Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City have lost their fifth consecutive game in all competitions after suffering a chastening 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.
Despite losing each of their last four matches prior to the international break, the Citizens entered this contest in buoyant mood following the announcement of Pep Guardiola's new two-year contract extension on Thursday.
However, it was Spurs who made the brighter start and were by no means affected by the drizzly Manchester weather, as they put themselves two goals to the good inside the opening 20 minutes, courtesy of two delicate finishes from birthday boy James Maddison.
Tottenham rightly had their tails up and pushed for a third against a vulnerable Man City side, who conceded chances in clusters and failed to convert any of their own at the other end - Erling Haaland was denied on two occasions by Guglielmo Vicario.
Man City were trailing by two goals at half time in a league match for the first time since their 4-2 comeback win against none other than Spurs in January 2023, and they were tasked with replicating a similar comeback to preserve their club-record 52-game unbeaten home run lasting over two years.
However, Spurs burst out of the blocks after the interval and scored a third in the 52nd minute when Dominic Solanke teed up Pedro Porro - once on the books at Man City - to fire a first-time strike into the far corner following a free-flowing counter-attack.
Tottenham rubbed salt into Man City's wounds when they added a fourth in stoppage time, with Timo Werner bursting down the left and fizzing a low cross to the back post for fellow substitute Brennan Johnson to slide the ball home.
Although Ange Postecoglou's side never once considered parking the bus and continued to play with a high line, Spurs made themselves difficult to break down throughout the second half and Man City lacked a cutting edge in the final third, while Vicario was in fine form between the sticks and made three superb saves to deny Ilkay Gundogan and Haaland - the latter also clipped the top of the crossbar on the hour mark.
Defeat for City not only represents their third in a row in the Premier League, it means they have set a new unwanted record and it also comes as a huge blow in their quest to retain the title, as they remain five points behind leaders Liverpool, who can move eight points clear with a win over basement club Southampton on Sunday.
As for Spurs, they have returned to winning ways after losing their previous two matches and have climbed to sixth in the table, three points behind Chelsea in third and four behind Man City in second.
MAN CITY VS. TOTTENHAM HIGHLIGHTS
James Maddison goal vs. Man City (13th min, Man City 0-1 Tottenham)
Just a few minutes after Vicario made a superb reaction save with his right boot to deny Haaland at his near post, James Maddison burst up the other end and met a delightful cross from Dejan Kulusevski, cushioning a volley from just a few yards out beyond Ederson.
James Maddison goal vs. Man City (20th min, Man City 0-2 Tottenham)
Maddison added to his tally and put Spurs two goals ahead inside the opening 20 minutes with a delicate chip over Ederson from close range, after receiving an incisive cutback pass from Son Heung-min inside the area, following a intricate passing sequence from the visitors.
Pedro Porro goal vs. Man City (52nd min, Man City 0-3 Tottenham)
Tottenham continued to punish Man City on the transition and a free-flowing counter-attack resulted in Pedro Porro firing a first-time strike from inside the area into the far corner, after receiving a cutback from Dominic Solanke.
Brennan Johnson goal vs. Man City (90 + 3 min, Man City 0-4 Tottenham)
Spurs rounded off a memorable victory at the Etihad with a fourth goal in second-half stoppage time thanks to two substitutes combining. Werner burst down the left flank and fizzed a low delivery towards the back post for Johnson to slide the ball home from just a yard out.
MAN OF THE MATCH - DEJAN KULUSEVSKI
James Maddison understandably deserves a special mention for his first-half brace and impressive display, as does Vicario who made a number of important saves, but Dejan Kulusevski was Tottenham's standout performer and ran the show on the right while also drifting into midfield.
The silky Swede produced a delightful assist for Maddison's opener, while he also completed 100% of his dribbles (4/4), produced three key passes and won five ground duels during a majestic performance.
MAN CITY VS. TOTTENHAM MATCH STATS
Possession: Man City 59%-41% Tottenham
Shots: Man City 23-9 Tottenham
Shots on target: Man City 5-7 Tottenham
Corners: Man City 9-3 Tottenham
Fouls: Man City 19-9 Tottenham
BEST STATS
WHAT NEXT?
Man City will now turn their attention to the Champions League as they will face Dutch outfit Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
As for Tottenham, they are next in action on Thursday when they welcome a struggling Roma side - now managed by Claudio Ranieri - to North London for a Europa League contest.
body check tags ::
