Manchester City slumped to their fourth loss of the Premier League season following a tame performance against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
As well relinquishing their spot at the top of the Premier League table, Manuel Pellegrini’s men found themselves in third place by Saturday evening following victories to fellow rivals Arsenal and Leicester City.
Manchester City’s form in the Premier League has been less than impressive over the past six games, with Pellegrini’s side only recording victories on two occasions and both at home.
Away from home, City are a completely different side. After winning their first three away games of the Premier League season, Pellegrini’s men have failed to win in their last four trips and have only scored once which came in a 4-1 defeat against Tottenham in September.
With Sergio Aguero absent for long periods of the season already, Wilfred Bony has proved ineffective up front, as was the case on the weekend. This continues to raise question marks over the summer sales of both Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic.
The 2014 champions were missing the spine of Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero, but a title-winning side should be able to cope with injuries, even to their best players.
But Stoke were simply magnificent and the dynamic attacking trio of Marko Arnautovic, Bojan and Xherdran Shaqiri continually scythed through the Manchester City defence.
Ironically, Manchester City’s next two Premier League away games are against Arsenal and Leicester. Pellegrini will be hoping that his important trio are fit or his side’s poor away form could continue.
A flat performance and yet again more dropped points away from home makes Manchester City our Villain of the Week.
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