Manchester City’s disappointing season took another turn for the worse on Saturday as they fell 2-1 to Aston Villa in the Premier League at Villa Park. The defeat marked City’s ninth loss in their last 12 matches, with Pep Guardiola’s squad managing just one victory during this stretch.
Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers secured the win for Villa, leaving City in sixth place in the league, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have played two games fewer. Arsenal, in third, closed the gap on Liverpool to three points with a commanding 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace, although they have also played two additional matches.
Guardiola expressed frustration over his team’s performance, stating, “We don’t have a defense for the results. They are not good.” He emphasized the need for simplicity and clarity in his approach to regain form: “It’s about what I can do with my people to get the results back and continue.”
City’s title hopes appear to be fading rapidly. After winning six trophies in seven years, including an unprecedented four consecutive titles, the team’s current trajectory raises concerns about their ability to secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. Nottingham Forest’s recent 2-0 victory over Brentford has pushed them four points ahead of City in the standings.
Historically, City has only managed to win the title once under Guardiola after suffering six league losses, which occurred in 2021. In contrast, during Liverpool’s title-winning season in 2020, City did not reach six defeats until February.
The latest match could have seen an even larger margin of defeat for City, as Villa dominated throughout. Duran found the net in the 16th minute, scoring his sixth goal in as many starts, while Rogers doubled Villa’s lead in the 65th minute after hitting the post earlier. Phil Foden managed to pull one back for City in stoppage time, but it was not enough to ignite a comeback.
“We have to stay positive, even though it’s difficult, and we have to keep working hard,” said City striker Erling Haaland.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus Shines Against Crystal Palace
In a stunning performance, Gabriel Jesus scored twice for Arsenal in their 5-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace, adding to his hat trick from their previous encounter in the English League Cup quarterfinals. Jesus opened the scoring in the sixth minute, and after Ismaila Sarr equalized shortly after, he restored Arsenal’s lead in the 14th minute. Despite coming close to a second hat trick, hitting the post and having another shot saved, he contributed significantly to Arsenal’s victory, which also featured goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Declan Rice.
Nottingham Forest’s Impressive Ascent
Nottingham Forest’s rise in the league has been one of the season’s surprises. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, they are now in contention for a Champions League spot. A recent win over Brentford, who had been unbeaten at home, further solidified their position, thanks to goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga.
Isak’s Hat Trick for Newcastle
In other action, Alexander Isak scored a hat trick in Newcastle’s 4-0 victory against Ipswich, bringing his tally to 10 goals in his last 11 matches. Isak netted his first goal just a minute into the game, with Jacob Murphy also contributing to the scoreline.
Brighton faced West Ham, where they initially took the lead through Mats Wieffer, but Mohammed Kudus equalized, resulting in a draw.
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