Manchester City’s struggles continued as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, with goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers overshadowing Phil Foden’s late consolation.
The loss drops the defending champions to sixth place in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, having played two more games. Villa’s triumph, marked by their resilience and incisive attacking play, moved them to fifth, boosting their hopes of a top-four finish. City, winless in their last eight away matches and with nine defeats in 12 games across all competitions, find themselves in an unprecedented nosedive under Pep Guardiola.
Villa, guided by the sharp management of Unai Emery, exploited City’s defensive frailties from the outset. Morgan Rogers, a former City player, starred with a goal and an assist, capping off a stellar display against his old club.
City’s lack of cohesion and leadership was evident, with Guardiola’s numerous changes failing to spark improvement. Meanwhile, Villa’s consistency and promise strengthened their case as genuine top-four contenders, setting the stage for a crucial transfer window to bolster their ambitions.
For City, the immediate focus must shift from title defense to halting their alarming decline.
