Manchester City's misery continued as they lost 2-1 at Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, late goals from substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O'Riley condemning the champions to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions.

It was the first time in his managerial career that City boss Pep Guardiola has lost four in a row and left his side second in the table with 23 points from 11 games. Brighton climbed to fourth on 19 points.

City looked set to end their winless run after Erling Haaland scored in the 23rd minute when Mateo Kovacic's long pass between the two Brighton centre-backs was met by the Norway international, who slotted home his own rebound to take his league tally to 12.

Brighton improved after the break and Pedro drew the home side level in the 78th minute when City failed to clear the ball and the Brazilian pounced to slot past Ederson.

"Last season we dropped too many points and the gaffer told us to believe in ourselves this season and we are doing well this season against the big teams," Pedro told Sky Sports post-match.

O'Riley made his Premier League debut a memorable one five minutes later when he latched onto Pedro's through ball and slotted home from close range past the outstretched arm of Ederson.

Guardiola will rue City's wasted chances in the first half, including a pair from Haaland in the space of a few minutes that, on another night, could have put the Norwegian on course for a hat-trick.

The first of these saw goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen dive to his right to block Haaland's fierce shot at his near post. Haaland then headed just over the bar.

Although Brighton had just 39.5% of the possession, there was a sense that a goal was coming in the second half. The hosts went close shortly after the break when Jack Hinshelwood rose high to meet Pervis Estupiñán's looping cross, but the alert Ederson did well to keep out the danger.

City have been hit by injury, with Nathan Aké, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Rúben Dias all missing on Saturday, while Rodri and Oscar Bobb were long-term absentees.

Their last three defeats were a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur that knocked them out of the League Cup, a shock 2-1 league defeat at Bournemouth and a 4-1 Champions League thrashing at the hands of Sporting that left midfielder Bernardo Silva saying City were in a "dark place".