Premier League
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur2Man CityManchester City0

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Manchester City

By Phil McNultyChief football writer at White Hart Lane
Dele Alli
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli notched his second goal of the season

Tottenham deservedly ended Pep Guardiola's perfect Premier League start and underlined their own title credentials with a thrilling victory over Manchester City at White Hart Lane.

Guardiola had won his previous six games and 10 of his previous 11 matches in charge, but City were outplayed by a vibrant Spurs who moved second in the table and are now the league's only unbeaten team.

Spurs dominated from the start and were in front early on when Aleksandar Kolarov sliced Danny Rose's cross into his own net after nine minutes.

Dele Alli confirmed their superiority eight minutes before half-time with a cool finish from Son Heung-min's pass.

Spurs could even afford the luxury of seeing Erik Lamela's second-half penalty saved by City keeper Claudio Bravo, and even though Sergio Aguero twice brought Hugo Lloris into action, once when he turned a shot on to the post, Mauricio Pochettino's side fully deserved a convincing win.

Are Spurs title contenders?

If Liverpool are being touted as potential title winners after their fourth successive Premier League win at Swansea City on Saturday, then it is positively insulting to Tottenham not to elevate them to the same bracket after this pulsating performance.

Spurs took charge from the first whistle against a City side many felt were shaping up to run away with the title - barely allowing Guardiola's side a second to breathe and refusing to allow them any time to impose their passing game.

And it was all done without main marksman Harry Kane, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.

In many respects this was the first time Spurs have fully hit their stride this season, and what a time to do it.

On days like this the team that pushed Leicester long and hard for last season's Premier League title look the complete package from back to front.

They have a reliable keeper in Hugo Lloris, strength in defence in the shape of Jan Vertongen and Toby Alderweireld allied to the midfield power of Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko plus the creation of Christian Eriksen, Alli and Son.

This was a big statement.

Pochettino pleased with 'fantastic' win

Man City beaten at their own game

Guardiola prides himself on the high pressing style of his side and work on the ball once they gain possession - they were beaten in all aspects of this by Spurs.

One moment early in the second half summed up the way Spurs went about their business.

Keeper Bravo was hurried into a clearance and when Nicolas Otamendi received the ball seconds later, he was surrounded and sliced the ball into touch to the obvious delight of Pochettino.

It is City's first defeat under Guardiola, so hardly time for a mass inquest - but Spurs may have shown there is a way to unsettle his multi-talented side.

Tottenham and Man City average player positions
The average position of Manchester City's players (right) contrasts with that of Tottenham's (left) emphasising how Pochettino's side were able press their opponents in key areas and also demonstrates that they had more width to their game.

Spurs cope better with injuries to key players

Spurs and Manchester City were both missing big players in Kane and Kevin de Bruyne respectively - and there was no doubt who coped better.

Pochettino understandably maintained faith in the revitalised South Korean Son. His energy in attack, while also acting as their first line of defence, typified Spurs and suited their style more than the physical presence of £17m summer signing Vincent Janssen.

City showed the odd flash from Aguero but Raheem Sterling could not exert any influence, with David Silva also marginalised.

As stated before, City remain a squad of high quality but how they missed the moments of magic that Belgium midfielder De Bruyne can provide for them.

Man of the match - Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min
Son played as a lone forward for Tottenham, and City struggled with his intelligent positional play. The South Korea international did not get on the scoresheet after his recent goalscoring run but did provide a superb assist for Alli's goal

What they said:

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino:

"It was a great, great victory for us against this opposition. I am very happy. Sometimes when you have a plan, it is good, sometimes less so, but Manchester City are a great team. It is difficult to play against them.

"We need to follow this after the international match and we have more tough games after the international break. If you play like we did today with passion and aggression then you will always have a chance. It is always about mentality. That is what helps us run and play as we want to.

"The collective performance was strong. It is too early to take this into the table yet. We are still creating our philosophy."

Tottenham 2-0 Man City: Spurs were the better team - Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardolia:

"It was a tough game, we knew that. Tottenham have been a very good team for the last three years, fighting. We were little late in all aspects. We could not have so many chances, in many aspects they were better than us.

"It is October, you cannot imagine what my team has already done. I am new here. So far it has been an amazing performance but we need more, we have to work more, it is what it is.

"I never thought that we would not lose a game, you can't imagine that. It is normal to the process, sometimes it happens and it can help us improve."

The stats you need to know

  • Pep Guardiola lost his first league game as a manager since a 2-1 home defeat to Mainz in March while he was in charge of Bayern Munich.
  • Son Heung-min has been involved in eight goals in his last seven Premier League games (six goals, two assists).
  • Manchester City had not trailed in the Premier League this season before Aleksandar Kolarov's own goal.
  • Spurs have missed three consecutive penalties against Manchester City, Roberto Soldado and Jermain Defoe the others to miss before Erik Lamela on Sunday.
  • City have never won a Premier League game when they have been two or more goals down at half-time (D1 L48).
  • Spurs have made their best ever start to a league season, collecting 17 points from their opening seven matches.

What's next?

After the international break, Tottenham face West Brom at The Hawthorns on Saturday 15 October (15:00 BST), while Manchester City will look for some home comforts at Etihad Stadium as they host Everton at the same time.

Line-ups

Tottenham

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 1Lloris
  • 2Walker
  • 4Alderweireld
  • 5Vertonghen
  • 3RoseBooked at 42mins
  • 12WanyamaBooked at 30mins
  • 17SissokoSubstituted forDierat 72'minutes
  • 23Eriksen
  • 20AlliSubstituted forNkoudouat 86'minutes
  • 11Lamela
  • 7Son Heung-minSubstituted forJanssenat 90'minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Janssen
  • 13Vorm
  • 14Nkoudou
  • 15Dier
  • 16Trippier
  • 29Winks
  • 33Davies

Man City

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Bravo
  • 5Zabaleta
  • 30OtamendiBooked at 20mins
  • 24Stones
  • 11Kolarov
  • 6RegesSubstituted forGündoganat 53'minutes
  • 25Fernandinho
  • 15NavasSubstituted forIheanachoat 65'minutes
  • 21Silva
  • 7SterlingBooked at 56minsSubstituted forSanéat 87'minutes
  • 10Agüero

Substitutes

  • 3Sagna
  • 8Gündogan
  • 13Caballero
  • 19Sané
  • 22Clichy
  • 72Iheanacho
  • 75García
Referee:
Andre Marriner
Attendance:
31,793

Match Stats

Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamMan City
Possession
Home42%
Away58%
Shots
Home13
Away12
Shots on Target
Home7
Away6
Corners
Home4
Away3
Fouls
Home20
Away10

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Manchester City 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Manchester City 0.

  3. Post update

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur).

  5. Post update

    Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Victor Wanyama tries a through ball, but Vincent Janssen is caught offside.

  6. Post update

    Attempt saved. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho.

  7. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Vincent Janssen replaces Son Heung-Min.

  8. Post update

    Fernandinho (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Tottenham Hotspur).

  10. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nicolás Otamendi.

  11. Post update

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Tottenham Hotspur).

  13. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Silva.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City. Leroy Sané replaces Raheem Sterling.

  15. Post update

    Offside, Manchester City. Fernandinho tries a through ball, but Sergio Agüero is caught offside.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Georges-Kévin Nkoudou replaces Dele Alli.

  17. Post update

    Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur).

  19. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov with a cross.

  20. Post update

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Hugo Lloris.

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As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City76011871118
2Tottenham7520123917
3Arsenal7511167916
4Liverpool75111810816
5Everton7421115614
6Man Utd7412138513
7Chelsea7412129313
8Crystal Palace7322118311
9West Brom72328719
10Southampton72327619
11Watford72231213-18
12Leicester7223811-38
13Bournemouth7223611-58
14Burnley721459-47
15Hull7214714-77
16Middlesbrough7133710-36
17Swansea7115612-64
18West Ham7115817-94
19Stoke7034516-113
20Sunderland7025613-72
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