Manchester City suffered a shocking fifth straight loss as Tottenham triumphed 4-0 at the Etihad, ending the English champions’ remarkable 52-game unbeaten home streak on Saturday.
James Maddison scored twice within seven minutes in the first half, with Pedro Porro adding another goal against his former club, and Brennan Johnson sealing the victory.
This marked City’s first home defeat from open play since just before the 2022 World Cup, and they now sit five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who are set to play their game in hand against bottom-placed Southampton on Sunday.
Tottenham’s strong performance relieves some pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou as they move into the top six.
City coach Pep Guardiola is determined to reverse his team’s worst run in management after signing an extension through 2027, though hopes that this will rejuvenate a squad that has achieved four consecutive Premier League titles were fleeting.
Before the match, Rodri showcased his Ballon d’Or award to fans with a grand display, although he is not expected to play again this season due to knee ligament damage sustained in September, a key factor in City’s struggles.
City started on the offensive with Erling Haaland being denied by Guglielmo Vicario, but the game’s momentum shifted when Tottenham struck first with a well-placed cross from Dejan Kulusevski to Maddison, who scored effortlessly.
Maddison, having recently found himself out of the starting lineup, was eager to impress Postecoglou. Son Heung-min assisted him again, enabling Maddison to chip the ball over goalkeeper Ederson to double the lead.
While Tottenham has struggled with consistency this season, they achieved a significant victory in Manchester, having previously beaten Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Dominic Solanke almost made it 3-0 before halftime with a chance saved by Ederson, but Spurs extended their lead seven minutes into the second half when Kulusevski set up Solanke to find Porro for a close-range finish.
Haaland nearly responded for City by hitting the crossbar, but instead, they fell victim to a final blow as Timo Werner assisted Johnson for a tap-in.
Despite the introduction of Kevin De Bruyne as a late substitute after two months out injured offering a glimmer of hope, Guardiola urgently needs to address his team’s issues to maintain their title defense as they prepare for a tough away match at Anfield against Liverpool, where City hasn’t won since 2003.
