Dropped points dent Manchester City’s title challenge

MANCHESTER, England:

Manchester City's English Premier League (EPL) title hopes took another blow after a 1-1 draw with Brighton on Wednesday.

Not even Erling Haaland's 150th goal for the club was enough to stop City from dropping points at home for the second time in as many games and recording a third-straight draw, with Kaoru Mitoma equalising for Brighton in the second half.

Aston Villa also missed out on the chance to move within three points of first-place Arsenal after a goalless draw at Crystal Palace, and new Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior watched on from the stands as his new team was beaten 2-1 by Fulham.

Manchester United's first game since firing Ruben Amorim on Monday ended in a 2-2 draw at relegation-fighting Burnley and Newcastle scored in the 12th minute of added time to beat Leeds 4-3.

Antoine Semenyo also struck a late winner in Bournemouth's 3-2 victory over Tottenham in what could be his last game before a widely anticipated move to City.

BLEW LEAD

For the second time is as many games City blew a lead at home to ease the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the standings.

After the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday Pep Guardiola's team men were held again, this time by Brighton.

Haaland's 41st-minute penalty put City ahead at halftime. But after Mitoma's equaliser on the hour, Haaland was guilty of wasting a golden chance to score the winner when he shot straight at Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen late on.

A run of three draws also included a 0-0 with Sunderland on New Year's Day.

Second-place City are five points behind Arsenal, having played a game more. The gap to the top could be extended to eight points if Arsenal beat Liverpool on Thursday.

Villa are third and level on points with City after a 0-0 draw at Palace -- the second time in three games that Unai Emery's team has dropped points.

SESKO DOUBLE

Darren Fletcher couldn't lead United to victory in his first game as interim coach, with Jaidon Anthony scoring a long-range equaliser for second-from-bottom Burnley.

Two goals from Benjamin Sesko saw United bounce back from Ayden Heaven's early own goal. But Burnley salvaged a draw with the stunning strike from Anthony.

United have won one of their last six games and only three from 12.

It is not known if Fletcher will remain in charge beyond the game, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick among the candidates to become interim coach until the end of the season.

- AP