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With a brace from James Maddison, a spectacular goal from Pedro Porro, and a tap-in in stoppage time from Brennan Johnson, Tottenham Hotspur dealt a crushing blow to Manchester City’s hopes of winning the Premier League.
With their championship rivals playing on Sunday, City needed to make sure they weren’t vulnerable to falling behind by as many as eight points, as they were five points behind league leaders Liverpool going into the match. Spurs, on the other hand, were keen to leave Manchester with at least a point after defeating Ipswich Town 2-1 at home in their last league match before the international break. Spurs had given Ipswich Town their first victory of the season.
Erling Haaland had a fantastic opportunity inside five minutes for City to take the lead in the match, but he was unable to get the shot off in time, allowing Davies to score. Guglielmo Vicario’s outstretched knees saved the Norwegian’s second attempt to put his team ahead early.
Spurs midfielder Maddison, who was celebrating his 28th birthday, opened the scoring in the 13th minute after Dejan Kulusevski played in a delicious looping cross over the defender during their first phase of play inside City’s half, despite the team’s struggles to get on the ball and their meager 32 percent possession at that point in the game.
City appeared devastated after giving up, but Spurs rallied after a mistake by Josko Gvardiol. Son Heung-Min and Maddison played a nice one-two, with Maddison managing to clip the ball over a grounded Ederson to increase the visitors’ lead in less than 20 minutes.
Although City started to apply more pressure, they were unable to rally before the half.
Spurs quickly scored their third goal in the second half when Dominic Solanke, who was on the touchline after Kulusevski’s cross into the box dragged him wide, cut it back for Pedro Porro to score and give the visitors a three-goal lead. The spectators at the Etihad were left in disbelief by what they were witnessing.
To the annoyance of the players and the spectators, Haaland thought he had pulled one back on the hour mark, but his attempt on goal bounced off the top of the bar.
Timo Werner, who had just entered the game, blasted past Kyle Walker to put in a cross that Brennan Johnson could latch onto and knock home into an empty net, giving Spurs a 4-0 victory and adding salt to City’s wounds.
By the end of the weekend, City may be eight points behind key title contenders Liverpool after suffering their fifth straight loss across all competitions. Spurs move up from 11th to sixth place in the table with three well-earned points.
Player Ratings for Man City
Ederson, GK, Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 6/10
like to knock the ball out occasionally and didn’t appear very at ease when Spurs went on the attack. One could argue that he went to ground too early for Spurs’ second goal, but there was little he could do about the first.
Kyle Walker, RB, 5/10
He was dominating both aerially and in ground duels, but he found it difficult to stop Udogie and Son’s one-two punch down the left flank. His frustrations from the first half were evident on his face.
John Stones, CB, 6/10
Although he made a couple interceptions and clearances and appeared to be a rather strong defender, Spurs were still able to score. was replaced at the half.
Manuel Akanji, CB: 6/10
Against Solanke, he was dominant aerially and saw a lot of the ball, especially in the first half. However, he didn’t give a particularly noteworthy or exceptional performance.
Josko Gvardiol (LB) – 4/10
Being one of City’s bright spots since coming here, he appeared disoriented when forced to defend against Kulusevski, who for the majority of the match looked unbeatable. In City Blue, it was one of his worst performances.
Rico Lewis, CM – 6/10
98 percent of his passes were completed, and he was not scared to move forward in a midfield position but was also prepared to track back when needed.
CM: 6/10 Ilkay Gundogan
There was nothing terrible about Gundogan. The Spurs’ midfield was simply that strong. A rather subdued performance.
Bernardo Silva, the CM, 7/10
One of City’s greatest players of the evening, he completed more than 95 percent of his passes, participated in a few crucial ones, and constantly tried to place his teammates in positions where his long balls and crosses worked.
Savinho, RW: 5/10
Having trouble controlling balls in the Manchester weather, the left-hand side of City’s assault was extremely silent. did give the team a great opportunity, but it didn’t result in a goal.
5/10 for ST-Erling Haaland
Despite having numerous opportunities, he was unable to score; his best attempt came in the second half and went over the crossbar. A ‘Big Six’ team put on another subpar show.
LW: 7/10 for Phil Foden
Foden was bound to be involved in some way if City were to score. appeared vivacious at times and had many chances on goal but missed the mark.
Nathan Ake, substitute: 6/10
replaced John Stones in central defense at the interval. Although it wasn’t really an improvement over Stones, it handled Solanke admirably.
Kevin De Bruyne, substitute: 6/10
The Belgian has saved City’s bacon so many times, but even he was unable to get his team back into the game. After fouling Sarr and attempting to pull him up, he did receive a booking.
Jack Grealish, substitute, 7/10
In the fifteen minutes he spent on the field, he looked dangerous, making two crucial passes and challenging his opponents. Had he received more playing time, the score might have been different.
Player Ratings for Tottenham
Guglielmo Vicario, GK, Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 8/10
Even though City put on a strong show in the first ten minutes of the game, when the score was 0-0, he made several outstanding saves to keep them out in the first half. performed a great job with the City pressure in the second half and was unfazed by set pieces.
Pedro Porro, RB, 7/10
His short header back towards goal caused some trouble for his keeper, but luckily, nothing came of it. To keep City out, they made a lot of clearances and played excellent defense, especially in the second half. scored the third goal for Spurs with a powerful whip on goal.
Radu Dragusin, CB: 8/10
One of his best games while wearing a Spurs shirt, and a fitting response to the criticism he had been receiving before the international break.
Ben Davies, CB: 8/10
It was a big ask to replace the injured Cristian Romero, but the Welshman fit right in and appeared to be the more dominant of Spurs’ two center defenders. Set the tone early on with several excellent clearances and a comeback to stop Haaland’s first attempt on goal.
LB: Destiny Udogie: 7 out of 10.
Full of vitality, they charged down the left side. The City defenders were constantly alerted by his link-up play with Son. did occasionally struggle with losing possession.
CM: 8/10 for Pape Matar Sarr
In midfield, he is extremely dominant, making passes through City’s defenses with ease and providing defensive support to those behind him. The Senegalese international put on a really good display and keeps getting more assured every time he takes the field.
Yves Bissouma, CM-7/10
Within 15 seconds of Foden being challenged from behind, he was booked, but he didn’t let it stop him from playing the game. Accurate in his passing, he was allowed greater latitude to move forward with Sarr by his side, filling in for Rodrigo Bentancur, who was suspended, on defense.
James Madison, CM – 9/10
After the pass was placed on a plate for him, he scored the first goal with a clean finish, but it was his attempt to run forward that allowed Kulusevski to put the ball in. With a lovely dink over the goalie, his second goal was even better. For the birthday boy, a brace.
Heung-Min Son, RW: 8/10
Ederson’s fingertips saved a curling attempt, although it always appeared menacing from the front. His second of the game came from a brilliant reverse pass into Maddison’s path. had a chance to hit a ball for the first time, but he was too slow to decide, and the chance was gone in an instant.
Dominic Solanke (ST): 7/10
The center-forward found it difficult to participate in the game as much as he might have wished because there was so much offensive action all around him. However, he provided the squad with striking possibilities by making the right runs into advantageous places and offering bodies moving forward.
Dejan Kulusevski’s LW: 8/10
He sailed past the City defenders like he had a magnet in his boots to stick with the ball, giving the impression that he was unplayable at times. He made a world-class delivery into Maddison to create the opener. Playing for the Swede at the Etihad has a certain allure. Excellent play from a very good player.
Brennan Johnson, substitute, 6/10
Despite receiving 30 minutes of playing time, the Welsh winger had a very quiet night in Manchester and hardly participated in the game until he added salt to City’s wounds by scoring a tap-in in stoppage time.
Timo Werner, substitute: 6/10
Despite being a stoppage-time substitution in the second half, he outpaced Kyle Walker and sent a peach of a ball across the goal’s face for Johnson to tap in.
Second-half stoppage-time substitution: Djed Spence, N/A.
Lucas Bergvall is a substitute at N/A for the second half stoppage time.
Man of the Match
With Tottenham Hotspur, James Maddison
Spurs’ James Maddison
Kulusevski and Son gave the birthday boy two presents in the shape of assists. He led by example with his brilliant play on the ball, directing those around him to advance. He had a persistent work rate off the ball and demonstrated a willingness to regain possession of the ball whenever possible.
He wore down the Man City defense, and his brace—his first goal coming entirely against the flow of play—turned the tide of the match, resulting in Guardiola losing the Premier League for the third time in a row and the first time ever that a team under his management has dropped five straight games across all competitions.
