Manchester City’s dominance in the Premier League is facing a stern test after they suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, a 1-2 loss to Brighton on Saturday. The reigning champions have not lost four in a row since 2006, and manager Pep Guardiola admitted that their era of dominance will eventually come to an end.
Guardiola, whose contract expires in 2025, remains confident that City can win the Premier League again before his departure. However, he acknowledged that the team’s current form is a cause for concern. “We are getting sacked in the morning,” Brighton supporters chanted during the match.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, City failed to convert their chances. Erling Haaland missed several opportunities, and the team’s defense looked shaky. Brighton took advantage of City’s weaknesses in the second half, with Carlos Baleba controlling the midfield and João Pedro and Matt O’Riley scoring the goals.
Guardiola pointed to the team’s injury crisis as a contributing factor to their poor form. Kevin de Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, and Jack Grealish were all unavailable, while several central defenders were also injured. The absence of Rodri, who has been crucial to City’s success in recent seasons, has also been a major blow.
Despite the setbacks, Guardiola remains optimistic about the team’s chances. “If we play like we did in the first half, we have a chance,” he said. City have a tough run of fixtures ahead, including matches against Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester United. However, Guardiola believes that the team can turn things around and go on another long unbeaten run.
