Tottenham Hotspur produced another statement performance at the Etihad, defeating Manchester City 2-0 to climb above Chelsea and move to the top of the Premier League table.
For the second consecutive season, Spurs left Manchester with all three points, ending City’s 10-game unbeaten league run. It was a clinical and composed display from Thomas Frank’s side, who now boast 10 points from their last five trips to the Etihad.
The first half was largely uneventful until its dramatic closing stages. After Marmoush squandered two chances for City, Spurs struck on the counter. Brennan Johnson’s strike, initially ruled out, was overturned by VAR to give the visitors a deserved lead in the 35th minute. Just before the break, calamity struck again for Pep Guardiola’s men as goalkeeper James Trafford’s error gifted Joao Palhinha his first Spurs goal in the 45+2 minute.
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City never truly threatened a comeback after the interval, struggling to break down a disciplined Spurs side. The win was fully deserved for the visitors, who bounced back strongly after their UEFA Super Cup disappointment. Tottenham now lead the early Premier League standings, while City must regroup ahead of a tricky trip to Brighton. Spurs, meanwhile, return home to host Bournemouth next weekend.
City went into their first Premier League home game of the season in a positive mood after their 4-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderer.
However, Tottenham – who also won convincingly on the opening day – had other ideas.
Spurs winger Brennan Johnson put the visitors ahead in the 35th minute before a James Trafford howler helped Joao Palhinha make it two on the stroke of half-time.
Centre-back Ruben Dias was one of City’s most criticised players on the day, along with right-back Rico Lewis.
And Pep Guardiola had an option on the bench he could have used in place of either player, though he chose not to in the end.
The player in question is Abdukodir Khusanov, who was an unused substitute against Spurs and only got eight minutes under his belt at Wolves.
While Dias is obviously a capable player, his pace has been letting him down, as was clear again on Saturday.
Khusanov has just as much ability on the ball as Dias, but he is also incredibly rapid, making him perfect for the high line.
A combination of a high line and slow centre-backs is a recipe for disaster, and Khusanov surely would be a good solution – if Pep actually played him.
Alternatively, the £34million man would have surely been a better fit at right-back than Lewis, who struggled throughout under heavy pressure on the ball.
Manchester City duo Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan were left out of the squad against Tottenham due to rotation rather than the fact they could both leave the club next week, according to Pep Guardiola.
The City boss is facing up to some difficult selection decisions with a larger squad than usual at his disposal and with Rodri and Phil Foden returning from their rest against Wolves, it was inevitable two players would have to drop out of the matchday squad.
That it was centre-back Akanji and midfielder Gundogan who made way came as no surprise. Galatasaray want to sign Akanji and several clubs are interested in a deal for Gundogan.
City are open to selling both players, with Guardiola desperate to reduce the size of his squad. With just over a week to go of the transfer window several senior players could yet depart.
Guardiola again referred to his bigger squad when asked about the reasons for leaving Akanji and Gundogan out, but insisted the decision was based on rotation rather than any potential departures.
