Manchester City have broken two Premier League records, including one set by rivals Manchester United, after beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Citizens entered the contest on home soil seeking to return to winning ways after suffering back-to-back league losses to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal for the first time since 2018 shortly before the international break.
First-half goals from Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland inside the opening 19 minutes put Man City in control of proceedings against Brighton, but the Seagulls pulled one back through Ansu Fati in the 73rd minute to set up a nervy finish.
Manuel Akanji was then sent off deep into second-half stoppage time – and will therefore miss next week's Manchester derby – but Pep Guardiola's men held on to claim all three points and their seventh Premier League win of the season.
Man City's success over Brighton has seen them extend their exceptional winning run at the Etihad to 21 matches across all competitions, setting both a club record and a new record for successive home wins by an English team in the Premier League era.
The Citizens' remarkable home run is now the joint-second longest in English football history, drawing level with Preston North End's 21-game winning streak set back in 1892, while Sunderland hold the outright record after winning 24 consecutive home games between 1891 and 1892.
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In addition, Man City have become the first Premier League team in history to win each of their first 14 home matches in a calendar year, surpassing the previous record set by rivals Man United.
Under the tutelage of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils put together a 13-game winning home run in 2011, which was ended in dramatic fashion by Man City courtesy of a historic 6-1 drubbing at Old Trafford in October of the same year.
Man City's winning home run, which began on January 8 with a thumping 4-0 triumph over Chelsea in the FA Cup third round, consists of 14 Premier League victories, four in the Champions League and three in the FA Cup.
Guardiola's side have scored an incredible 67 goals during this run, netting at least twice in 18 of the 21 matches, while they have only conceded 10 goals in the process.
Goal machine Haaland has been Man City's top scorer during this run, finding the net 22 times, while Kevin De Bruyne and former winger Riyad Mahrez have provided a joint-high eight assists.
Man City will look to extend their winning home record when they lock horns with Man United at the Etihad in their next Premier League fixture next Sunday.
Oliver Thomas
