Manchester City have suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time under new manager Pep Guardiola.

City were comprehensively beaten 4-2 by champions Leicester on Saturday, and let slip a goal lead to lose 3-1 to league leaders Chelsea the week before.

It ended a decent run of three wins in four for Guardiola’s side, and it now means that they are seven points adrift of Antonio Conte’s Blues at the top going into their home game against Watford on Wednesday.

City are fourth in the table having won nine of their opening 15 games, and currently hold a three point lead over fifth place Tottenham, who are a further three points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.

However, Guardiola’s side have won just two of their last seven games in all competitions, and haven’t won at home in the league since beating Bournemouth 4-0 on September 17.

Nonetheless, it has still been a decent start to the season for Guardiola and his side, although the last few weeks are sure to give him plenty to think about going forward.

And, with it approaching Christmas, we thought we’d review City’s season so far…

PRO – Ten straight wins

It was all rosy at the Etihad at the start of the season, where Guardiola steered his side to ten straight victories at the start of his tenure.

That included their two wins over Steaua Bucharest to reach the group stages of the Champions League, as well as a 4-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in their first game having reached that stage of the competition.

But it was in the Premier League where they were particularly impressive, defeating the likes of Stoke, Bournemouth, and West Ham comfortably, and of course recording that important 2-1 victory over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United on September 10.

The run was ended after a 3-3 draw with Celtic in the Champions League, but at that stage of the season City looked like the team to beat, and Guardiola looked to have got his team playing the way he wants.

CON – They can’t defend

However, that feel good factor that surrounded their excellent start hasn’t really been seen since they lost 2-0 away at Tottenham on October 2.

And that’s mainly because City look hopelessly inept at the back.

They have not kept a clean sheet since their 4-0 thumping of West Brom on October 29, they’ve played eight games since then, and that clean sheet is the only one in their last 17 games, dating back to their 4-0 win over Bournemouth on September 17.

That is simply not good enough, and is not going to win you titles.

Claudio Bravo has been hugely unconvincing since he arrived in England, while John Stones continues to make costly errors. Nicolas Otamendi has arguably been their best defender so far, and he had a horror show against Chelsea ten days ago.

Guardiola keeps switching between a back four and a back three because, arguably, he doesn’t know who his best defenders are, and whether or not they can play the way he wants them to play.

Seven goals in their last two games, some of which were avoidable, has summed up City’s defensive capabilities over the last few months.

PRO – Man City 3-1 Barcelona

Undoubtedly, City’s highlight of the season so far was beating Barcelona 3-1 in the Champions League at the Etihad.

They were thumped 4-0 at the Nou Camp by Luis Enrique’s side just a fortnight earlier, but a brace from Ilkay Gundogan and a free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne cancelled out Lionel Messi’s first half opener to seal a memorable win for Guardiola’s side, his best since taking over.

It was also important in terms of their Champions League qualification chances, as the defeat in Barcelona had given Monchengladbach hope of pinching second, but their draw with Celtic on the same night as City’s win pretty much ended their qualification hopes.

City’s reward for coming through the group is a tie with Monaco and, if they play like they did against Barcelona, there’s no reason why they can’t progress.

CON – Unspectacular home form

Guardiola won his first three home Premier League games in charge – against Sunderland, West Ham, and Bournemouth – yet their record has been somewhat concerning since then.

In their four most recent games, they have won none of them, picking up three draws and of course lost 3-1 to Chelsea ten days ago.

Although it’s hardly a crisis, it must be a cause of concern for Guardiola, who were unable to kill off Everton, Southampton, and Middlesbrough despite creating several opportunities.

They might even feel the same about the Chelsea game, as they dominated the first half and if De Bruyne had finished his three-yard sitter, it may well have been a different story.

Nonetheless, it’s no win in four at home, and they are certainly not as impressive and as clinical as they were back in the first month or so.

Player of the Season – Fernandinho

Sergio Aguero has netted 16 times for the club this season, but has also missed several chances in that time and was dropped for the trip to Barcelona, while Kevin De Bruyne has been particularly impressive going forward.

However, City rely quite heavily on Fernandinho, as is evidenced by their performances when he is not on the pitch.

The Brazilian international was an ever-present in the Premier League up until last weekend, where his rash actions against Chelsea saw him banned for the Leicester game, and the two to come.

It’s his work in the midfield that helps provide a platform for the front players to go on and create opportunities – he is excellent at breaking up play and regaining possession in the midfield, but he also has the energy to get the ball forward and out wide, and also get up in support of the frontmen if needed.

Fernandinho helps make City tick in the middle of the park, and his presence was certainly missed against Leicester last weekend.