City's profligacy is the real problem, not just the defence
Two defeats, three costly errors at the back, and a growing sense that Manchester City are beating themselves. But the numbers tell a different story: Enzo Maresca's side are creating plenty, and converting precious little.
In the 2-1 loss at Villa Park, City racked up 15 shots and four big chances, with an Expected Goals (XG) of 1.56. Aston Villa, by contrast, had just two shots on target and scored both. It was the same tale against Brighton: 21 shots to 7, five big chances to four, and an XG of 1.64. Yet City lost 1-0 at the Etihad.
Zion Suzuki and Bart Verbruggen were both in inspired form, but the pattern is clear. City's attacking threat is being undermined by a frustrating inability to finish. The three goals conceded against Villa and Brighton came from mistakes by Marc Guehi, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Matheus Nunes, but the bigger issue is at the other end.
With Antoine Semenyo sidelined until December with a knee injury, the burden falls on Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden to provide goal threat alongside Erling Haaland. Neither Iliman Ndiaye nor Jeremy Doku have been prolific scorers in their careers, and Ndiaye was unlucky against Villa, hitting the post on several occasions. Against Brighton, Maresca started Ayoubb Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson in midfield, but the creativity was there — the finishing was not.
City's dominance in shots and chances is undeniable. Turning that into goals is the challenge, and it is one they must solve quickly.