When the full-time whistle sounded at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, there was a striking contrast in the emotions of the players from Manchester City and Brighton.

Three days after losing to City on penalties in the Carabao Cup fourth round, the Seagulls achieved a 1-0 victory in the Premier League rematch, bouncing back to underline why they must be taken seriously towards the top of the table this season.

It was no coincidence that most of the Brighton players made a beeline for the outstanding Bart Verbruggen.

The Netherlands goalkeeper made seven saves during a phenomenal afternoon’s work to help Brighton not only secure three points but also earn a fifth clean sheet in six Premier League matches.

Verbruggen’s finest moment came during the second half when he produced a sprawling save down to his right to keep out a fierce effort from Matheus Nunes and deny City an equaliser.

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler commended Verbruggen’s display for “spreading belief” as Brighton became the first visiting side to keep a Premier League clean sheet at the Etihad since Tottenham in August 2025.

“It’s important to have this mindset and to spread it around the environment we work in, and belief is key to winning these types of games,” said Hurzeler.

“Coming here to City, against one of the best teams in the league, is always special. You have to be brilliant at the basics and everyone was contributing.

“From Tuesday, when we travelled [to Manchester], we wanted to have a good four days, enjoy it and finish strong. Everyone can enjoy this win today.”

There could have very easily been a different outcome.

This was an afternoon when Manchester City accumulated an xG of 1.92, compared to 1.00 for Brighton, so there was no shortage of chances for the hosts.

Home head coach Enzo Maresca will be all too aware that City will have to rediscover their finishing touch – and quickly – if they are to mark his debut campaign in charge with a first Premier League title since 2024.

Manchester City had 21 shots on target without scoring, their highest number without doing so in the Premier League since November 2024, when they managed 24 in a game and drew a blank.

When Maresca sits down to pick apart his side’s shortcomings, he will look rueful at chances from Iliman Ndiaye, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nunes in particular.

But to say Brighton‘s victory only came because of an off performance from City would be an extreme injustice to Hurzeler’s side, who are quickly becoming one of the most well-rounded in the Premier League.

In addition to being the division’s highest scorers – having found the back of the net 24 times in nine matches this season – Brighton have also kept the most clean sheets (six).

Only Premier League champions Arsenal – who have played one game less and travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday – have conceded fewer goals than Brighton‘s seven. Arsenal have shipped five, going into the Liverpool game.

One of the main reasons behind Brighton‘s solid rearguard has been the signing of Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham Hotspur.

The 19-year-old has been a transformative figure since arriving at Amex Stadium for a club record fee in July, starting all nine Premier League matches.

The Croatian has formed a rock-solid partnership with fellow centre-back Lewis Dunk and built an understanding with goalkeeper Verbruggen, all of whom played the full 90 minutes at the Etihad.

“It was a good game from all of us,” said Verbruggen. “I’m happy to help the team and make some important saves, but I wasn’t the only one.

“I think there were four or five shots blocked in an amazing way as well. It was a joint effort from everyone. We celebrate and go again.”

They couldn’t, could they?

That’s the question football supporters up and down the country are asking themselves as Brighton continue to soar up the Premier League table.

The Seagulls sit third, just two points behind Arsenal and Manchester City, and are making a strong case to become the Premier League’s most unlikely title challengers since Leicester City, priced at 5,000-1 by bookmakers, achieved the unthinkable in May 2016.

Brighton‘s steady rise since returning to the top flight in 2017 means any potential title triumph would come as less of a shock than the feat of Claudio Ranieri’s fantastic Foxes.

Saturday’s victory over Manchester City followed a 3-0 win against Arsenal in September.

These are results that will only strengthen the belief that something special – whether a first Premier League title or Champions League qualification – could be achieved this season.

Asked by Sky Sports whether his side could challenge for the title, Verbruggen was keen to keep expectations in check.

“We are on game nine, so not really,” he said. “We’ll take it game by game and see what happens because we have loads of games.

“We are just focusing 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.”