Manchester Metropolis’s dismal run prolonged to 5 consecutive defeats in all competitions as they had been thumped 4-0 by Tottenham on a moist and windy night time on the Etihad.
James Maddison grabbed a first-half brace on his twenty eighth birthday, with Pedro Porro and substitute Brennan Johnson additionally on the scoresheet as Spurs impressed away from house.
Metropolis might effectively have been one of many few sides to welcome to most up-to-date worldwide break given their lengthy harm listing and a run that had seen them endure 4 consecutive defeats in all competitions for the primary time in Pep Guardiola’s managerial profession.
However in per week when the Premier League champions had been bouyed by the information of Guardiola’s contract extension, they had been reminded in no unsure phrases of the on-pitch predicament they at present discover themselves in as they had been put to the sword by their rampant guests from London.
Tottenham Hotspur Soccer Membership. pic.twitter.com/9XT5ItcfRn
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 23, 2024
Metropolis might effectively have been pondering they had been in for a very good night time when, after simply 15 seconds, Yves Bissouma was booked for a cynical foul on Phil Foden.
Erling Haaland then drew a sensible low save from Vicario after some high quality work out broad by Savinho as Metropolis started to dominate.
However seemingly out of nothing, all the complexion of the sport modified as Spurs went forward.
Dejan Kulusevski, arguably Tottenham’s participant of the season to this point, did effectively to gather the ball on the precise earlier than slicing inside Josko Gvardiol and sending an inch-perfect cross for Maddison, who completed first time.
It was yet one more addition to what has been a set of forgettable moments for Metropolis in latest weeks. Groans may very well be heard across the Etihad with barely quarter-hour gone.
Spurs went near doubling the lead when Heung-min Son curled a goal-bound effort that Ederson, at full stretch, needed to tip around the publish.
Then, simply moments later, Metropolis’s distress was compounded when Spurs and Maddison grabbed a second following a slick passing transfer.
After Gvardiol had squandered possession, the ball discovered its solution to Son, who despatched a reverse go into the trail of Tottenham’s quantity 10 who took a contact earlier than delicately chipping the ball over the onrushing Metropolis keeper.
The hosts had been surprised and for the remainder of the half struggled to comprise Spurs’ dynamic ahead line.
Each Dominic Solanke and Bissouma blasted efforts over the bar as Guardiola went into the break with greater than a bit work to do.
James Maddison has his and Spurs’ second! 💥
Tottenham are off to a flyer towards the champions in their very own yard 😳 pic.twitter.com/7JKGkszjWW
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 23, 2024
And the job was made much more troublesome seven minutes after the restart when Spurs made it three.
Kulusevski was once more the architect, dancing previous a number of gamers earlier than taking part in a one-two with Son after which discovering Solanke with a pushed cross from the precise.
The England striker in flip teed up Pedro Porro who confidently side-footed the ball house, a lot to the delight of the travelling assist.
The stormy climate across the UK this weekend was maybe a relatively too on-the-nose metaphor for the predicament Guardiola’s aspect discovered themselves in.
However because the ran lashed down, the Metropolis boss reduce an animated and agitated determine on the sideline; his group removed from the assured, free-flowing footballing machine the world has change into accustomed to.
Pedro PORRO! 👊
It’s all falling aside for Man Metropolis on the Etihad 😲 pic.twitter.com/Ox0eEoo9zJ
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 23, 2024
Haaland rattled the bar with an effort nevertheless it more and more seemed to be one other troublesome night for the champions.
Kulusevski then went shut on the counter assault earlier than Haaland once more had an opportunity however he couldn’t maintain his header down.
With just below 20-minutes remaining, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish had been introduced on because the hosts tried to salvage one thing from the competition.
Nevertheless it Postecoglou’s substitutions that proved most impactful when, deep into second-half stoppage time, Timo Werner and Brennan Jonhson – each off the bench – mixed to make it 4 and rub additional salt into the gaping Metropolis wound.
Spurs had been excellent all through, however on a day when Storm Bert wreaked havoc up and down the UK, the blue aspect of Manchester very a lot stays beneath gray clouds.
