hear it,” he joked. “It was annoying me and I said: ‘Hold on a second – I haven’t come this far in my career for young players to tell me whether I can take a shot or not.’ So I just took it!”
Got a good feeling about this squad 😍
🔵 #BHAMCI #mancity pic.twitter.com/mpucMhLwsd
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 12, 2019
Pep Guardiola’s side must now work to ensure that Kompany’s contribution is decisive in the title race, which means overcoming Brighton.
Albion have nothing particular to play for, having already secured their Premier League survival, but with three draws in their last four games, including against Wolves and Arsenal, a side that is winless in their last nine is unlikely to prove a pushover.
💬 "It’s a high-profile game, which is brilliant for this football club and the exposure it will get. As a collective team, we want to put in a performance and see where it takes us."#BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/DWBG1TurQ6
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) May 12, 2019
Pascal Gross, for one, has promised an almighty effort from the hosts.
“I am a professional and I want to win every game. Klopp deserves the title because Liverpool have played on the highest level,” he told media.
“We will try everything to take a point against Manchester City.”
Recent history favours City, who claimed an FA Cup semi-final success over the Seagulls barely a month ago thanks to a Gabriel Jesus strike after just four minutes.
“Did you think it was a nervous performance tonight, Pep?” 💬
“It was an INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE” 💪
🔵 1-0 🦊 #MCILEI #mancity pic.twitter.com/C14LYOaWsk
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 6, 2019
After that fixture, Guardiola hailed their opponents as an “incredible defensive team”; the Catalan knows that sealing the league title on Sunday is no formality.
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside! 🍦
A beaut of a day on the south coast for the travelling Blues! Where are you tuning in from today? 🌎
🔵 #BHAMCI #mancity pic.twitter.com/fLTsvuyw5h
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 12, 2019