MAN CITY 4, TOTTENHAM 1
Manchester City were unstoppable as they swept past top-six side Spurs at the Etihad to move 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Tottenham were unable to live with City who made it 16 straight league victories as Pep Guardiola matched a similar run when he was in charge of Barcelona.
And now he is within sights of 19 straight wins he had at Bayern Munich, a record in the top leagues in the world.
Raheem Sterling scored twice in his remarkable season while there were also goals for Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne.
Throw in Gabriel Jesus’ penalty miss, two sitters missed by Sterling and a string of super saves from Hugo Lloris and it could have been a far heavier beating.
City’s manager, referring to his record breaking runs at Barcelona, Bayern and City, said: “of course I am proud of what the three teams achieved.
“They are three outstanding clubs who supported me. We also had outstanding players, without whom it would be impossible to achieve this.”
Guardiola was delighted with the quality of the performance against Spurs.
He continued: “It was outstanding to score four goals and create a mound of chance against a very good side.
“I am satisfied with three more points to keep the distance against our rivals.”
Guardiola added what pleased him most was the work of his players when they didn’t have the ball.
City made three changes from the side that won so emphatically at Swansea City in midweek.
Kyle Walker, Gundogan and Leroy Sane returned in place of the two Silvas and Danilo.
Spurs also made three alterations from the side that beat Brighton.
Dele Alli, Kieran Trippier and Moussa Dembele were back as Serge Aurier, Moussa Sissoko and Erik Lamela stepped down to the bench.
It was a lukewarm opening in which Sergio Aguero headed narrowly wide from a Kevin De Bryne free kick.
City made a 14th minute breakthrough when Gundogan was left completely free to head home Sane’s corner from eight yards, his first goal of the season.
They came close to a second goal when Aguero broke clear on the left and saw his fiercely-struck shot beaten out by Hugo Lloris while Sterling fired the rebound over the bar.
Lloris was called into action to beat out an effort from Gundogan who was left unmarked in the box and then Aguero fired just wide as City dominated play.
Spurs’ first clear-cut chance after 35 minutes came when Christian Eriksson set up Harry Kane who curled a shot narrowly wide.
Gundogan wasn’t afraid to take a crack at goal and another effort from distance forced a diving save from Lloris in stoppage time.
Kane, lucky not to be sent off for a horrible challenge on Sterling moments earlier, almost equalised 10 minutes after the restart when his long-range drive forced a fabulous fingertip save from Ederson Moraes. It was Spurs’ first effort on target.
City made their first change just short of the hour when Aguero made way for Gabriel Jesus.
City ought to have scored a second midway through the second period. Sane cut in from the left and his shot forced a fine one-handed save from Lloris. The rebound fell inviting to Sterling who blazed over from six yards, a glaring miss.
Delle Alli was also lucky not to see red for a terrible challenge on De Bruyne who needed lengthy treatment for an over-the-top tackle.
The second goal finally arrived with 20 minutes left when De Bruyne, released by Gundogan, found the net with an angled drive. Lloris got a hand to the ball, but could only deflect it into the roof of the net.
City missed the chance of a third goal after 75 minutes when Jesus saw a penalty strike the upright and Sterling blazed over the rebound.
It was awarded after Dr Bruyne was tripped by Jan Vertonghen.
City got their third with 10 minutes left through a sumptuous move involving De Bruyne, Gundogan and Sane who crossed from the left for Sterling, who had missed two earlier sitters, to slot home at the far post from four yards for his 14th goal of the season.
This was swiftly followed by a second change as the outstanding Gundogan made way for 17-year-old Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva took over from Sane.
Silva almost made an immediate impact as his angled shot was superbly turned round the post by Lloris.
City were rampant and Sterling’s shot from the edge of the box forced a fine save from Lloris.
Sterling made it 15 for the season in the 89th minute. Dier failed to cut out Silva’s long pass. Sterling ran through and nutmegged Lloris on the edge of the box before rolling the ball into the empty net.
Spurs scored a consolation goal in the third and final minute of added time when Eriksson fired home a low shot from the edge of the box, but it could not deflect from what was an outstanding performance from City.