Ruben Dias was exasperated by the decision to allow Harvey Barnes' second goal in Manchester City's 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, saying the Premier League must "make it make sense."

City missed the chance to draw within one point of Arsenal at the Premier League summit as two second-half goals from Barnes condemned them to a damaging loss on Tyneside.

Dias briefly got City back on level terms with his first Premier League goal since December 2021, which was also away at Newcastle, having gone 106 league appearances without scoring between the two efforts.

But it counted for little as Barnes reacted the quickest amid a goalmouth scramble in the 70th minute, flicking home after Bruno Guimaraes headed against the woodwork.

The goal survived a lengthy VAR check that looked at two possible offsides and a potential foul on Gianluigi Donnarumma, with City arguing that Barnes pushed their goalkeeper.

Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku both had penalty appeals waved away in the first half, but Dias' main gripe was with the winning goal. 

"There's one in the first half with Phil, I feel like they were saying it was very clear," Dias told Sky Sports. "Out of all the decisions, it's the second goal. 

"I think we need to make it make sense, because where's the sense in their player pushing our goalkeeper outside the goal? What are we allowing, and for how long? 

"Sometimes you allow it, sometimes you don't. Where's the rule? What can you actually do?

"Gigio is in his place, he's being pushed out, and there's no consequence. It's allowed. I had the chance to see it back, I didn't even realise it on the pitch.

"I found it weird that he was out of position, so we immediately knew something was wrong. But I managed to see the review and it's Barnes pushing him away from the goal. 

"We're so picky with certain contacts, but one like this with the goalkeeper, you allow it? It is what it is. If that's the rule, fine. But let us do the same.

"Back in the day, this was a foul. Now, apparently, it's allowed. People are going to say I'm finding excuses but it's nothing like that. Today Newcastle were better and they deserved the win."

City have suffered as many as four defeats in their opening 12 games of a Premier League season for the first time since 2013-14 (also four). 

It is the most defeats a Pep Guardiola side has ever suffered in their opening 12 league matches of a season throughout his managerial career.