Tottenham trounced by superb Man City
Manchester City 4 Tottenham 1
Tottenham are now 21 points behind Premier League-leaders Manchester City following a merciless thrashing at the Etihad Stadium.
Goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin de Bruyne and a pair from Raheem Sterling extended City’s historic winning run to 16 matches.
Gundogan made Spurs concede from a set-piece for the third time in four matches when he headed home from a corner on 14 minutes, before De Bruyne struck low to make it 2-0 after the break.
Sterling found the net twice from close range after missing the rebound from a Gabriel Jesus penalty that struck the post, and Christian Eriksen pulled back a consolation goal in stoppage time.
The chasm between the two sides was clear from almost the first minute and Spurs looked bedazzled by City’s play, as Aguero went close with a header on 10 minutes.
Gundogan’s run for the goal went unnoticed by Spurs defenders and keeper Hugo Lloris was needed twice to deny Gundogan a second before the break, as only Harry Kane threatened at the other end.
Spurs increased their intensity in the second half and Kane had their best effort of the match when he forced Emerson into a full-stretched save.
But they were left open to the counter-attack as they searched for a leveller and De Bruyne exploited space on the left of the penalty area to rifle in City’s second.
Jan Vertonghen felled the Belgian in the box for a clear penalty, but the substitute Jesus found the foot of the upright before Sterling skied the rebound way off-target.
But Sterling made up for the miss with the first of two easy tap-ins on 80 minutes, rounding-off a superb passing move at the back post for his first before chipping over Lloris with a cute touch and finish for City’s fourth.
Spurs are next in action on Saturday, when they travel to Burnley. Their next game at Wembley is against Southampton on Boxing Day.
Tottenham: Lloris, Trippier, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose (Davies 89), Winks, Dembele, Alli (Sissoko 84), Eriksen, Son (Lamela 77), Kane.
Subs: Vorm, Foyth, Aurier, Llorente.
