Manchester City lost their first game in the Premier League on Saturday against Bournemouth.
Manchester City have not been at their best for a number of weeks now, and the Cherries finally did what a number of other teams have threatened to do this season.
Bournemouth ran out 2-1 winners at the Vitality Stadium and were fully worth the three points.
They were great in all aspects, and City just couldn’t cope with their pressing an intensity according to Pep Guardiola himself.
It was a highly disappointing performance from City, although a number of key players were missing.
It is important now for the team to bounce back against Sporting CP on Tuesday in the Champions League, and then beat Brighton on Saturday evening. Both of these games could be very challenging.
With it being back-to-back defeats some City fans have expressed concern. But Rodney Marsh has one simple instruction for those people.
Rodney Marsh sends key reminder to worried Man City fans
As a result of the defeat to Bournemouth, City have now slipped to second in the table in the Premier League.
Liverpool beat Brighton 2-1 at Anfield in what was a really solid result for Arne Slot, and there is now a growing feeling that the Reds might just pose a bigger threat to City than Arsenal this season.
As always after a defeat, there is a big reaction. Especially on social media.
Some people have expressed their concerns about City following the latest result, and also pointed to games against the likes of Fulham, Wolves and Southampton.
But in the eyes of former City forward Rodney Marsh, people should just not be panicking at this stage of the season.
Taking to X, he wrote defiantly: “>Rule No1. City don’t lose the title in November. Rule No2, don’t forget Rule No1…….#calmdown.”
Man City need to stay in the mix
Marsh is right to urge people to remain calm about the current situation.
We all know City are not where they would like to be at the moment in terms of sweeping teams aside.
The loss of key players is making life difficult, and in fairness, a number of teams have simply played very well.
But perspective is required. City are two points behind Liverpool and no longer have the Carabao Cup to worry about.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 25 |
| 2 |  Man CityManchester City | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 23 |
| 3 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
| 4 |  ArsenalArsenal | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 18 |
| 5 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 18 |
| 6 |  ChelseaChelsea | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 17 |
It is all about staying in the mix amid this challenging period. We have seen time after time how City come on stronger in the second half of seasons. Hopefully, the club can perhaps make some additions in the January transfer window.
It is not something we normally see from City, who much prefer to get their transfer business done in the summer. But the situation is different this time around.
City could do with proper cover for Rodri and perhaps a new forward to replace Julian Alvarez, as Ilkay Gundogan has not really made the transition everyone expected.
