Is it beginning of the end for Guardiola's Man City dynasty?

Pep Guardiola’s assemblage connection provided compelling grounds that helium is present facing the closest happening to a situation since his transitional archetypal play astatine Manchester City.

Guardiola had already been perching anxiously connected 1 knee, his look wreathed successful anguish, good earlier Joao Pedro's 77th-minute equaliser started the Brighton comeback that inflicted a 4th successive defeat, City’s archetypal specified series since 2006.

It besides means Guardiola is connected the worst tally of his full managerial career, having ne'er earlier mislaid 4 games successful a enactment successful mean time.

The Catalan, who arrived astatine Manchester City successful the summertime of 2016, had been connected blistery bricks from the archetypal whistle astatine Amex Stadium, his temper made worse by Matt O'Riley racing done a creaking defence to people Brighton's deserved victor 7 minutes from the extremity of a thunderous encounter.

And aft the last whistle, Guardiola was progressive successful lengthy, animated dialog with Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who looked mystified arsenic helium was connected the receiving extremity of a lecture from the City manager.

Casting uncertainty connected Guardiola and Manchester City is simply a hazardous concern fixed their unprecedented past of Premier League success, but determination is nary escaping that these losses, and the mode of them, emblem up trouble.

So, arsenic City way Premier League leaders Liverpool by 5 points, wherever is it each going wrong... and could it truly beryllium the opening of the extremity for Guardiola's dynasty astatine the club?

City's mounting problems are coming astatine some ends of the transportation - arsenic demonstrated erstwhile comparing their stats from past play to this.

In beforehand of goal, they person gone from an mean of 2.53 goals per crippled past play to 2 per crippled this - contempt having much shots connected extremity connected average, up from 18.5 to 19.6.

Are they lacking a cutting edge?

They are surely present relying adjacent much connected Haaland, with their large accidental conversion down from 38% to 29.8%.

At the different end, meanwhile, they are present conceding 1.17 goals per game, up from 0.92 goals per game, portion they are facing much shots per crippled too.

It each adds to the sound surrounding Manchester City, scrutiny volition summation should mediocre results continue.

There is abruptly a vulnerability astir Manchester City that is offering rivals the benignant of encouragement they person seldom scented since Guardiola arrived.

The expanding easiness with which Brighton chopped done City volition person alarmed Guardiola, the statistic backing up the consciousness that they are overmuch easier to get astatine this season.

While City’s midfield went absent without permission successful the 2nd half, the seasoned Kyle Walker looked each 1 of his 34 years arsenic helium was fixed a torrid clip by Kaoru Mitoma, past substitute Joao Pedro.

Brighton’s strategy of attacking City’s close flank looked similar a deliberate ploy, with 44.9% of their attacks targeting that helping arsenic opposed to 26.9% connected the left.

Walker has missed a chunk of this season, but Rico Lewis, who has deputised, often drifts into midfield, leaving abstraction for absorption sides to exploit.

In the people of this season, 38.7% of attacks person travel down City’s close flank compared to 36% connected the left.

Has a weakness been exposed?

The stats highlighting their antiaircraft issues each adhd up to City's malaise - but, successful the astir basal terms, Rodri is the subordinate Guardiola is incapable to replace.

Rodri provides a shield City cannot rebuild successful his absence.

Since the commencement of past play Rodri, who suffered an anterior cruciate genu ligament wounded against Arsenal successful September, played 53 games successful which they won 39, drew 13 and mislaid one, the FA Cup Final against Manchester United.

Without Rodri, City person played 24 games, winning 14, drafting 2 and losing eight. City's triumph percent with the Ballon d'Or victor is 73.6% compared to 58.3% without him.

It is simply a stark opposition lone underscored by their existent struggles.

As erstwhile England midfielder Jamie Redknapp, speaking connected Sky Sports, enactment it: "There was nary mode City suffer those 4 games if Rodri plays."

Manchester City's rivals volition scope for the world’s smallest violin if Guardiola mentions injuries, fixed their immense fiscal and playing resources, but helium is good wrong his rights to notation losing Rodri, his astir important player, for the season.

Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji person each missed games too.

And Guardiola's ain aboriginal is yet to beryllium decided arsenic his declaration expires adjacent June. Director of shot Txiki Begiristain, a adjacent person going backmost to their Barcelona days, is going astatine the extremity of the season.

If City were winning, determination would beryllium a serenity arsenic events moved down the scenes. Instead, this volition go much of an contented unless they propulsion retired of this slump.

And could it be, astatine agelong last, that City's squad needs caller names and caller hunger aft winning the Champions League, six Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup nether Guardiola?

The manager looked bare capable connected the touchline, an energetic beingness throughout. He volition not judge thing little from his players.

If immoderate manager oregon squad tin supply the reply to the questions facing them, Guardiola and Manchester City can.

They volition request to halt the diminution swiftly, however. Liverpool and Arsenal volition beryllium scenting weaknesses.

While 4 successive defeats arsenic Manchester City brag mightiness beryllium a caller acquisition for Guardiola, emerging from the chasing battalion to triumph a league rubric is not.

City's decision by Brighton leaves them 5 points down Liverpool, who bushed Aston Villa 2-0.

But 2 years ago, City were capable to pursuit down Arsenal, overcoming down an eight-point shortage astatine the commencement of April to triumph the Premier League trophy.

Write disconnected Guardiola and City astatine your peril.