Donnarumma and Guehi under spotlight as Maresca's Man City defence leaks in Villa defeat

City's perfect start ends at Villa Park

Manchester City's 100% winning start to the Premier League season came to an abrupt end against Aston Villa, leaving Enzo Maresca with glaring defensive issues to resolve. Nicolas Jackson's double at a raucous Villa Park means City have managed only one clean sheet in their past six games, and the form of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and defender Marc Guehi is causing concern.

Since the start of last season, only eight players have made more errors leading to Premier League goals than Donnarumma and Guehi, with three each. City's most recent shutout came in their impressive victory at Liverpool two weeks ago, but around that game they have conceded against teams ranging from Champions League holders Paris St-Germain to top-flight strugglers Sunderland.

Maresca admits goals were avoidable

City were undone by goals in each half from the brilliant Jackson, ending their streak of seven straight wins at the start of this campaign. Maresca's team started the season by conceding eight goals in their first nine games, but the downturn has been dramatic, with nine goals hitting the back of their net in the past four matches.

Asked if the two goals were avoidable, Maresca told TNT Sports: "Absolutely, both. Sometimes you have to be a bit more lucky because we only conceded those two chances, but we created a lot of chances. We played most of the game in their box but you have to be clinical and avoid mistakes like the two goals we conceded."

Donnarumma's struggles with the ball at his feet

The signing of Donnarumma last summer was heralded as the acquisition of one of the best goalkeepers in the world to replace Ederson. While the Italy captain is a strong shot-stopper, he struggles with the ball at his feet and often puts his team-mates in trouble with passes out from the back. On Saturday, captain Ruben Dias gestured to a team-mate to send the ball up the pitch after the Portuguese failed to control a difficult pass.

Though Donnarumma could do little about Jackson's thumping finish for the opening goal, he should have done better for the second, as a low shot seemed to squirm under him. Former City defender Steph Houghton said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Donnarumma, especially with the second goal, could probably have done a little bit better."

Maresca sold James Trafford to Leeds for £45m in the summer, and the England international has been impressive at Elland Road. Trafford has made more passes than Donnarumma this season, has a slightly better rate at preventing goals, and has come out to sweep the ball 11 times compared with Donnarumma's one.

Guehi's difficult season

Centre-back Guehi's £20m arrival from Crystal Palace in January was considered a bargain. But this season has been a struggle for the England defender, who was culpable for both goals scored by Ipswich last weekend and was dispossessed by John McGinn deep in his own half for Villa's first goal. Later in the half, he hauled down Jackson on the edge of the box, was shown a yellow card, and was taken off at half-time.

Asked by BBC Sport if Guehi's form is a worry, Maresca said: "No, I'm not worried about Marc at all. I know he is playing every minute since the season started with us and the national team, so it's not easy but the change was also because he was on a yellow card. The way we want to be aggressive sometimes, to have one yellow card can be dangerous but I am not worried at all."

City sources had said they were targeting a right-back in the summer, and Abdukodir Khusanov was identified as back-up should Matheus Nunes not be available. Khusanov started out wide but struggled before being moved inside in place of Guehi, with Rico Lewis brought in to fill the gap. Maresca acknowledged he needs to "find that balance" in defence.

Brighton test looms

Maresca faces another defensive test as City come up against Fabian Hurzeler's free-scoring Brighton twice next week, in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and the Premier League on Saturday. The Italian needs to fix the defensive leaks before they become something more serious.