According to a report published by BBC on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has encountered his first major setback since becoming the club's manager following a shock 1-0 defeat against Brighton at the Etihad Stadium. The disappointing result comes after City also lost to Aston Villa last weekend.

The former Chelsea boss enjoyed an excellent beginning to his tenure, guiding Manchester City to seven successive Premier League victories. However, he has now acknowledged that the team's early success has come to an end.

Manchester City dominated possession against Brighton and managed 21 attempts on goal, their highest home shot tally without scoring since November 2024. Nevertheless, they failed to convert their opportunities and suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time in 14 months.

Their defensive performances have also raised concerns, as City have conceded 10 goals in nine matches, twice the number recorded by Arsenal. Mistakes involving Gianluigi Donnarumma and Matheus Nunes have proved particularly damaging during their recent struggles.

Although Maresca has defended his tactical decisions and team selections, he recognises that his players must eliminate unnecessary mistakes at the back.

Further questions have emerged about City's newly assembled midfield, which followed the club's significant £327 million investment during the summer transfer window.

Maresca chose a physically imposing midfield against Brighton, starting Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi together. This decision meant that Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki, two of the team's most creative players, had to settle for places on the bench.

Despite scoring 20 goals in the league this season, City struggled to produce the clinical finishing required to provide Erling Haaland with sufficient support. Iliman Ndiaye also failed to take advantage of his opportunities, contributing to the hosts' disappointing afternoon.

"We are conceding silly goals that we can avoid," Maresca stated.

Manchester City remain top of the Premier League standings on goal difference, with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano watching Saturday's encounter from the stands.

However, their position at the summit is under threat, as Arsenal could move ahead of them if they secure victory against Liverpool. Maresca will be eager to address his side's weaknesses and restore confidence before their crucial Champions League trip to RB Leipzig on Wednesday.