Phil Foden’s late response for the visitors was not much comfort after goals from Morgan Rogers and Jhon Duran.
After two more games, defending champions City fell to sixth place in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, while Villa rose to fifth place.
As their season continues to deteriorate, City has now lost nine of their twelve games across all competitions and has lost their last eight road games.
Despite making six changes from last week’s Manchester derby loss, Pep Guardiola’s team put up another stuttering effort.
Villa, who had only triumphed in three of their previous eleven Premier League games, gained a much-needed win that solidified their prospects of finishing in the top four.
Even though Emi Martinez made a great stop against Foden in the first half, they were hardly ever threatened, as Villa consistently managed to get past City’s flimsy defense.
The first minute set the tone as City needed two saves from Stefan Ortega, who replaced the injured Ederson.
He skillfully diverted Pau Torres’ header against the bar, and the goalie, who had already made a stop from Duran after just 15 seconds due to Josko Gvardiol’s error, clawed the ball out from nearly over the line.
It became worse after 16 minutes as Youri Tielemans’ spectacular through-ball tore City apart. In order for Duran to defeat Ortega, he arranged for Rogers to move forward and selflessly square.
After two years at Etihad Stadium without playing for senior City, Rogers won victory for Villa with a beautiful low finish after 65 minutes, rendering Foden’s injury-time goal worthless. City couldn’t react until it was too late.
City’s struggles show no signs of ending
The city’s problems don’t seem to be getting better.
Who do Manchester City turn to on the field and where do they go from here?
Lacking confidence, City’s players kept up their worrying decline, and there was never any indication that it would stop.
Duran should have scored 15 seconds after Gvardiol’s error, and City hardly got any better after that.
Guardiola’s team’s chances of winning a fifth consecutive title have been dashed during the last 12 games, and there are few indications that they will revert to their all-conquering previous selves.
City must concentrate on escaping a downward spiral that is currently jeopardizing their top-four position, regardless of whether they are defending their Premier League title.
The fallen champions are in dire need of a boost of morale as they sit in sixth place, nine points behind leaders Liverpool. That might occur during next month’s transfer window, and it is unthinkable that they won’t get stronger.
After joining City for £100 million in 2021, Jack Grealish was unable to leave his old team. Erling Haaland barely received a kick, and only Rico Lewis and Stefan Ortega emerged from the performance with any recognition.
Guardiola is in unfamiliar area with their difficulties, and there seemed to be a lack of leadership on the field, possibly due to a loss of confidence.
Rogers demonstrates what City is lacking.
During his two years at the Etihad, Rogers never played for Manchester City as a senior.
When the winger was substituted late in the game against his old team, the home crowd at Villa Park gave him a standing ovation eighteen months after he left for Middlesbrough in the summer of 2023.
At Villa Park, the 22-year-old outperformed the comeback Grealish, setting up Duran before a powerful run concluded with him trading passes with John McGinn to secure the win.
The fact that Rogers has had such an impact since signing from Boro in February, when there were doubts about his potential even at Riverside Stadium, is evidence of Unai Emery’s talent for finding and developing players.
Villa really needed the outcome that Rogers inspired. Even though they have never fallen below of the top four, their inconsistent play this season has made it much more difficult to consider them a threat.
In fourth place, they are only separated by goal differential from Nottingham Forest, and their standing will surely help Villa in the transfer window next month.
