The third member of the provisional podium is Liverpool, beaten Tuesday at Leicester (1-0), but the Reds have one more game to play.

Without being dazzling, but with real mastery, Pep Guardiola's players were rarely in difficulty among the promoted Brentford, who only managed to line up 136 assists.

The only moment of doubt came between the 12th and 15th minutes, when Brighton took three chances in quick succession, by Onyeka twice, then Wissa.

Ederson's vigilance, then a certain success on the counter, then allowed Foden to score with a flat foot on a cross from De Bruyne (1-0, 16th).

Manchester City was then content to manage until the end of the meeting, with the confidence conferred by its defense, the best in the championship (12 goals conceded in 20 matches).

The gap almost widened at the end of the game thanks to a header from Aymeric Laporte, but this goal was ultimately invalidated by video assistance.

Chelsea crack in stoppage time

Like Liverpool on Tuesday, Chelsea have mismanaged this holiday season and may have just lost their last hopes for the title.

But this draw against Brighton is logical in view of the physiognomy and statistics of the match.

The Blues have never been very comfortable, with 11 shots against 18, 48% ball possession and just 80% successful passes.

Less mobile than usual, they had to wait for a corner from Mount and a pricked header from Romelu Lukaku, giving Maupay an involuntary nudge in the process (1-0, 28 ').

The Belgian striker scored his second goal in two matches, after being silent for more than three months in the league.

This goal did not reward a striking domination of Chelsea, who had obtained only one opportunity, a shot from Azpilicueta on the post (12th).

Brighton draws a draw against Chelsea thanks to a header from Danny Welbeck at Stamford Bridge, December 29, 2021 Glyn KIRK AFP

Brighton was threatening at the end of the first period, with in particular a shot from Lallana deflected by Edouard Mendy (38th), and even more on the return from the locker room with a series of chances for Moder (47th), Bissouma (53rd) ), Maupay (57th, 60th) and Lallana (65th).

The entry into play of N'Golo Kanté then considerably relieved Thomas Tuchel, who had already lost Reece James and Andreas Christensen to injury in the first period.

Brighton finally equalized when we least expected it, but with some merit, on a header from Danny Welbeck (1-1, 90th + 1).

The late goal illustrates the end of the year for Tuchel's players, who have won just three of their last eight league games.

The reigning European champions end their year 2021 in second place, eight points behind City and one point ahead of Liverpool, which they will receive at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

© 2021 AFP