Manchester City 0, Tottenham 4
James Maddison scored a brace as Tottenham inflicted a fifth defeat in a row to Manchester City – their biggest home defeat under Pep and a first loss at the Etihad for two years after 52 games unbeaten.
Pedro Porro stuck the knife in to his former team before Brennan Johnson completed the rout with Spurs’ fourth as City lost a 5th game in a row in all competitions since April 2006.
City honoured Ballon d’Or winner Rodri on the pitch with a presentation before the game but how they missed him on the pitch as he recovers from a season ending ACL injury.
The whole team had initially looked re-energised but Spurs took the lead through James Maddison who gambled on a cross from Dejan Kulusevski coming after he beat Josko Gvardiol on the Spurs right flank after 13 minutes.
And the jeopardy was doubled from the birthday boy – who turned 28 today – tucked away another strike after Son Heung-min picked him out after another attack found a gap down City’s left side.
City’s best chances came via the Savinho/Haaland axis but the big striker could not find the finish to match the balls in from the Brazilian.
Nathan Ake replaced John Stones at the break but City continued to leave space for Spurs to exploit and they scored a third goal after being cut apart again in the second half – with striker Dominic Solanke cutting the ball back for ex-City wing-back Pedro Porro to score from 12 yards out.
Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish came on but were powerless to stop the rot which got worse as substitutes Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson combined to score a fourth – the German’s teasing cross finding Brennan for an easy tap-in from 2 yards out.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 0, Tottenham 4
Ederson: 6. Tipped away chances by Son Heung-min and Dominic Solanke. Great save from Dejan Kulusevski in the second half but exposed for so many goals.
Kyle Walker: 5. Stranded back in defence by the Spurs counter attacks. Beaten by Timo Werner for the fourth Spurs goal.
John Stones: 6. Had his work cut out for him defensively.
Manuel Akanji: 5. Chances to get on scoresheet but was certainly better going forward than at the back.
Josko Gvardiol: 5. Beaten by in-form Dejan Kulusevski who cut inside and crossed for the Spurs opening goal and was at fault again as Spurs started another move on his flank that ended in a goal. Shot saved in the second half.
Rico Lewis: 5. Bypassed by the Spurs attacks, booked for tired foul in second half, looked physically overrun by the visitors.
Ilkay Gundogan: 5. Bright start but faded quickly. Had a late shot saved after Kevin De Bruyne picked him out.
Savinho: 6. Set up great chances for Haaland after starting on the left and also had a header saved by Vicario plus a low drive from far away as City floundered around him. Tired later and was taken off.
Bernardo Silva: 5. Looks tired. Couldn’t hold on to the ball. Volleyed over the bar late on.
Phil Foden: 5. Ran into dangerous spots but stationed on the right. Popped up on the left to blaze over from 14 yards out. Seemed to be snatching at chances and missing easy passes.
Erling Haaland: 6. Missed great chances to score which were ultimately costly for City. Great effort saved by Vicario and he blazed another one over the bar before hitting the woodwork with a flying effort.
Nathan Ake (on for John Stones, 46): 6. Shot wide but City were fighting a losing battle by the time he came on.
Kevin De Bruyne (on for Savinho, 74): 6. Belated arrival gave the home crowd hope but nothing came off for him.
Jack Grealish (on for Lewis, 74): 5. Went to the left flank after coming on. Barely involved and error for Spurs goal only made things worse.
GOALS – Manchester City 0, Tottenham 4
Man City 0, Tottenham 1: 13. James Maddison finished from 4 yards out with a simple volley after Dejan Kulusevski got the better of Josko Gvardiol to create some space for a deep cross from the right.
Man City 0, Tottenham 2: 20. Another mistake by Josko Gvardiol allowed Son to pick a pass to release the midfielder to score his second goal of the day on his 28th birthday.
Man City 0, Tottenham 3: 53. Crossfield pass following a break found Dominic Solanke in space on the right and his cutback to Pedro Porro was perfect for the ex-City full back to smash in Spurs’ third.
Man City 0, Tottenham 4: 90+3. City had no reply to sudden pace from Spurs as they broke into space again – subs Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson combined with Johnson getting a tap in from 2 yards out.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 0, Tottenham 4
Man City: Ederson, Walker (C), Stones (Ake 46), Akanji, Gvardiol, Lewis (Grealish 74), Gundogan, Savinho (De Bruyne 74), Silva, Foden, Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Nunes, Wright, Simpson-Pusey, O’Reilly, McAtee
Booked: Lewis 54 (foul on James Maddison); Silva 78 (foul on James Maddison); De Bruyne 80 (unsporting behaviour); Akanji 90+2 (shirt pull)
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie (Spence 89), Bissouma, Sarr (Bergvall 89), Kulusevski, Maddison (Werner 89), Son (C) (Johnson 63), Solanke
Tottenham Subs not used: Forster, Gray, Lankshear, Olusesi, Hardy
Bookings: Bissouma 2 (foul on Phil Foden); Sarr 80 (unsporting behaviour)
Goals: Maddison 13, 20; Porro 53; Johnson 90+3
Referee: John Brooks