Rúben Amorim’s Sporting beat Manchester City with Gyökeres' treble.

When does a period of weakness turn into a slump? Pep Guardiola was asked this question before the game and referred to Manchester City’s run of success. Now they have lost their last three games under him for the first time since April 2018, and the aim at Brighton on Saturday is to halt the slide.

Two years ago, Rúben Amorim’s Sporting were swept off the pitch 5-0 in a superb City display. The new Manchester United manager’s last home game ended with him becoming the "new Ferguson" for at least some of the Red Devils' supporters, as he predicted he would be if their city rivals went down.

The 39-year-old did so by ordering Sporting to call a quick timeout and then watched as they skillfully executed it to make City the losers.

City remain on seven points, Amorim leaves with ten points and control Sporting’s fate in the Champions League. And all with the 3-4-3 formation he will introduce when he starts work at United on November 11.

“Sweet Caroline” rang out, the José Alvalade wasn't quite sold out and Amorim’s home farewell got off to a terrible start.

The players exchanged passes before Phil Foden stole the ball from Hidemasa Morita.

It was a welcome relief after City’s defeats to Tottenham and Bournemouth. But a Gyökeres attack that put him in front exposed his weakness. As Ederson advanced, the Swede tried to pass to the goalkeeper but fluffed it and the ball was intercepted.