Erling Haaland was anonymous in attack and Ilkay Gundogan was tortured in midfield in a third defeat in a row for the flailing champions
Manchester City's freefalling continued with a limp 2-1 loss at Aston Villa, signalling a third consecutive defeat in all competitions and a ninth reverse in their last 12 matches.
Villa, who beat City at home last season in just one of three league defeats for Pep Guardiola's side, were utterly dominant from the off and could have scored within the first minute when Jhon Duran was thwarted by Stefan Ortega. The German goalkeeper then clawed a Pau Torres header from the line which was an inch from creeping over.
The hosts eventually got the goal they deserved when Duran accepted a gift from former City academy player Morgan Rogers, who had been released by a sublime pass from the wonderful Youri Tielemans. City had plenty of possession but were short on ideas, creating just two chances in the first half. The net would bulge again early in the second half, when Duran struck again, only for City to be saved by an offside flag. Villa bided their time, however, and eventually struck again through Rogers after the England international had waltzed his way through an all-too generous City midfield.
Phil Foden pulled a goal back in the 93rd minute but it was too little, too late for City. The champions drop below Villa to sixth in the Premier League table and are now nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand.
GOAL rates Man City's players from Villa Park…
AFPGoalkeeper & Defence
Stefan Ortega (6/10):
Kept City in it early on with his fine saves from Duran and Pau Torres. Couldn't be faulted for either goal but a little suspect with his feet.
Rico Lewis (4/10):
Kept the ball well and made a tactical foul to prevent a second goal. Moved to central midfield after the break but it only made Villa more dominant in the middle.
John Stones (4/10):
Made his first appearance in a month and it showed as he was hooked at half-time.
Manuel Akanji (4/10)
Played Rogers and Duran onside for the first goal. Decent on the ball, playing lots of switches to Grealish, but made rash challenges.
Josko Gvardiol (4/10):
Headed over the bar with a half chance. Struggled defensively yet again.
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Bernardo Silva (4/10):
Couldn't tame Villa's counters and had no ideas going forward.
Ilkay Gundogan (4/10):
Couldn't get close to Villa's creator-in-chief Tielemans and had no cutting edge in attack.
Mateo Kovacic (4/10):
Ineffective at trying to plug the gaps in the middle.
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Jack Grealish (6/10):
Most of City's play went through him, amid relentless booing from fans of his boyhood club. But he couldn't spark any creativity.
Erling Haaland (3/10):
More anonymous than his last appearance at Villa Park, when he fractured his foot. Had just 18 touches – the fewest of any player who started the game and never looked like causing a threat.
Phil Foden (5/10):
Responsible for City's brightest move with a marauding dribble and shot in the first half but it was just a flash and he didn't offer much else until his consolation goal in added time.
AFPSubs & Manager
Kyle Walker (4/10):
Brought on to shore up the defence but Villa only grew more confident with him on the pitch.
Savinho (4/10):
Didn't look like ever making a difference and hardly got on the ball.
Jeremy Doku (N/A):
Brought on in the 84th minute.
Pep Guardiola (4/10):
His gameplan, which seemed to consist of letting Grealish do all the work, fell flat and he had no response. More injuries (Ruben Dias, Ederson) are not helping but he is running out of ideas.
