Brighton secured swift revenge after being eliminated from the Carabao Cup in midweek by a stunning Manchester City, which consigned Enzo Maresca’s team to consecutive Premier League losses.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side had taken the lead twice at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, but were ultimately edged out on penalties.

On Saturday, they preserved a hugely impressive victory that moved them to within just two points of City in third place.

Brighton netted the winner just 11 minutes in, thanks largely to a helping hand from right-back Matheus Nunes, whose mis-hit clearance fell kindly for Yasin Ayari to finish from close range.

City ought to have equalised 10 minutes later when Iliman Ndiaye rose to meet Elliot Anderson’s cross, but he headed the ball the wrong side of the post, before the Senegal international stung Bart Verbruggen’s palms at the near post.

Ndiaye was proving City’s brightest spark as they sought a route back into the game in the second half, and the former Everton man broke clear and thumped a strike that Verbruggen brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar.

The Brighton goalkeeper was proving a tough obstacle to get past, and he produced another superb save to deny Nunes, while a weak header from Erling Haaland was far easier to handle.

City’s star striker Haaland was starved of any real service, and his side could easily have fallen further behind at the other end – Maxim de Cuyper blazed over from 10 yards out and then forced Donnarumma into a sharp save with a header.

But those missed chances from Brighton mattered little, as they claimed all three points to continue their exciting start to the season.

Manager Maresca made a flawless start by winning his first seven league games in charge of City, but has now hit his first difficult spell, with his side beaten at Aston Villa last Saturday and now defeated at home by Brighton.

Another individual error proved their undoing, this time with Nunes the guilty party, failing to get enough on De Cuyper’s cross towards the far post and handing Ayari an opportunity he could not miss.

The home side had chances in the final third as well, but lacked their usual clinical finishing in front of goal, failing to score for the first time in 25 Premier League matches despite having 21 shots at goal.

City needed penalties to get past Brighton during the week, but they extended their poor recent record against the Seagulls and are now winless against them in their past five league games.

Star man Haaland had little to work with, while Maresca needs to fix his midfield formula – the three-man setup of Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi was often disjointed and lacking in cohesion.

Brighton had never won at City in 16 previous league visits, but they ended that run through an early goal and resolute defending.

Ayari made amends for his penalty miss in the shootout by scoring at the same end for his third league goal of an eye-catching campaign.

Hurzeler’s side have been the most entertaining Premier League team in terms of goals scored this season, and their 24 strikes are unmatched by any other top-flight side.

They are a very well-drilled team, with relentless pressing, and the reward for their supporters, who made the second long trip up from the south coast in the space of three days, was a thoroughly deserved three points.