I saw Erling Haaland's mask slip in Man City defeat at Bournemouth where nothing went right
Manchester City were beaten for the first time in the Premier League as their injury crisis once again caught up with them at Bournemouth.
Despite welcoming back three senior players, City also lost defensive duo John Stones and Ruben Dias. With six changes, they looked disjointed and were behind early on through Antoine Semenyo.
City struggled to get back into the contest and didn't register a shot on target until midway through the second half. Evanilson put the game beyond them, and the Blues fell to defeat despite Josko Gvardiol's header as Erling Haaland's late effort was well saved.
These are the moments you may have missed from Manchester City's clash at Bournemouth:
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De Bruyne's surprise arrival (and late warm-up)
Pep Guardiola hinted on Friday that Kevin De Bruyne had taken a step forward in his prolonged injury recovery in recent days and further suggested a couple of his injured players could return to play off the bench if needed. Lo and behold, De Bruyne stepped off the coach at the Vitality Stadium alongside Kyle Walker and Jeremy Doku.
Doku had leaked his own inclusion and Walker's presence had been predicted on social media, but De Bruyne was a genuine surprise. Was it shocking, then, that he didn't emerge with the rest of his teammates for the pre-match warm-ups?
After a few minutes, De Bruyne jogged out and exchanged a few passes with a coach before standing next to the shooting drills and simply watching. He offered some words of encouragement to Erling Haaland and occasionally moved the ball at his feet a few yards. But this was hardly a player warming up with a view to playing any part in the game.
Strangely, he then took up a seat on the front row of the City bench, usually just reserved for coaches - although there were only eight seats behind for nine substitutes which could explain the decision.
Haaland's angry reaction
By Haaland's standards, this is something of a dry spell in front of goal - one in four in the league before this one (albeit with three in two in the Champions League within that spell). He looked good in the build-up at Bournemouth having had the night off at Tottenham, but struggled a little in front of goal.
It continued the theme from a mixed game against Southampton last weekend - he scored, but missed a hatful of chances in a game that saw him record his second-best expected goals figure in a City shirt.
In the first half, he first headed a Foden cross back across goal for a cross-shot that fell wide of goal and short of a teammate, before throwing a strop when the next cross went over his head. It's normally Haaland being the ice-cool figure, but he let that persona slip for a second to the delight of the home fans.
The fans were on his back in the second half, too. Lewis Cook caught him studs up on the ankle after getting the ball first, with Haaland staying down for treatment. The home fans - who will surely change their tune when seeing the tackle back - continued to mock Haaland for the rest of the game.
He nearly had the last laugh with a late header that almost rescued an equaliser, but it's now one in five in the league for the Norwegian.
Bournemouth reaction speaks volumes
City had the longest 100 per cent record against a single opponent in Premier League history, never dropping points against Bournemouth. But the hosts had beaten Arsenal in their last home game and drawn at Aston Villa last weekend. They were good value for their win and took the game to City just like Guardiola predicted they would.
At full time, the Vitality Stadium erupted and the DJ played a series of celebratory tunes. A handful of Bournemouth players gathered for a spontaneous huddle and there were hugs all round. Andoni Iraola shook hands with Guardiola and then offered a wink to the fans as he strode onto the pitch.
Marcos Senesi broke off from the celebrations to swap shirts with Haaland, while Ryan Christie was wearing Bernardo Silva's jersey. Goalscorer Evanilson re-emerged to speak to some fans shortly after full-time wearing compatriot Savinho's shirt. They weren't waiting for the tunnel and were determined to enjoy a historic result.
City fans put result into perspective
When Antoine Semenyo span and put Bournemouth ahead, all four sides of the Vitality Stadium were applauding - City fans in the corner refusing to let another early goal stop their singing. They had been here before plenty of times this season and had full confidence in their side to get back into it.
The response from City wasn't quite the same as previous games, however, and one became two in the second half. Even Noel Gallagher, in the away end, could only look on with his arms folded. And then a chant came from the travelling fans - "Champions of England, we know what we are".
Shortly after, Gvardiol headed home and the away section rose in volume again. "We're Man City, we fight to the end."
They did, laying siege to the Bournemouth goal into six minutes of injury time, but they had left it too late. Still - a first league defeat in 11 months is hardly a disaster and underlines the fans' balanced view. Just don't expect the wider football community to react as logically.