Heads dropped, individual errors proved costly, injuries hampered the cause and Manchester City were left reflecting on just where it all went wrong.

A sentence that could be applied to almost any of the past 12 games but instead refers to an Etihad drubbing handed out more than four years ago. In case you hadn't noticed, Manchester City have stopped winning football matches in recent weeks and Pep Guardiola is desperately searching for answers. The trip to Leicester City this weekend will perhaps remind the City chief of his and his squads powers of recovery.

The Blues were humbled 5-2 in their own backyard by the Foxes in October 2020. Individual errors have blighted City in recent weeks but on that autumn afternoon they contrived to concede three spot kicks. After the final one was converted, putting the seal on a Leicester win, City's players sank to their knees and many fans and pundits wondered what on earth was going on.

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It was only the second game of the season after a delayed start during the Covid pandemic but City took just 12 points from a possible 24 in their opening eight league games, a return that left them 11th in the table and eight points off top spot. They are a quartet of places better off now but four points further behind the leaders.

"I will find solutions," stated Guardiola after that 2020 defeat. “We played a really good first half and scored early on,” he added. “We got nervous and gave three penalties away and when you give three penalties you cannot win."

Playing well in patches but falling to nerves. It sounds like the Pep of recent weeks rather than four years ago. The current crisis is perhaps more concerning but City and Guardiola rallied in 2020 as the Blues dipped into the transfer market to bring in £62million man Ruben Dias.

He had a transformational impact on the side, ending up the Premier League player of the year as City claimed the title. While the Championship looks beyond them this term, splashing the cash to add a player capable of improving and lifting the squad is a possibility that should really turn into a probability for City next month.

Guardiola and the recruitment department got it right with Dias, he is arguably still the most important defender at the Etihad, and a repeat transfer trick could help kickstart the season.

That 2020-21 campaign was marked by the impact of Ilkay Gundogan - who ended up as top scorer - and the emergence of Phil Foden. Both have struggled this term and both would love to roll back the years to help City improve.

Guardiola utilised his squad four years ago to spark a turnaround, something he has not quite been as quick to do this time around. Could James McAtee, for example, be afforded an opportunity as Foden was in 2020? City must trust in what they have and trust in what Guardiola can do.

Solutions are needed. They have been found in the past, with a little help from the transfer market.