Bournemouth scored an early goal against the injury-hit defending champions through Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson doubled the lead in the 64th minute before Josko Gvardiol pulled one back.
Manchester City’s Croatian defender #24 Josko Gvardiol reacts following the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on November 2, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Manchester City’s 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end in a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday, which saw the English champions usurped by Liverpool at the top of the table.
The Cherries struck either side of half-time through Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson before Josko Gvardiol pulled one back for City.
Pep Guardiola’s men were beaten for the first time this season in any competition in a League Cup exit to Tottenham in midweek and were hampered by several injuries.Guardiola said ahead of the game that many of his men were playing through the pain barrier but Bournemouth, who beat Arsenal in their last home match, rubbed salt in the visitors’ wounds.
Manchester City’s Swiss defender #25 Manuel Akanji reacts after Bournemouth’s Brazilian striker #09 Evanilson (not pictured) scores the team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on November 2, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP).
Semenyo spun onto Milos Kerkez’s cross to open the scoring on nine minutes.Evanilson steered home another Kerkez delivery just after the hour mark.Gvardiol’s towering header from Ilkay Gundogan’s cross gave City life eight minutes from time.
And Erling Haaland should have snatched a point deep into stoppage time when he hit the post from point-blank range.City fell two points behind Liverpool, who came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 at Anfield.But a first league defeat since December was not as costly as it could have been as title rivals Arsenal also fell to defeat, 1-0 at Newcastle.