Semenyo and co see off Man City to hand Guardiola first Premier League defeat of season | OneFootball

Ten games into a season is usually seen as an accurate barometer of where clubs can expect to end up at the end of the campaign, and if that proves to be the case then there could be new Premier League champions crowned for the first time in five years.

Of course, Manchester City only sit two points behind Liverpool after being deservedly beaten by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, but it is not so much the league table but the manner of the defeat which will concern City fans.

Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring in the first half, taking his tally for the season to four in the Premier League, before Brazilian forward Evanilson netted after the break to hand Pep Guardiola’s side a first league defeat of the season.

Guardiola’s side have been uncharacteristically sloppy at the back this season, having now conceded 11 goals in their ten games played following this defeat, and proved to be once again. This was the fourth time his team have conceded the first goal in a game this season. The difference, however, is that they have gone on to win their previous 11 games when they have conceded first.

The opening goal should have come sooner too. The home side set the tone early on when Ederson produced a magnificent double save to first deny Semenyo, before reacting superbly to keep out a follow up strike from Justin Kluivert.

But the Cherries did not have to wait long for their opener. Milos Kerkez got the better of Phil Foden down Bournemouth’s left-hand side before squaring it to Semenyo in the middle who, with his back to goal, turned sharply and picked out the bottom corner to give his side the lead.

City’s disappointing defensive record this season has been eased by the fact they have, unsurprisingly, scored a league-high 21 goals, but Guardiola’s team were far from their usual dangerous selves too. Kerkez produced a fine block to deny Bernardo Silva a goal in City’s best chance of the first half while Haaland also shot just wide after chesting the ball down at the back post but they struggled to create many clear opportunities.

The reigning champions, usually so adept at controlling games with their relentless possession before killing teams off, were exposed time and time again on the fast break by Bournemouth’s electric front four of Marcus Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo and Evanilson.

And that is exactly how the second goal came about too, the brilliant Semenyo bursting forward before feeding Kerkez on the overlap to notch his second assist of the game, crossing for Evanilson to slide in and finish past Ederson.

It should really have been three when Tavernier’s curling strike smacked the post before captain Adam Smith blazed over on the rebound.

City were given a lifeline when Ilkay Gundogan’s cross was met by the head of defender Josko Gvardiol, who headed in off the post to grab his third of the season and set up a nervous ending for the home fans.

But this day belonged to Andoni Iraola’s Cherries, who continue to show they can mix it with the Premier League’s big boys.