Man City suffered their first Premier League defeat of 2024 as they were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth after turning in a performance well below par at the Vitality Stadium.
Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson struck to seal a deserved victory for the Cherries who had never before beaten City in the league in their entire history.
Liverpool’s comeback win at Brighton ensured they established themselves at the summit, at City’s expense.
Bournemouth smelled blood from the off. Inside two minutes, Ederson was forced into a double save to first deny Semenyo and then Justin Kluivert from the follow-up and, after the lively start continued, the laser-focused Semenyo turned and tucked home his fourth of the season after being picked out by Milos Kerkez.
Man City lacked any sort of fluency going forward and ended the first half, uncharacteristically, without a shot on target. Kerkez bravely blocked a drive from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland skewed wide, but that was as good as it got.
A last-ditch save from Ederson prevented Evanilson from doubling the hosts’ lead shortly after the start of the second half, but the Brazilian did just that after 64 minutes, making early contact with a wicked Kerkez ball to catch the City stopper out.
Bournemouth players celebrate after Evanilson doubles their lead over Man City
Amazingly, it could have been three when the Cherries broke again within minutes, but Marcus Tavernier struck the post before Adam Smith somehow blazed the rebound over with the goal gaping.
Josko Gvardiol got on the end of an Ilkay Gundogan cross to loop in a header and halve the deficit, which set up an incredibly tense finale. But City knew their luck was out when Haaland guided a simple shot onto the post from point-blank range at the death.
Story of the match in stats…
Iraola revels in rare win against City
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola:
“It feels great. It’s very difficult to beat City. You have to enjoy this today; tomorrow we will start to think about Brentford.
“Apart from the result, I’m very proud of the performance. To beat them deservedly is even more difficult and even if we suffered until the end, I think we deserved this one.
“I’ve lost so many times against him [Guardiola], so you have to enjoy when the day arrives!
“It is the first Premier League game they lost in 2024 and we are in November. You have to enjoy it because you know it’s not going to happen a lot.”
Guardiola: Bournemouth deserved win – we couldn’t match their intensity
Man City manager Pep Guardiola:
“We could not match up the intensity of Bournemouth, who had six or seven days. There was less recovery from the trip from London.
“We talked about that, we had to increase our duels in that position. They had chances, we created some especially at the end. And we had our momentums, but the long balls, we could not defend them and when that happens, you have to defend so deep.
“The guys gave everything. After nine years together, I know they gave it but not enough to compete against that team in that moment.
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Tim Sherwood reacts to Erling Haaland and Phil Foden’s missed chances as Man City lost to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
“Kyle Walker has trained 16 days and not done a single session. He made an incredible effort. Yesterday was the first time we trained as a team. Manuel Akanji couldn’t play in the last game because of a niggle. Nathan Ake is in the wars and made an incredible effort.
“It’s not just about that, but when you are in that position you have to do more in concentration and win a little bit more.
“We knew Bournemouth have success in this part of the season and it’s well deserved. In other circumstances we could have defended our unbeaten record.”
Who are Man City missing?
Man City dejected players at full time at the Vitality
Guardiola claimed his side had only 13 first-team players available to face Bournemouth after their 2-1 loss at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Already without Walker, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku, De Bruyne and Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji was withdrawn ahead of kick-off, before Savinho left on a stretcher in the second half in north London.
However, walking wounded Walker and Akanji both returned to start at the Vitality – as did Nathan Ake and Ilkay Gundogan – with Savinho, De Bruyne and Doku only fit enough to be substitutes – although only the latter of that trio made it off the bench.
Meanwhile, centre-backs Ruben Dias and John Stones were not involved in the squad, with Guardiola revealing the pair are now set for an extended spells on the sidelines, meaning the Premier League champions are now without these key players:
