Manchester City’s dismal run of form continued with a stunning 4-0 thrashing by Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.
Spurs delivered a masterclass in clinical finishing, with James Maddison stealing the spotlight with a first-half double on his 28th birthday.
City started the game brightly, dominating the opening 10 minutes and creating several scoring opportunities. However, their wastefulness in front of goal proved costly.
Tottenham took the lead with their very first touch in City’s penalty area, as Dejan Kulusevski made light work of Josko Gvardiol on the flank before delivering a pinpoint cross. Maddison pounced, volleying the ball into the net to open the scoring.
The visitors didn’t wait long to double their advantage. Just seven minutes later, Maddison was sent through on goal by Son Heung-min’s exquisite pass, and the attacking midfielder coolly chipped Ederson to make it 2-0.
City’s defense, already reeling, was further exposed when Pedro Porro, a former City player, struck Spurs’ third after another brilliant assist from Kulusevski.
Brennan Johnson sealed the victory in the second half, adding a fourth goal to complete Tottenham’s humiliation of the reigning champions.
This defeat extends Manchester City’s losing streak to five matches across all competitions, an unusual and concerning run for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Their troubles began with a League Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham and were followed by losses to Bournemouth, Sporting CP, and Brighton.
City remain five points behind league leaders Liverpool, but with Liverpool’s fixture against bottom-placed Southampton coming up, the gap could widen to eight points—a deficit that might prove too large to overcome in the title race.
Ahead of the match, City honoured Rodri, who recently won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, beating Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr to the prize.
The Spanish midfielder has been pivotal to City’s success since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2019. However, Rodri’s ongoing absence due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury has left a noticeable void in the team.
Mateo Kovacic, Rodri’s usual deputy, is also sidelined, forcing Guardiola to deploy Ilkay Gundogan in the defensive midfield role. Unfortunately, Gundogan struggled to fill the gap, particularly during Spurs’ opener, where he lost track of Maddison in a critical moment.
The lack of defensive solidity in midfield left City’s backline exposed and further emphasized how vital Rodri is to the team’s structure.
James Maddison marked his birthday in style with a commanding performance, scoring twice and playing a key role in Tottenham’s emphatic win.
His first goal was a composed finish following Kulusevski’s sublime delivery, while his second showcased his synergy with Son Heung-min, as they combined brilliantly on the edge of the box before Maddison chipped the ball over Ederson.
Maddison’s performance not only demonstrated his value to Tottenham but also sent a message to incoming England manager Thomas Tuchel.
Despite being overlooked by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2024, Maddison’s recent displays make a strong case for his return to the national team setup under Tuchel’s reign.
Dejan Kulusevski was another standout for Spurs, tormenting City’s defense with his pace, vision, and creativity. His contributions to Maddison’s opener and Porro’s goal highlighted his importance to Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson praised the Swede on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying:
“There in a nutshell is why Dejan Kulusevski cannot be left out of this side. Darts down the right-hand side, does well to keep the ball in play and curls the most delicious ball into the box. City can’t defend it, the keeper can’t come for it, and James Maddison left foot, six yards out, volleys it into the net.”
Defensive frailty plagued City throughout the match, with both Gvardiol and Kyle Walker culpable for some of Tottenham’s goals.
The absence of Rodri’s shielding presence in midfield left the backline vulnerable, and Spurs exploited these weaknesses with ruthless efficiency.
Robinson summarized City’s struggles, saying, “Defensively they have been all over the place. They have looked nervous, edgy and as soon as they conceded, the cohesion went. They looked so susceptible. For the first 12 or so minutes City were excellent and could have scored two or three, but Tottenham then go and get the first goal against the run of play. There was a shift change and you could see it in the back four. Tottenham just smelt a bit of that weakness and kept going and they have caused City numerous issues.”
Liverpool now have a golden chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table, while City must find a way to reverse their alarming slump.
With their title defense in jeopardy, Guardiola’s men face mounting pressure to rediscover their form and address their growing list of issues.
