Ruben Dias says 'so many people want to take Man City down' as defender expects 'wild season' amid four-game losing streak

City's defeat at Brighton on Saturday was their fourth in a row in all competitions and allowed Liverpool to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League. After winning four league titles in a row, defender Dias says it is natural that teams want to knock them off their perch but that his side will "embrace" the challenge of what is likely to be a rollercoaster campaign.

He told BBC Sport: "It's normal that times like this come, mostly because so many people want to take us down. We accept it, we embrace it, that's part of the challenge. That's why we love it so much. If not for this, our wins wouldn't be as big as they are. It's the life we live and we love it for it. We just keep on doing what we do best."

He added to Sky Sports: "It's still early days in the season and there's a lot to happen. We all know how the Premier League is, that is why we love it so much and we know this is going to be a very wild season."

City have now lost four games in a row in all competitions for the first time since 2006 and it was the first time Pep Guardiola had suffered four straight losses in his entire managerial career. City are, however, serial winners and to write them off this early into the season would be foolish.

After losses to Bournemouth, Tottenham, Sporting CP and now Brighton, Guardiola's side will hope to return to winning ways when they take on Spurs in the Premier League on November 23.