“After (their opening) goal they had the momentum for 15-20 minutes,” Guardiola said after the game. “This is normal, 2-0 down, nothing to lose with the energy of this crowd that they have, the physicality they have.
“But after, the last 15, 20 minutes, we came back again and we played the first half really good.
“We missed the actions one versus one with full-backs where people up front were not able to capitalise these actions, but, in general the game was well played.”
On Solanke's opener, Guardiola admitted frustration with VAR.
“If a central defender does that to a striker, this is a penalty, right?” Guardiola said.
“And after that, the second half we can extend, you know, 10, 15 minutes and get the control, the situation is a little bit easy, but the moment starts to put one there, they won the second balls.
“And after that they create the momentum, and after a goal, you have perhaps another 10 or 15 minutes.”
The result leaves City six points behind leaders Arsenal.
“What happened in the Premier League today, sometimes you can control it, but the way the game is in England, this happens sometimes,” added Guardiola.
“We know all of the time we cannot control all of the game – sometimes it’s easier if it’s 0-3, 0-4.
“But you have a lot of new players and over actions. We have to try to finish the actions a little bit better, but the game was well played.
“We would prefer not to have that transition, but it was an emotional issue for their first goal and after that, the moment is difficult to control in England.”