It looked like Manchester City might spoil the leaving party...
Image source, Getty ImagesBut a former Sky Blue of a different kind had other ideas...
Image source, Getty ImagesCan Pep Guardiola get his revenge when Ruben Amorim brings his Manchester United side to the Etihad on 15 December?
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Manchester City are struggling at the moment. They have got the youngsters playing at the back and that is never easy.
"But then you look at the forward players and there is so much experience within that squad, they should be able to go there and see the game out after they went 1-0 ahead.
"If Erling Haaland scores that penalty then that might change the game. How often do we see him miss penalties? Very, very rarely. A bad night and a bad week for City.
"At some point during the season, Man City will hit top form and we will be looking back thinking, 'do you remember when City had that little blip?'.
"They will bounce back. That is what champions do. They will be stronger and it will be no surprise."
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to TNT Sports: "Cannot say much when you lose 4-1. Congratulations to Sporting Lisbon for the game.
"We had a fantastic first half, now we are struggling to score. We create and concede when the opponents don't do much.
"The first half was really good, we scored a goal, but every pass, the simple things we missed sometimes.
"It can happen. After the third and the fourth we have to avoid it. Emotionally we were not stable enough and in this competition you have to be stable. At 2-1, many things can happen. We have to be emotionally more stable.
"It was a very good action for them. They made a good moment, they were fast and scored."
On if defensive changes are a problem: "Maybe. I don't know. When you play lots of games you cannot play the same line up and same back four. We have had these problems from day one but it is what it is.
"Now is the difficult moment in terms of results but I want to be here. I want to fight and not give up, I like this challenge as a manager I have ahead of me. Who wants to follow us will be there.
"It is football. Maybe what we lived in the past is the exception. Sometimes you can lose. We were in the position where they punished us for the few they do and we struggled for the chances we had.
"The first half was almost enough to finish the game and then we were losing 3-1."
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, speaking to TNT Sports: "It's disappointing because we're a bit in a dark place right now. Everything looks to be going in the wrong way.
"Even when we are playing well we don't score our chances and we concede too easily. We definitely need to look inside and check what we're not doing well. And we need to get better very quickly otherwise it will be very difficult to come back from these losses.
"It's football. It's difficult to find reasons for what is happening to us. I don't remember in seven-and-a-half seasons this team losing three games in a row. It just looks like this team is going the wrong way now.
"The good thing is, even though we have lost these three games, we are still in a good position, especially in the Premier League. After losing three games we are still in the main competitions fighting for everything. But we need to better, obviously.
"Our injured players need to come back because we need them and it's just not good enough tonight."
Image source, Getty ImagesSince Manchester City's first ever Champions League campaign in 2011-12, no side has missed more penalties in the competition than they have (nine).
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
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Come back to this page on Wednesday to read a selection of replies
Two Premier League clubs are in Champions League action on Tuesday, with both matches getting under way at 20:00 GMT.
Liverpool v Bayer Leverkusen - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Sporting v Manchester City
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City lost to both Bournemouth and Spurs in the space of four days, which begs the question, has the bubble burst for the champions? One league defeat in 11 months is probably not a reason to press any panic buttons and neither is a defeat in the least important domestic competition.
There are however other underlying concerns that have become apparent since the Champions League games started. In the last nine domestic games, there have been five City wins, but not one has been by more than a single goal.
City are used to steamrolling teams, keeping easy possession and frequently cantering to victory. That hasn’t happened lately. That could be because they are missing Rodri, who has been unavailable for eight of those games, as well as Kevin de Bruyne who has been out too. De Bruyne wasn’t even risked from the bench against Bournemouth even when they were desperate to get an equaliser in the final 10 minutes.
Pep, though trying to deflect to some degree, is clearly struggling with an injury and fitness crisis that doesn’t look like ending any time soon.
There is another concern nagging at the back of his mind. Erling Haaland is the main man and although they have survived without his goals before when he has been out, there is a feeling that if he got another injury now that would have a catastrophic effect.
City already have seven points out of nine in the Champions League campaign, so it might be tempting to rest their star striker against Sporting for at least part of the game. They will probably qualify anyway and if he is to be needed it is more likely to be in upcoming ties against Juventus and Paris St-Germain. You don’t want to turn a blip into a crisis.
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Freddie Pye
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesThere is absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that Kyle Walker has been one of the all-time great right-backs to grace the Premier League. That is beyond debate and his legacy in the English top flight should be celebrated.
This is a player who has revolutionised the art of defending from the right, won everything there is to win in the game, continues to be praised by his colleagues and opponents, and remains an exemplary physical wonder given his age.
However, there comes a point for every top-level professional when age catches up and you can start to see declines in the ability to perform the way they have been known to over many years.
This is the stage we are at now with the Manchester City defender and there is no hiding from that fact.
Injury struggles over recent weeks are emerging and his inability to consistently train alongside team-mates may also be a reflection of that.
By all means, Walker can still do a job. That goes without saying. His vast experience and knowledge of the game is invaluable, but these are very specific matches that he should be called up for - contests where City have more of the ball away from their own goal.
Opponents that boast fast attackers and flair forwards should no longer call for Walker, as showcased against Fulham and most recently Bournemouth, in particular.
Individual battles against Adama Traore and Antoine Semenyo have indicated that the end is likely near for Walker, who would more often than not ensure that neither of those players would get anywhere near him in a one-against-one foot race, perhaps as recently as a year ago.
But with Rico Lewis available as Pep Guardiola's only other right-back solution, does the City manager even have the option of phasing Walker out? Perhaps not.
Nevertheless, celebrate the art of the England international, appreciate his outstanding contributions to the football club over the greatest period in its history, marvel at his legacy within the Premier League as arguably the division's greatest-right-back, but be open to the fact that we are seeing a steady decline in his performance levels and ability to compete at the most intense level of the game.
Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes tiredness "is a mindset" and Manchester City should not use that as an excuse for their defeat by Bournemouth.
The result marked the end of the club's 32-game unbeaten streak in the top flight.
Watch the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City's Bernardo Silva says they will only "worry" about Ruben Amorim becoming head coach of Manchester United when he is in the post.
The boss of Sporting - who faces City in his penultimate game in charge of the Portuguese champions on Tuesday - will take over at Old Trafford on 11 November.
Silva was team-mates with Amorim at Benfica in 2013-14 and said: "He always showed he could read the game because he played different positions - as a defender, on the left, as a midfield player.
"When he arrived Sporting hadn't been champions for 20 years. He changed the playing paradigm of Sporting. They are the best team in Portugal by far.
"He will be a rival but I am glad someone else from Portugal is in the best league in the world.
"When Ruben becomes coach of Manchester United, we will worry about that then. Right now we want three points to get to the top eight."
Manchester City are keen on 17-year-old Sporting winger Geovany Quenda, with the Portugal Under-21 international also interesting Manchester United, Liverpool and Juventus. (Teamtalk), external
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Lisbon
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game at Sporting (20:00 GMT).
Here are the main lines from his news conference:
On losing two games in a row: "I know our standards. We lost one game in the Premier League. Maybe we will lose against Brighton and Tottenham [next two league fixtures], but we lost one game and we are two points behind a top-class team in Liverpool. I know people expect us to win 38 games 5-0 and the Treble every season because this is our standards - but this will not happen."
On a season of struggle: "We have to accept we are going to struggle and it is fine. Every game will be more difficult than when everything was smooth. We won six Premier Leagues in seven years and situations change. It's the reality. The middle class in the Premier League rise unbelievably. The top-class teams were always there - add Newcastle and Tottenham, but after you see Fulham, Brentford, most of the teams."
On Erling Haaland's fitness and whether he needs a break: "He's fine, no problem. We have to occupy the news 24 hours a day. I don't think he needs a break."
On Ruben Amorim's Sporting: "The pattern is clear. Movements in behind are so dangerous - the pace and the control. Good inside, good switch of players and movement. Winning the Portuguese leagues after 20 years and then doing it again shows how good the job he has done here."
Image source, Getty ImagesSporting boss Ruben Amorim says Manchester United fans may think "the new Alex Ferguson has arrived" if his team beat Manchester City on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old has two more games as Sporting boss before taking over at Old Trafford - including the Champions League match against his new team's city rivals.
"If the result is very negative, expectations will drop and I don't think that's a bad starting point, when you begin at Manchester United," he said in his pre-match news conference.
"If we win, they'll think the new Sir Alex Ferguson has arrived, which is very difficult to maintain.
"I'm fully aware that I'm going to be judged as a manager on this game, and only on this game, and I realise what people can take from this depending on the result."
Ferguson won 38 trophies during 26 years as Manchester United boss before retiring in 2013. He is leaving his role as club ambassador at the end of the season.
Sporting have won 14 of their past 15 games in all competitions, only losing the Portuguese Super Cup this season.
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City's Erling Haaland has been directly involved in 49 goals in 42 appearances in the Champions League (44 goals, five assists). If he scores or assists on Tuesday, the 24-year-old will become the player to reach 50 goal involvements in the fewest games in the competition's history - a record currently held by former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy (45).
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Manchester City.
Here are some of your comments:
Bournemouth fans:
Rob: A monkey off our back with the City win! Can you really now say, "it was an off day for City" and also, "an off day" in the Arsenal game? And... were Villa also having an "off day"? I think Bournemouth deserve more credit. Up the Cherries.
Steve: A tremendous performance from the Cherries. Iraola’s tactics were played out to perfection and rather than go for the low block many teams use against City, Cherries played their natural attacking game and took it to the champions from the first minute. Still buzzing 24 hours later. Europa Conference spot could be in reach.
Derek: Another great performance, seven points from three top teams. As seems to be often the case the result is portrayed as being due to top team being off par rather than Bournemouth playing well and taking the game to the opposition. Iraola has instilled a belief and collective teamwork that does not give up and works from start to finish. Joy to watch.
Peter: A historic win. I think we knew as fans that we can beat anyone at home. We have to keep hold of Semenyo and Kerkez. Evanilson is fitting in well. I hope the last three games give the team the belief that they can challenge in the top half of the table. Iraola is a magician!
Man City fans:
Suraj: Very disappointing, don’t understand why the performance was so flat. I know we’ve got injuries, but we still had a strong side. Not sure why more were not used, maybe Pep’s worried about more injuries. Liverpool I think are the ones to look out for as unlike us they came back from behind. I'm just not feeling confident for this season.
Abdullah: City were off it today. Until Jeremy Doku came on we were actually horrendous and were shown how to play. Doku and Gvardiol our only positive players. Semenyo and Kerkez were outstanding and fair play to Evanilson, who converted his sole chance (something we couldn't do). You can't control injuries but we will bounce back soon, we always do.
Steve: A lacklustre performance from us, proven by the fact it was the 80th minute for our first shot on goal to arrive. After four consecutive titles, I am not convinced we have the same hunger we had in previous seasons. One positive out of the game was another excellent performance by Nunes. Congrats to Bournemouth, who thoroughly deserved the win.
Roger: City have been fragile defensively all season and combined with an aging midfield and several players all striving to find their best form this defeat was long overdue. Pep will no doubt turn it round but possibly might need to use some fringe players to achieve it.
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport Journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesAll good things must come to an end.
Manchester City's 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League is over after a lacklustre performance at in-form Bournemouth.
After Wednesday's Carabao Cup defeat Tottenham, Pep Guardiola bemoaned having just 13 fit players, but he was still able to name a strong eleven to face Bournemouth - Erling Haaland, Ederson, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva featured from the start.
But it just did not click for the Premier League champions, who were unbeaten across their previous 21 fixtures against Bournemouth, and the busy calendar might be just starting to catch up with them.
Conceding early was far from ideal with Antoine Semenyo putting the hosts in front after nine minutes and the half ended with Bournemouth fans chanting "ole" following every completed pass.
City were carved open when the Cherries doubled their lead through Evanilson and it took until the 80th minute for the visitors to register an attempt on target, albeit a tame one from Erling Haaland.
They did half the deficit two minutes later through Josko Gvardiol, who scored his sixth goal in seven away Premier League games.
Haaland thought he had grabbed an equaliser in stoppage time but Mark Travers saved and the Norwegian's follow-up struck the post.
Losing is not something City are accustomed to - it is the first time they have lost successive games across all competitions since September 2023 and the first time they have tasted defeat in the league since December 2023.
A trip to Porto, managed by incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, is next up for City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
