Manchester City 1, Tottenham 0
MANCHESTER CITY ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE TITLE
Phil Foden’s 5th minute goal to beat Tottenham ensured Manchester City leapfrogged Liverpool to go back to the top of the Premier League after they gained a little consolation from their Champions League exit in midweek to Tottenham.
The relief was palpable after a tense finale – Spurs had several chances saved by Ederson and they were camped in the City half for the final seconds before Michael Oliver blew the final whistle to the relief of City.
CHANGES TO BOTH SIDES
Pep Guardiola made three changes to the side that narrowly missed out on the Champions League semi finals.
John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Phil Foden (making only his second Premier League start) came into the side.
Vincent Kompany, Benjamin Mendy, and David Silva were left out, with only Silva getting on to the bench as City looked forward to securing a domestic treble.
Spurs manager Maurico Pochettino made five changes with following injuries to some players as he started to rest some of his players.
Tottenham lined up with five defenders in a reshuffle, recognising that City still needed to go on the front foot in their chase for the league title.
Paulo Gazzaniga, Davinson Sanchez, Juan Foyth, Ben Davies, Eric Dier came into the side.
Hugo Lloris (muscle problem), Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier, Moussa Sissoko (groin), Victor Wanyama missed out.
Spurs playing three at the back, and the introduction of Fernandinho in front of City’s back four gave them a solid platform to hold on to the lead after the visitors created enough chances to make Ederson make a string of saves to keep City in front.
ATMOSPHERE AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM
The Wednesday night atmosphere was soon back at the Etihad when Phil Foden scored his first Premier League goal on his second start in the league after just 5 minutes.
This game was never going to reach the heights of the modern classic offered up on Wednesday night.
The changed teams hinted as much but after City took the lead they couldn’t manage a second against the deep lying visitors.
Things boiled up again after Fernando Llorente came on. City fans had not forgotten his goal from Wednesday night and they booed him on.
There was a tense finale as Spurs pushed for an equaliser and the end brought a cheer as loud as any on Wednesday night as City retained control of the title race.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE INJURY
Just when he was coming back into form he went down injured in the first half and was replaced by Fernandinho.
His knee was the problem and Fernandinho was already prepared to come on when he went down.
City may miss his input in their final remaining games of the season with the domestic treble at stake.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 1, Tottenham 0
Ederson: 8. Put his midweek performance behind him. Still readily came off his line as usual. Saves to deny Son Heung-min (twice), Christian Eriksen, Juan Foyth, and Lucas Moura (twice).
Kyle Walker: 6. Offered attacking option down the right.
John Stones: 6. Rare start, had a quiet game. Gave the ball away early for a chance by Son.
Aymeric Laporte: 7. Last ditch tackle to deny Son a shot on target after City lost the ball going some way to restore his pride from Wednesday. Was bailed out by Ederson after Son got past him.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 7. Another outlet on the left flank. Much better in attacking areas.
Kevin De Bruyne: 6. Constantly probed the deep lying Spurs defence but not up to the standards set on Wednesday – shooting and passing were wayward at times – and kicked the ball out after 36 minutes and went off injured.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Deep passes into the Spurs danger areas, pushed further upfield after Kevin De Bruyne went off injured.
Phil Foden: 8. Committed performance on only his second start in the Premier League. Scored early too with a close range header and tested Paulo Gazzaniga with another chance. Outmuscled physically at times by Spurs defenders.
Bernardo Silva: 9. Great cross from the right to start the first goal. Highly effective down City’s right flank, involved in winning the ball back and a creative force. Went over in the Spurs area after a swipe by Jan Vertonghen but no penalty given.
Raheem Sterling: 6. Quiet start on the left flank – marshalled by Davinson Sanchez. Denied a golden chance to double the lead by the outstretched leg of Paulo Gazzaniga from 6 yards out after a cut back by Leroy Sane after he had switched to centre forward.
Sergio Aguero: 7. Unselfish header across the box to find Phil Foden for his first Premier League goal. Worked hard all over the final third. Foiled by committed and physical defending.
Fernandinho (for Kevin De Bruyne, 38): 6. Came on and released Gundogan to push further upfield.
Leroy Sane (for Sergio Aguero 66): 6. Allowed Raheem Sterling to move into a central striker role.
David Silva (for Phil Foden, 85): No time to mark.
GOAL – Manchester City 1, Tottenham 0
Man City 1, Tottenham 0: 5. Bernardo Silva’s inswinging cross found Sergio Aguero at the back post. His cushioned header back across the area found Phil Foden who headed it in from 2 yards.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 1, Tottenham 0
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, De Bruyne (Fernandinho 38), Gundogan, Foden, Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Aguero (Sane 66)
Man City Subs Not Used: Muric, David Silva, Mahrez, Otamendi, Jesus
Booked: Sterling 90+3 (confrontation with Jan Vertonghen)
Goal: Foden 5
Tottenham: Gazzaniga, Alderweireld (Llorente 78), Sanchez, Vertonghen, Foyth, Alli (Rose 69), Dier (Wanyama 61), Davies, Eriksen, Son, Moura
Tottenham Subs Not Used: Vorm, Janssen, Walker-Peters, Skipp
Booked: Wanyama 86 (trip on Fernandinho), Vertonghen 90+3 (confrontation with Raheem Sterling)
Referee: Michael Oliver