Pep Guardiola in feisty exchange with Brighton star after losing fourth game in a row for first time in 898-game career

PEP GUARDIOLA was embroiled in a heated exchange with Jan Paul van Hecke as he fell to a fourth defeat in a row for the first time in his career.

Manchester City looked set to stop the rot going into the international break as Erling Haaland put them one goal up with a scruffy finish.

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Pep Guardiola was involved in a heated exchange with Jan Paul van Hecke[/caption]

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It came as Man City lost 2-1 to Brighton[/caption]

Rex

It marked the first time Guardiola has lost four games on the spin in his 898-game managerial career[/caption]

However, second half goals from Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley compounded the reigning champions to another defeat.

And after 898 games in his senior managerial career, it was the first time he has lost four on the spin.

It was also the first time City as a club have lost four on the bounce since Stuart Pearce was in charge in August 2006.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager was seen speaking to the Seagulls defender Van Hecke after the full-time whistle.

It came as the conversation saw Guardiola whisper something in the Dutchman’s ear.

He and Van Hecke then refused to let go of one another hands as they initially attempted to walk away from each other, as their argument carried on.

The argument seemed to come from a late altercation between Van Hecke and Haaland towards the end of the game.

Van Hecke had pulled Haaland to the ground in the penalty area in injury time as the defender fell to the floor after he tried to shield Haaland away from the ball before it was collected by goalkeeper Bart Verburrgen.

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The referee had awarded Haaland a yellow card for his heated reaction to the incident.

The Norwegian saw a record of his own come crashing down, with this game being the first time he has lost when scoring in 46 matches.