MANCHESTER CITY 0-4 TOTTENHAM: Two goals from James Maddison and strikes from Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson earned Ange Postecoglou’s side a brilliant win over the defending champions
Manchester City’s losing run continued as they suffered a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham at the Etihad.
James Maddison scored a first-half brace for Ange Postecoglou’s side, who were incredibly clinical against the hosts. City looked very comfortable in the first ten minutes as they created several chances which they failed to take.
However, Spurs then scored with their first touch in City’s box as Dejan Kulusevski skinned Josko Gvardiol and found Maddison with a brilliant cross that he guided into the back of the net. Maddison then doubled Tottenham’s lead just seven minutes later, dinking the ball over Ederson after being played through on goal by Son Heung-min.
Pedro Porro then made it 3-0 against his former club after some more excellent play from Kulusevski, before Brennan Johnson wrapped up an outstanding victory for Spurs and piled more misery on City. Mirror Football takes a look at the talking points to emerge from the match.
City’s losing run continues
Manchester City headed into the game in the unusual position of being on a four-game losing streak across all competitions.
The poor run of form started when they were knocked out of the League Cup by Tottenham and has seen them also suffer losses against Bournemouth, Sporting and Brighton. And that run continued as they were once again beaten by Tottenham thanks to goals from Maddison, Porro and Johnson.
City remain five points behind league leaders Liverpool, but Arne Slot’s side now have a golden opportunity to go eight points clear when they face Southampton on Sunday and such a lead could prove insurmountable in the title race.
Rodri watches on
Ahead of the game, City honoured Rodri after he beat Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr to win the Ballon d’Or.
Rodri has been instrumental to City’s success since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019, but he is currently sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and his absence has been keenly felt by the champions.
Mateo Kovacic has typically been used as his replacement, but he is also out injured now and Ilkay Gundogan was given the role against Tottenham. However, he was at fault for Spurs’ opener as he lost Maddison in the build-up, further highlighting how much of a miss Rodri is for City.
Maddison’s birthday to remember
James Maddison celebrated his 28th birthday in style as he starred in a brilliant win for Spurs, netting a brace.
Maddison scored his first after latching onto a brilliant cross from Kulusevski, while his second came after some excellent interplay with Son on the edge of the box. He was excellent throughout the game and his performance provided a timely reminder of his qualities to incoming England boss Thomas Tuchel.
Maddison has not featured for England since he was axed by Gareth Southgate ahead of Euro 2024. He will be eyeing a way back into the squad once Tuchel officially takes charge next year and more performances like the one he put in today will surely see him return.
Kulusevski stars
As one of few Spurs players who has been consistently impressive this season, Dejan Kulusevski once again starred against City.
The versatile 24-year-old was outstanding against the reigning champions, playing crucial roles in Maddison’s opener and Porro’s goal. “There in a nutshell is why Dejan Kulusevski cannot be left out of this side,” former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Darts down the right hand side, does well to keep the ball in play and he curls the most delicious ball into the box. City can’t defend it, the keeper can’t come for it, and James Maddison left foot, six yards out and he volleys it into the net.”
City’s defensive woes
Both Josko Gvardiol and Kyle Walker should have done better for two of Tottenham’s goals and Manchester City looked incredibly shaky at the back when stretched by Spurs’ attackers.
Part of that may well be down to the absence of Rodri, who usually provides extra security in front of the back four, but City were carved open far too often by Tottenham. “Defensively they have been all over the place,” Robinson said of City’s performance. “They have looked nervous, edgy and as soon as they conceded the cohesion went. They looked so susceptible.
“For the first 12 or so minutes City were excellent and could have scored two or three, but Tottenham then go and get the first goal against the run of play. There was a shift change and you could see it in the back four. Tottenham just smelt a bit of that weakness and kept going and they have caused City numerous issues.”
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