Manchester Metropolis suffered their first league defeat of the season on Saturday afternoon, as Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth beat the champions 2-1 on the Vitality Stadium.
An injury-stricken Metropolis aspect travelled to the south coast coming off the again of a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham within the Carabao Cup through the week, with hopes of returning again to profitable methods in opposition to the Cherries.
It was the worst doable begin for the blues, as Milos Kerkez stormed down the left-wing leaving Phil Foden in his wake, earlier than fizzing a cross in for Antoine Semenyo, who managed expertly earlier than giving the hosts a priceless lead inside eight minutes.
In a first-half completely dominated by Bournemouth, Manchester Metropolis have been maybe barely grateful to solely go in on the break a purpose down, with work to do within the second-half for the champions.
Nonetheless, Andoni Iraola’s aspect refused to let up and doubled their benefit within the second half in related trend to the primary purpose, with a Kerkez cross this time transformed by Evanilson, scoring previous his worldwide companion to offer the house followers a dream.
Controlling the ball with out creating probabilities, the Blues seemed misplaced for concepts, however an excellent header within the eightieth minute by Josko Gvardiol ignited some hope of a comeback, because the Croatian plucked out an Ilkay Gundogan cross to half the deficit.
As Manchester Metropolis pushed and probed seeking an equaliser, it was final probability saloon in added time of 90 minutes, when Erling Haaland had a double probability which in some way stayed out of the web, as a headed effort saved by Travers rebounded to the striker, who couldn’t type his ft out to transform the observe up.
The sport ended at 2-1, with Bournemouth claiming a primary ever victory over Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League, because the blues slipped right down to 2nd place within the desk going into Champions League motion midweek.
With that being stated, listed here are 5 Issues We Discovered from Saturday afternoon’s 2-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth on the south coast!
Metropolis have been crushed by the higher group!
On paper, Saturday’s conflict with Bournemouth ought to’ve been a cushty three factors for Manchester Metropolis, nevertheless it definitely didn’t pan out that approach, with the hosts being a lot the higher aspect.
The closely congested fixture checklist meant {that a} Metropolis group stuffed with accidents understandably performed like a group that had performed soccer below 72 hours earlier than, with the squad trying extremely dreary in direction of the top of the match.
A shake-up in midfield is far wanted!
Throughout his cameos off the bench and begins in cup competitions, James Mcatee has seemed like a vigorous presence for Manchester Metropolis, with the 22-year-old being given extra minutes this season.
Nonetheless, the teen has solely been given one single minute within the Premier League this season, which he has each proper to really feel aggrieved by, particularly contemplating the accidents throughout the board this season.
Given the truth that Metropolis proceed to get overrun in midfield, it’s now time to depend on the likes of Mcatee and Nico O’Reilly, as Pep Guardiola’s aspect look so as to add some drive and a few legs again into the center of the park.
The start of the top for Kyle Walker
Membership captain Kyle Walker has been an amazing servant to Manchester Metropolis throughout his seven years on the Etihad Stadium, with the full-back lifting numerous trophies, together with captaining the aspect to a Premier League title final season.
Nonetheless, it appears clear that soccer on the prime degree is beginning to move by him, and Saturday afternoon’s drubbing by Antoine Semenyo particularly was a horrible reminder of Kyle Walker’s age.
The England worldwide will undoubtedly have an element to play this season, however beginning these video games is beginning to look unattainable, with wingers licking their lips on the prospect of going through him nowadays.
A efficiency extra worrying than the end result
Dropping to this high-flying Bournemouth aspect has no disgrace in it, however the method wherein the blues misplaced will likely be of concern to Pep Guardiola, as his aspect have been comfortably second finest on Saturday.
Arsenal rocked as much as the Vitality Stadium final month and suffered the identical destiny, so Manchester Metropolis can have been below no phantasm as to what they have been strolling in to, however they nonetheless couldn’t get a foothold within the recreation.
Struggling back-to-back defeats is at all times an alarming sound for a Pep Guardiola aspect, however the efficiency itself will likely be dinging the alarm bells louder, as Metropolis look to get again to profitable methods on Tuesday in Lisbon.
There may be nonetheless a protracted season forward…
Regardless of what the disaster brigade would possibly recommend, Saturday’s defeat hasn’t received as huge of an impression on the title hopes as is being quoted, as we’re nonetheless in early November in a season that ends in Could.
Metropolis prolifically have a sluggish begin to the season earlier than discovering their ft on the enterprise finish, and the accidents within the squad definitely received’t assist the possibilities at discovering early season kind for the blues.
Being solely 1 / 4 of the way in which by means of the Premier League marketing campaign, Pep Guardiola would be the most relaxed man in Manchester about his hopes of retaining the title this season.