Guardiola Faces His Toughest Test Yet at Manchester City

Good morning, The Football Newsletter readers,

Pep Guardiola’s body language on the sidelines against Brighton told a story that’s becoming hard to ignore. Manchester City’s 2-1 loss marked their fourth consecutive defeat, the first time in Guardiola’s career he’s faced such a streak in normal time. For a club accustomed to dominance, this dip is uncharted territory—and questions are mounting as City trail Liverpool by five points in the Premier League.

Today, we break down what’s going wrong, why City’s struggles are worrying, and whether this slump could signal a shift in the balance of power in the title race.

A Tough Day at the Amex

Guardiola was visibly tense even before Joao Pedro’s 77th-minute equaliser sparked Brighton’s comeback, with Matt O’Riley later driving the final nail with a late winner. After the final whistle, Guardiola engaged in an animated exchange with Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke, perhaps reflecting his frustration with City’s porous defence and a team that suddenly looks vulnerable.

Four consecutive defeats—not just the scorelines but the patterns emerging in those losses—have raised alarms. This isn’t the City we’re used to seeing.