Man City demolished Brighton 4-0 as Phil Fodenโs double lifted the Premier League title chasers to within one point of leaders Arsenal on Thursday.
Pep Guardiolaโs side were in imperious mood at the Amex Stadium from the moment Kevin De Bruyne headed them into an early lead.
England forward Foden struck twice before the interval to put the result beyond doubt.
Julian Alvarez ended his goal drought after half-time to ensure injured striker Erling Haaland wasnโt missed as his absence with a muscle problem stretched to a second successive game.
โIt is a good result for us, really good,โ Guardiola said. โI said before, what we have done in the past, it does not mean we will do it in the future.
โWe know the margins are so tight. We have to win every one. Each game we are closer.โ
Liverpoolโs surprise defeat at Everton on Wednesday was a welcome boost for Man City in the title race after Arsenal had thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday.
And Cityโs stroll on the south coast kept the destiny of the title in their hands.
Guardiolaโs team, who have a game in hand on both Arsenal and third-placed Liverpool, will be crowned champions for an unprecedented fourth successive season if they win their last five matches.
With at least four goals in each of their last four league games, Man City are rounding into form at just the right moment once again.
But Guardiola warned: โWhat happened to Liverpool, two defeats in a row, it can happen to Arsenal, it can happen to us.
โWhat is important is that still we are there. There are a lot of games to play.โ
Next up for Man City, who are unbeaten in 18 league games, is a trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, while Arsenal head to Tottenham just hours earlier.
Guardiola has bemoaned the โunacceptableโ fixture schedule that he believes puts his playersโ health at risk, blaming the pile-up for their sluggish performance in Saturdayโs 1-0 win against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals.
While City searched for the energy to propel them a step closer to the title, Brighton couldnโt have been any fresher as they played for the first time in 12 days.
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But there was no sign of any weariness from the champions as they took the lead with a typically eye-catching move in the 17th minute.
Foden took possession 30 yards from goal and drifted towards the right flank, where his astute pass found Kyle Walkerโs run.
Man City in command
Walker floated a pin-point cross into the area and De Bruyne timed his run perfectly as the Belgianโs diving header lifted the ball over Brighton keeper Jason Steele into the roof of the net.
De Bruyneโs fourth goal in his last five games marked the first time the midfielder had scored with his head in his Premier League career.
In a rare moment of concern for the City defence, Brighton nearly snatched an immediate equaliser, but Lewis Dunkโs header was too close to Ederson.
Guardiolaโs men doubled their lead in the 26th minute thanks to a stroke of luck when Foden won a dubious free-kick.
Foden didnโt waste the opportunity, unleashing a powerful shot that took a wicked deflection off Pascal Gross as it flashed past the wrong-footed Steele.
The England forwardโs 23rd goal in all competitions this season was followed by his 24th eight minutes later.
Cityโs relentless pressing panicked Brightonโs Valentin Barco into surrendering possession to Bernardo Silva and Foden seized on the loose ball, driving a clinical finish into the far corner from 12 yards.
Alvarez had scored once in his previous 16 games and Haalandโs replacement ended that barren run with his first league goal since January in the 62nd minute.
Walker lost control of the ball after breaking into the area, but his lunging tackle stopped Steele collecting it and Alvarez pounced to slot home from close range.