Pep Guardiola has claimed one of Man City's title rivals may deserve to win the Premier League title this year after their latest defeat at Brighton.
Despite leading at half-time, City were undone by two quickfire second-half goals, with Matt O'Riley netting the decisive strike on his top-flight debut.
This marks Guardiola's first-ever run of four consecutive defeats in his managerial career, including losses to Bournemouth and Brighton in the league, an exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Tottenham, and a heavy Champions League defeat to Sporting Lisbon.
The loss leaves City trailing five points behind Liverpool, who extended their lead following a victory over Aston Villa.
Guardiola expressed his concerns, telling Match of the Day: "We are not able to do 90 minutes right now," he said. "We played a really good first half and moments in the second half. We lost again so clean our heads, international break and hopefully our players come back fit.
"We have to try and win games again. We were not able to sustain the rhythm in the second half. Four [defeats] in a row. We have to change things quick.
"The schedule becomes tough but it is going to happen when the players come back. Maybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserve it. We see what happens in Liverpool against Aston Villa, we'll see."
Manchester City have been hit hard by injuries recently, with Rodri's season-ending ACL tear being just one of many setbacks. Oscar Bobb has yet to make an appearance this season due to a broken leg, while defensive injuries led Guardiola to give teenager Jahmai Simpson-Pusey his Premier League debut.
"He played really, really good today, really really good," Guardiola praised Simpson-Pusey. "It's not easy to play in these circumstances. He was really, really good."
The defeat to Brighton marks the first time City have lost four consecutive matches since 2006.
Stuart Pearce was the manager at the time, ending the 2005-06 season with three straight league losses before losing the opener of the following season at Chelsea.
After the international break, Guardiola's squad will face Spurs again, followed by a Champions League match against Feyenoord and a crucial Premier League showdown with Liverpool on December 1.
