Man City vs Brighton player ratings: De Bruyne 9, Mahrez 6; Sanchez 5, Lamptey 7

Mahrez, Silva and Foden on target against Brighton as City reclaim top spot in Premier League

Ederson 6 - A quiet night for the City stopper who dealt with anything Brighton could muster. Getty Images

Joao Cancelo 7 - The versatile Portuguese started the night at right-back and was then switched to the left where he affected the game more. Almost opened the scoring with a clean strike that whistled past the post from a well worked City corner at the start of the second half. PA

John Stones 6 - Did his job better defensively after a tough Saturday afternoon against Liverpool at Wembley. Was replaced by Zinchenko on 77 minutes as a precaution when he looked to have picked up a knock. EPA

Aymeric Laporte 6 - Slack at times when in possession, but defended well for the most part along with his partner Stones. AFP

Nathan Ake 6 - Was defensively sound, and played simple passes. Needed to move the ball quicker and could’ve been more adventurous. Picked up a knock and was subbed at half time. AFP

Kevin De Bruyne 9 - The Belgium schemer always seems to find the right pass at the right time and showed his class and composure to calm City nerves. Set up Mahrez for City’s opener and a sublime touch around the corner for City’s third goal was the pass of the night. Getty

Rodri 6 - Like the majority of his teammates, the City midfielder had a better second half where he dictated the play alongside his midfield partner Gundogan. PA

Ilkay Gundogan 6 - Had a couple of efforts blocked and saved in the first half when he maybe could’ve done better, but looked more composed in the second half. EPA

Riyad Mahrez 6 - Some poor decision making in a frustrating first 45 minutes for the Algerian was forgotten when he broke the deadlock with a deflected shot after the restart. Getty

Bernardo Silva 7 - Had a left footed chip from the centre of the box bravely blocked by Lewis Dunk but the skillful Portuguese got his name on the scoresheet eventually, finishing clinically after a lovely touch from De Bruyne following a high City press. Getty

Phil Foden 7 - Scored City’s second when he received a short corner at the edge of the box and unleashed a left foot shot that took a massive deflection to beat the unlucky Sanchez in the Brighton goal. Getty

SUBS: Ruben Dias 6 - Replaced the injured Nathan Ake at half time and produced a solid display. AFP

Oleksandr Zinchenko 7 - Replaced John Stones with 13 minutes to go and was involved in the third goal. AP

Gabriel Jesus N/A - Came on for the excellent De Bruyne with seven minutes left. EPA

BRIGHTON RATINGS: Robert Sanchez 5 - The Spaniard almost gifted City an easy goal with a lofted pass across his box in the first half and his decision making to try to play out was questionable for City’s third goal, but he also made some decent stops. AFP

Joel Veltman 6 - Defended adequately and made it tough for City in the first half. Getty

Lewis Dunk 6 - The Brighton Captain made an important block from Gundogan at 0-0 after his pass was intercepted on the edge of his own box. Always at his best when he’s throwing his body on the line, but that’s often because of his suspect positioning and reading of the game. AFP

Marc Cucurella 7 - The long-haired Spaniard defended well against Mahrez and anyone else that he found himself up against. Could have used the ball better when playing forward. EPA

Tariq Lamptey 7 - The young wing-back was replaced by Adam Webster as Graham Potter tried to make a tactical substitution to attempt to wrestle some control back from City in a second half they dominated. Didn’t allow Foden much. Getty

Enock Mwepu 6 - Industrious without really affecting the game with the ball. Got shrugged off by De Bruyne in the lead up to City’s opener when he could’ve taken a tactical booking. Getty

Alexis Mac Allister 5 - Worked hard defensively, but City’s constant probing created too many gaps for the Argentine midfielder to plug in a game where Brighton didn’t have much possession. AFP

Moises Caicedo 6 - Lost count of the number of blocks the Ecuadorian made and his defensive work kept Brighton in the game until City’s second goal. EPA

Solly March 6 - Found it difficult to make any headway against the City defenders when he eventually received in forward areas. Getty

Pascal Gross 5 - Similar performance to his midfield partners, the German found it difficult to get a foothold against the quality of De Bruyne and Gundogan. Getty

Danny Welbeck 5 - Struggled to make any impact in a game where most of his work was done without the ball. EPA

SUBS: Adam Webster - The 27-year-old replaced Tariq Lamptey with half-an-hour to go and competed well. EPA

Jeremy Sarmiento N/A - Replaced Caicedo with 17 minutes to go and had a couple of runs without any real success. EPA

Neal Maupay N/A - Came on for Danny Welbeck with 13 minutes to go. Getty Images

Pep Guardiola said any slip would cost Manchester City the Premier League title after his side claimed a critical 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

City scored three times after the break at a nervy Etihad Stadium to move back above Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

The champions are in control of their destiny but, with six games still remaining and just a one-point lead, City boss Guardiola says there is no room for error.

“There are six games left and if we win all the games, we are champions. If we don’t win all the games, Liverpool will be champions," Guardiola said.

“It happened three years ago when we won 14 in a row to be champions. Liverpool are going to win all their games but it’s not necessary to tell that to the players, they feel it. We’re competing with one of the best teams ever.”

Kevin de Bruyne provided the break to tee up City’s first for Riyad Mahrez, although the Algerian’s strike took a fortunate deflection. De Bruyne then set up Bernardo Silva to wrap up victory late on after Phil Foden added a second, also with aid of a deflection.

The downside for City, who face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals next week, was a potential injury to defender John Stones late in the game.

City had been frustrated throughout the first half by a resolute Brighton side.

Seagulls manager Graham Potter said: “They’re a fantastic team, they played really well and deserved to win.

“We defended really well in the first half but we’re disappointed with how we were on the ball. We missed too many easy passes and, in the end, their quality told, even though they had a bit of fortune with the first two goals.

“You have to put it in perspective and move on. There’s no shame in losing to them, they were better than us.”