Manchester City 4, Tottenham 2
Riyad Mahrez scored a brace as Manchester City scored 4 second half goals to beat Tottenham 4-2 after being 2-0 down at half time.
Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal had put Spurs into a 2-0 lead during two mad minutes at the end of the first half as City’s poor recent run of defeats looked to be extending to three games.
Spurs also hit the woodwork before City turned things around in style.
Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland had levelled matters in the space of two minutes themselves early in the second half before Riyad Mahrez went on to win the game with two great goals as Spurs imploded at the Etihad Stadium.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 4, Tottenham 2
Ederson: 5. Pressed early by Harry Kane. Saved tame header by Son Heung-min. Conceded two poor goals for him. Was relieved to see the shot from Ivan Perisic get deflected and come back off the post. Got hold of Harry Kane’s late cross and also created a stunning second goal for Riyad Mahrez.
John Stones: 7. Hybrid right back, centre back role. Well timed and calmly played interceptions with few shaky moments.
Manuel Akanji: 6. Kept busy by Harry Kane. Some nervous moments.
Nathan Ake: 7. Great tackle in the first half to stop a Spurs attack and headed the ball away from Harry Kane. Not so great going forward.
Rico Lewis: 8. Played in midfield/fullback hybrid role and early cross showed attacking intent. Was targeted for rough treatment from Spurs but held up very well and defended even better. His shot deflected off Son but Hugo Lloris recovered to save it. Deflected an Ivan Perisic shot onto the post. Rightly applauded by the fans when he came off.
Rodri: 6. Mixed performance. Made a pigs ear of Ederson’s poor ball out of defence and gifted the ball to Dejan Kulusevski who finished. Also failed to win the ball off Harry Kane for Spurs second. Sent some enticing balls into the box, but he set up Riyad Mahrez for a flick on that created the equaliser for Erling Haaland while his second half wayward pass was rescued by Mahrez to put City into the lead.
Ilkay Gundogan: 6. Some good touches in midfield.
Jack Grealish: 7. All action display. Great last man challenge to dispossess the dangerous Son Heung-min. Ran at the Spurs defence, denied by tackle by the excellent Christian Romero but made them panic and retreat.
Riyad Mahrez: 9. Good control of the ball early on – had a hand in both of the City goals and then scored his own to put City into the lead after winning the ball back off Ivan Perisic.
Julian Alvarez: 7. Played as a deep lying striker behind Erling Haaland. Stabbed home City’s first goal of the night – a loose ball in the box. Did his usual pressing job.
Erling Haaland: 6. Precious few touches. Had some half chances towards the end of the first half but was free at the back post to head home the equaliser. His 28th of the season.
Bernardo Silva (on for Ilkay Gundogan, 81): No time to mark.
Kyle Walker (on for Rico Lewis, 83): No time to mark.
Ruben Dias (on for Erling Haaland, 90): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester City 4, Tottenham 2
Man City 0, Tottenham 1: 45. Ederson’s poor ball out of defence, straight at Manuel Akanji who immediately lost the ball to Dejan Kulusevski who returned the ball with interest from range.
Man City 0 Tottenham 2: 45+2. Ederson fumbled a close range Harry Kane shot from the byline, the ball squirmed out as far as Emerson Royal who reacted first and headed it home from 6 yards.
Man City 1, Tottenham 2: 51. Julian Alvarez fired the loose ball home after Hugo Lloris dived at Jack Grealish’s feet trying to get the ball with Mahrez getting the ball into the area towards the England man.
Man City 2, Tottenham 2: 53. Erling Haaland headed home Riyad Mahrez’ flick on from Rodri’s ball into the box.
Man City 3, Tottenham 2: 63. Riyad Mahrez won back the loose ball after initially losing Rodri’s square pass to him, ran infield himself and shot inside the near post beating Hug Lloris all ends up
Man City 4, Tottenham 2: 90. A massive boot up the field from Ederson found Clement Lenglet who miscontrolled and the loose ball fell to Riyad Mahrez who made no mistake, chipping the ball past Lloris to make the game safe.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 4, Tottenham 2
Man City: Ederson, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Lewis (Walker 83), Rodri, Gundogan (C) (Bernardo Silva 81), Grealish, Mahrez, Alvarez, Haaland (Dias 90)
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Phillips, Cancelo, Laporte, De Bruyne, Foden
Bookings: Mahrez 21 (foul on Dejan Kulusevski)
Goals: Alvarez 51; Haaland 53; Mahrez 63, 90
Tottenham: Lloris (C), Romero, Dier, Davies (Lenglet 78), Royal (Richarlison 78), Bentancur (Bissouma 75), Hojbjerg, Perisic (R Sessegnon 69), Kulusevski, Son, Kane
Tottenham Subs not used: Forster, Doherty, Sanchez, Tanganga, Sarr
Bookings: Romero 23 (foul on Manuel Akanji); Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 31 (foul on Rico Lewis)
Goals: Kulusevski 45; Royal 45+2
Referee: Simon Hooper