Manchester City’s winless in three-straight Premier League matches for the first time in seven years following an enthralling 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The three-time defending Premier League champions are now three points back of Arsenal and a point behind Liverpool after drawing a third-straight league contest, and they threw away 2-1 and 3-2 leads.
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Pep Guardiola’s side hasn’t lost a PL fixture since early October, but they haven’t won since the start of November either. Phil Foden and Jack Grealish joined a Heung-min Son own goal on City’s side of the ledger, as Erling Haaland registered an assist but missed multiple big chances to add to his Premier League-leading goal haul.
More than half of Ange Postecoglou’s preferred starting lineup for Spurs is either injured or suspended, but Tottenham went for it and got a point in brave fashion. It looked foolish early, but Tottenham kept fighting as Son and Giovani Lo Celso scored, and Dejan Kulusevski had a goal and an assist.
Spurs exit the game in fifth place, two points off the top four.
Ange Postecoglou’s big risk gets solid reward
Tottenham didn’t have a single outright center back in the fold and was facing the best attack in the world, and Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou made the bold choice to go for it.
Did it work? Well, they got a point!
Spurs weathered Man City’s first-half storm — thanks in part to Erling Haaland’s pair of big misses — and stayed in the game with bravery, determination, and valor.
Postecoglou knew that City will score goals most games, but he’s also seen City conceded plenty like the 4-4 draw with Chelsea.
There was some of that in this, and Postecoglou will have engendered even more belief in his men by trusting them to fight with the champs. And Dejan Kulusevski said Postecoglou even roasted them at halftime for not fighting harder.
Here’s how the boss described his halftime talk.
“I don’t want to be unfair on the players, it wasn’t anger on them,” Postecoglou said on Peacock after the game. “It was trying to get them to believe in themselves a little more. ... It was just a message that whatever happens, I’ll take responsibility, so go out there and believe in yourselves. ... We’ve stuck to our guns and our beliefs.”
That’s another reward. Well done for the former Celtic mastermind. Now imagine if he does in London what he did in Glasgow: Deliver trophies.
Guardiola enraged by referee’s late confusion
Late in the game, Erling Haaland was fouled but popped up and drove the ball forward.
Referee Simon Hooper seemed to point forward, indicating advantage, as Haaland sprung Jack Grealish 1v1 toward the Tottenham goal.
Hooper then blew the play dead anyway, and was surrounded by City players. Guardiola and Haaland were furious then and after the game, but the manager didn’t want to say much after the game when asked about the referee’s decision.
“Next question. I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment,” Guardiola said, referencing his former assistant’s furor when Arsenal did not get a call he wanted versus Newcastle.
“It is hard when you review the image. The referee whistles after he has already said to play on. And after the pass, the whistle, so I do not understand this action.
“It was a good game, that is the most important thing. It was a pity, because I had a feeling in the Liverpool game and today, I had the feeling that today that we made an incredible performance in all departments, against a really good team and manager and how they play.
“We created a lot of chances, we were aggressive, incredibly concentrated, and the feeling is that we still want to be there [in first place]. It is a pity. Sometimes football is like life: You do not get what you deserve.”
What’s next?
Tottenham hosts West Ham on Thursday and Newcastle on Sunday, while Man City goes to Villa on Wednesday and Luton Town on Sunday.
Manchester City vs Tottenham final score: 3-3
Goal: Son (7'), Son o.g. (9'), Foden (32'), Lo Celso (69'), Grealish (81'), Kulusevski (90')
How to watch Manchester City vs Tottenham live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 11:30 am ET, Sunday (Dec. 3)
TV channel: Peacock
Online: Watch via Peacock Premium
Manchester City vs Tottenham player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Tottenham player ratings (fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Tottenham player ratings (fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur live updates - by Nick Mendola
Dejan Kulusevski goal (video): Level again!
Brennan Johnson’s cross from the left is headed for Dejan Kulusevsk and recent City sub Nathan Ake.
Kulusevski out-muscles Ake and it the ball careens inside the post. We’re 3-3!
Jack Grealish goal (video)
Just like that.
It’s a burst forward from City, and the service comes the right.
Erling Haaland collects the assist with his pass across the heart of the box for super sub Grealish to slot past Vicario.
Giovani Lo Celso goal (video)! Spurs strike!
Julian Alvarez gives the ball away and Spurs pounce in the City end.
Giovani Lo Celso is given some room to pipe a shot on goal and it’s a good one. Ederson can’t reach the 18-yarder and Spurs are level!
Manchester City vs Tottenham halftime analysis: 2-1
Spurs are still in this, thanks in large part to a pair of Erling Haaland misses.
But the good news pretty much ends there, as City is having a rollicking time against Tottenham’s fullback-heavy back line.
City’s had 60% possession and is out-attempting Spurs 11-1 while producing 1.52 xG to the visitors’ 0.15.
It still could get ugly, but Tottenham’s alive for a positive result. What will Ange Postecoglou do at the break?
Phil Foden goal (video): Pretty passing to take the lead
Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Julian Alvarez all have touches in-and-around the box on this pretty goal.
Their work leads to Phil Foden alone on the doorstep, and Guglielmo Vicario’s on an island.
It’s 2-1. City has its first lead.
Heung-min Son own goal (video)!
City respond immediately, whipping in a free kick that Son redirects behind his keeper. 1-1!
Heung-min Son goal (video)!
Guglielmo Vicario’s already been busy for Spurs, but it’s Tottenham who finds the first goal.
The counter attack finds Heung-min Son 1v1 with Jeremy Doku, an obvious mismatch, and Ederson isn’t at his best when Son finishes well to make it 1-0 after just seven minutes.
Hello!
Manchester City lineup
Today's squad vs Spurs! 👋
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 3, 2023
XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Foden, Doku, Alvarez, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Grealish, Gomez, Bobb, Lewis#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/QRasZrg6Vj
Tottenham lineup
Your starting XI for #MCITOT ✊ pic.twitter.com/hNE7R9D4Q3
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 3, 2023
Focus on Manchester City, injury news
OUT: Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring - out until December/January) | QUESTIONABLE: Mateo Kovacic (thigh), Matheus Nunes (undisclosed)
Focus on Tottenham, injury news
OUT: James Maddison (ankle - out until new year), Micky van de Ven (hamstring - out until new year), Cristian Romero (suspension), Rodrigo Bentancur (ankle), Ryan Sessegnon (thigh), Manor Solomon (knee), Ivan Perisic (knee), Alfie Whiteman (ankle)| QUESTIONABLE: Pape Sarr (undisclosed), Richarlison (groin)