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