City's injuries aside, Pep says Cherries deserved to win

LONDON - Manchester City's injury crisis proved costly, as the champions saw a 32-game unbeaten English Premier League run come to a surprising end with a 2-1 loss at Bournemouth on Nov 2.

- 

But manager Pep Guardiola preferred not to use injuries as an excuse.

The defeat dropped City to second spot after 10 games, two points behind Liverpool (25), who recovered to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at Anfield.

"I don't know what would have happened. I would like to tell you that if these players (weren't injured), we would have won, but nobody knows," Guardiola said.

"The guys give everything, but not enough to compete against that team in that moment."

City's loss came on the heels of a midweek 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup last 16, and it is rare that Guardiola's men lose two matches in a row.