City registered 15 shots during their defeat but only managed to score once courtesy of Erling Haaland’s second-half header.

Villa keeper Zion Suzuki was in inspired form as he made six saves, while City twice hit the post through Iliman Ndiaye and Josko Gvardiol in a frustrating afternoon at Villa Park.

City are the second highest scorers in the league but Maresca still thinks his team need to be more clinical.

He said: “Now I need to review the game.

“For sure if you see the amount of time we spent in their box, sometimes we need to be more accurate and precise in the final third and score more goals.

“We spent most of the game in their side, in their box in the final third.

“Sometimes you have to be more clinical when you have chances but also more precise on the last pass, we have to learn from that.

“You can always do something better but for me when you plan a game, especially against this team, you know you are going to concede some transitions because they wait for that.”

Rayan Cherki was left on the bench in last week’s win over Ipswich and also endured a frustrating afternoon against Villa after he was booked in the 38th minute.

The 23-year-old, who has scored six times this season, was taken off at half time on Saturday as well as in the defeat to PSG in the Champions League last week but Maresca says his substitution was down to him being on a yellow.

He added: “The last game I changed him at half time, him and Ruben Dias against PSG. It’s not just Rayan.

“It’s just in that moment where we can improve things and change things. Him and Rayan were both on yellow card and sometimes the referee with the noise can judge in different ways.”

City lost their three-point lead at the top of the table after Arsenal earned a 2-0 victory over Everton but still remain at the summit.

Captain Dias is aiming for his side to produce the perfect reaction against Brighton in the Carabao Cup this week.

He told City’s website: “We had chances and they ended up scoring two goals in two transitions – very efficient. Room to improve, we need to do better.

“I felt like we were dangerous on many occasions, even if the finish wasn’t there we arrived in dangerous places but not able to play. A word of appreciation to the boys because we kept fighting to the end.

“It is what it is. Whatever happens we need to react to it. The team had a very good reaction. The second one was tough because it was very close to our equaliser. We kept going and tried to create chances. Not our day but we keep moving forward.”