Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross concedes Manchester City proved their class for last night's defeat.

After a goalless first half, City scored three goals in the second period to secure a 3-0 win and go above Liverpool and back to the top of the Premier League.

Gross said, "I thought it was a level up from Arsenal and Spurs. City are a top team, they are strong in every position and they don't make many mistakes. When you get chances you need to be clinical, and if you don't do that you know it will be tough."

City needed a stroke of luck with deflections for their first two goals by Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden before Bernardo Silva got their third eight minutes from time.

"Against City the first goal is always important because keeping the ball is their strength. Until then I thought we played well and defended okay," added Gross.

"We had to stay as long as we could in the game after they scored their first but they got the second quite quickly although it was a deflected shot. It wasn't our day but we will recover now for Sunday against Southampton."