Rayan Cherki's stunning strike gave Manchester City hope but they could not turn it around at Nottingham Forest and the numbers following the result make for grim reading.

• Man City have lost three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since a run of four in November-December 2024

• They have become the second team in English top-flight history - after Sheffield Wednesday in 1904-05 - to win their first seven games of a season and then lose their next three

• This was their first league defeat by two or more goals against a side starting the day in the relegation zone since November 2008 (a 2-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers).

Enzo Maresca was forced to chop and change his defence again, withdrawing both Josko Gvardiol and Marc Guehi at half-time because of injuries, according to the manager.

It meant Matheus Nunes came in at right-back, with Abdukodir Khusanov moving inside, and Nico O'Reilly playing down the left.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: "I thought City's performance was poor in terms of mentality.

"To make so many mistakes when you go anywhere in the Premier League, but especially to a team who are fighting for the lives, and you know they're going to come after you.

"They were sloppy with the ball, not winning duels. I would even probably go as far as saying there was probably a bit of arrogance at the start of the game from them.

"I think that there are now some big questions to ask the manager about how he gets them back on track. I think with the talent they have got, it is not going to be a big problem.

"But I think defensively, maybe sticking to the same backline for a little while is the way forward."