Goals from John Duran and Morgan Rodgers handed the four-time defending champions their ninth defeat in 12 games in a season at Villa Park. Pep Guardiola’s side have won just once in that run.
“We are not immune to results. They are not good,” Guardiola said.
Third-placed Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 5-1 to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool to three points, but have two games in hand.
City have dropped to sixth in the table, nine points behind Liverpool with two games in hand.
“It’s about what I can do with my men to get the results back and continue,” Guardiola said. “If there’s a moment I can’t think about, it’s now. Try to be simple, stick to my principles and give certainty to the team.
Top four hopes dimmed After six titles in seven years and an unprecedented four straight wins, there is little sign of City’s remarkable decline stopping. Guardiola admitted last week that he was not good enough to turn around his team’s form.
City were winless in their last eight away games in all competitions. A fifth consecutive title looks unlikely, but fourth-placed Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 win at Brentford could see a top-four finish and even Champions League qualification under threat.
Under the leadership of Guardiola, City has managed to win the title after losing 6 times in the league. That was in 2021, when it lost two of its last three games, having already been confirmed as champions.
City had lost nine times since Liverpool won the title in 2020, but a sixth defeat did not come until February. Guardiola suffered six defeats in his first season in English football in 2016-17 as City finished third.
The latest defeat could be exacerbated by a dominant Villa side, who climbed to fifth.
In the 16th minute, Duran scored the sixth goal with an assist from Rogers. Duran had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half and Rodgers hit the post before doubling Villa’s lead in the 65th minute.
Phil Foden pulled a goal back for City in injury time, but it was not enough for a late comeback.
“We have to stay positive, even if it’s difficult, and we have to keep working hard,” said City striker Erling Haaland.
Jesus Streak Gabriel Jesus has scored five goals in a week against Crystal Palace.
The Brazilian striker, who scored a hat-trick in Arsenal’s 3-2 comeback win against Palace in the English League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, scored another two goals when the teams meet again on Saturday.
Going into Wednesday’s game, Jesus had only scored once for Arsenal since the end of January.
Jesus struck twice in a torrid start at Selhurst Park. He took the lead in the sixth and Ismaila Sir equalized five minutes later.
Jesus restored Arsenal’s lead in the 14th and was denied a back-to-back hat-trick when he hit the post and then had another close-range effort saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice also scored for Arsenal.
Forests Flying High If the death of the city is a surprising story of climate, so is the rise of the forest.
After struggling with relegation for most of last term, Forest are in contention to qualify for the Champions League and possibly beyond.
Facing an unbeaten Brentford side at home, goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga gave Nuno Espirito Santo’s side another statement win on the road, having already won at Anfield and Old Trafford this year.
Isaac Treble Alexander Isaac scored a hat-trick in Newcastle’s 4-0 win at Ipswich.
The Sweden international, who has scored 10 goals in the last 11 games, completed his treble in just 54 minutes at Portman Road. Jacob Murphy also scored.
Brighton went 1-0 up at West Ham through Mats Weffer, but Mohamed Qudus equalised.