Bournemouth 2 Manchester City 1: Defensive Concerns Grow as City's Unbeaten Start Ends on South Coast

Manchester City slipped to a shock 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday as their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season came to an end.

City had won their opening four matches of the campaign, scoring 13 goals and conceding none, but they were undone by a resolute Bournemouth side who took the lead through Philip Billing in the first half. Erling Haaland equalised for City early in the second half, but Jefferson Lerma's header 10 minutes later proved to be the winning goal.

The defeat will be a concern for City manager Pep Guardiola, who has seen his team concede five goals in their last two matches.

City were without Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte at the Vitality Stadium, and their absence was felt as Bournemouth caused them problems throughout the game. The Cherries had the better chances in the first half and took a deserved lead when Billing headed home from a corner.

Haaland equalised for City early in the second half, but Bournemouth refused to lie down and Lerma's header 10 minutes later proved to be the winning goal.

The defeat ended City's 100 per cent start to the season and will give their rivals hope that they can be beaten this season. It also raised questions about City's defence, which has looked vulnerable in recent weeks.

Here is a look at some of the key talking points from the game:

• City's defence is a concern. City have now conceded five goals in their last two matches, and they looked vulnerable against Bournemouth. The absence of Dias and Laporte was a factor, but City's defence has not looked solid this season.
• Haaland is still a force. The Norwegian striker scored his fifth goal in four Premier League games, and he was a constant threat to the Bournemouth defence. He will be a key player for City this season, but he needs more support from his team-mates.
• Bournemouth deserve credit. The Cherries were excellent against City, and they fully deserved their victory. They defended resolutely and took their chances when they came. They will be a tough team to beat this season.

Conclusion:

City's defeat at Bournemouth was a surprise, but it is a reminder that they are not invincible. They have some defensive issues that need to be addressed, but they have the quality to bounce back from this setback.