Ref row, Champions League agony, derby blow - the last time Man City lost three in a row and what happened next

Manchester City may not be in uncharted waters but they’re sailing close.

The Blues have lost three games in a row for the first time in more than six years. They’ve never lost four on the bounce under Pep Guardiola. Indeed the last time they did so was a run of six defeats on the spin under Stuart Pearce at the tail end of the 2005-06 season when City finished 15th.

Guardiola spoke of his defiance and desire to put things right in the aftermath of the crushing Champions League defeat in Lisbon. Last time he lost three straight games he won the title five days later. Rivals be warned.

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In the spring of 2018 City were closing in on the Premier League title and seeking a spot in the Champions League semi-finals. The fixture list presented them an opportunity to do both and see off major rivals in the process.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool awaited in Europe either side of a derby against United where a win would bring the title. But City lost all three matches.

The first came at Anfield. And after City's bus was attacked on the way to the ground, their European ambitions were dented as the hosts scored three times without reply in the first half to tilt the tie firmly in Liverpool's favour.

But the perfect riposte was possible. The prospect of winning the title by beating Jose Mourinho’s United would have been the stuff of dreams for many of a City persuasion and when Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan put them two up at the Etihad the champagne was coming off the ice.

But United rallied and turned the game on its head with City spurning chance after chance and being denied a blatant penalty for a challenge by Ashley Young on Sergio Aguero.

Days later and Liverpool were in town for the return leg. An early Gabriel Jesus goal raised hopes of a comeback. Those hopes seemingly turned into belief when Leroy Sane bundled in a second before the break only for referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz to rule the goal out for offside even though the ball came off City old boy James Milner. A furious Guardiola stormed onto the pitch to remonstrate with the official and was promptly sent off.

As he watched from the stand, Liverpool scored twice without reply to secure a spot in the last four.

It left Guardiola defeated but not deflated with the officials bearing the brunt of his frustration and praise reserved for his players for the body of work produced thus far.

“I said [to the referee] it was a goal, Milner passed it to Leroy and I said it was a goal and that’s why he sent me off,” said Guardiola. “It’s different to go in at half-time 2-0. I didn’t insult him, I just said: ‘Mateu, it is a goal’.

“I said the ball came from Milner, he said: ‘Ah from Milner, the pass?’ ‘Yes from Milner and when it comes from Milner it is not offside.’

“I know him (the referee) from Spain so I could imagine that. I was polite, I was correct. Mateu Lahoz is a special guy, he likes to be different, he likes to be special.

“He’s a referee who likes to feel different, he’s special. When everybody sees things he is going to see the opposite. It’s too much to send off because I didn’t say any wrong word.”

He added: “We’ve had 10 amazing months. We have to recover mentally for the six games remaining. Our 10-month winning spell is exceptional.”

City promptly went to Tottenham and won in their next match, and were crowned champions when basement boys West Brom won at Old Trafford. Fast forward eight-and-a-half years and City are once again reflecting on three successive defeats, once again you wouldn’t bet against them ending the campaign as champions.