Manchester City 0 Tottenham 4: City player ratings as it goes from bad to worse for Manchester City | OneFootball

Manchester City 0

Tottenham 4 (James Maddison 13, 20′, Pedro Porro 52′, Brennan Johnson 90+2)

Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City went down to a dismal 4-nil defeat to Tottenham. Before kickoff, Rodri was returned home with the Ballon d’Or. That was a special moment for Rodri and everyone associated with Manchester City. With the news of Pep Guardiola’s contract extension added to the occasion, it did appear that the week’s news could provide Manchester City with the boost they needed. But that wasn’t the case as City fell to their worst defeat for some time.

Here are the City player ratings and the match report from a dark day for Pep Guardiola’s side.

First half

Manchester City began the game in a bright fashion. Pep Guardiola’s side looked up for the occasion and determined to half their four-game losing run.

City’s best chance came in the 10th minute when Savinho set up Erling Haaland whose shot was well saved by Vicario.

But minutes later it would be Tottenham who take the lead. Dejan Kulusevski played in a sumptuous ball and James Maddison was on hand to give Tottenham the lead. Spurs’ goal was against the run of play but it’s a common theme nowadays to see City concede so easily.

Tottenham were emboldened by their goal and Son Hueng-Min saw a fine effort from outside the box well saved by Ederson.

It got worse for Manchester in the 20th minute when Josko Gvardiol gave away possession and Tottenham took full advantage. Son played in James Maddison who beat Ederson with a sublime finish. All of a sudden, Manchester City’s early momentum was gone, and Tottenham had taken charge of the match.

Pep Guardiola’s side responded a minute later when Josko Gvardiol teed up Haaland who fired his effort over the bar.

In the 36th minute, Savinho saw an effort saved by Vicario. But in truth, City’s attacking play was all too narrow and had become predictable.

Tottenham had become the dominant side but Manchester City did have another chance through Phil Foden in the 42nd minute. But his volley was blasted over the bar after a nice cross from Bernardo Silva.

The rest of the first half played out with little incident but the alarm bells are ringing loud and clear for Pep Guardiola and his team. Tottenham deservedly took a 2-nil lead into the interval.

Second half

The only change made by Pep Guardiola at half-time was to replace John Stones with Nathan Ake. But it didn’t have the desired effect.

In the 52nd minute, Tottenham made it 3-nil with a quality counter. A sweeping move saw Dominic Solanke tee up Pedro Porro who fired home Tottenham’s third. But in truth, every frailty to this Manchester City side was exposed in the move. From a lack of legs in midfield and a failure to track back defensively helped Spurs make it 3-nil.

Manchester City’s first chance of the second half fell to Erling Haaland. After some sloppy play at the back from Tottenham the ball fell to Haaland. But his strike rattled off the crossbar.

Tottenham got in behind the City defence once again in the 66th minute. Dejan Kulusevski made a surging run after some great hold-up play from Dominic Solanke. But he saw his effort well saved by Ederson.

The introduction of Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish in the 71st minute did spark City into life. City’s next chance fell to Ilkay Gundogan in the 76th minute but his shot was easily saved by Vicario.

Vicario again denied Erling Haaland in the 79th minute. A great piece of play between De Bruyne and Haaland played City’s number 9 in but his effort was well saved again by the Spurs keeper.

Tottenham made it 4-nil right at the end of the game. Timo Werner surged past Kyle Walker and he played a simple ball across goal for Brennan Johnson to tap in.

All told Manchester City’s 52 game unbeaten run at the Etihad came to an end with barely a whimper. After an impressive opening 10 minutes Ange Postecoglou’s side ruthlessly exposed every frailty in this current Manchester City side. They fully deserved their victory and it’s now 5 successive defeats for the world champions. But this one felt like a massive moment and a defeat where all of City’s weaknesses were exposed for all to see.

Here are the City player ratings from Manchester City’s heavy defeat.

City player ratings

Ederson-6/10: Could do little about any of Tottenham’s goals and made several decent saves.

Kyle Walker-3/10: Another poor game from Walker. Given a torrid time by Son and he doesn’t look anywhere near it at the moment. He was beaten for pace for Tottenham’s fourth by Timo Werner and that says it all about Walker’s play right now.

John Stones-5/10: He looked like a player who has been out with injury. Looked well off it but wasn’t helped by City’s poor midfield.

Manuel Akanji-5/10: Akanji tried hard all game, but like Stones, he looked short of a gallop.

Josko Gvardiol-4/10: Not his best display. He was at fault for both of James Maddison’s goals, and his performance wasn’t at his usual high standards.

Rico Lewis-4/10: He toiled away in midfield but he was brushed aside by Tottenham’s midfield. But he wasn’t City’s worst player on the night.

Ilkay Gundogan-4/10: Played in a deeper midfield role and couldn’t keep up with Tottenham’s midfield. His lack of pace is becoming a major concern.

Bernardo Silva-4/10: Bernardo tried hard but didn’t affect the game like he would’ve liked. By the end of the game he cut a frustrated figure

Phil Foden-4/10: Foden couldn’t get into the game like many of his teammates. He needs to lift like so many of his teammates.

Savinho-4.5/10: Started the game brightly but drifted out of the game. He did, however, pull out of a challenge with Vicario in a moment that stood out in the first half. He must eradicate that from his game.

Erling Haaland-4/10: Haaland spurned several opportunities, and if he could’ve taken one of his early chances, the game could’ve played out differently. Not his day.

Substitutes

Nathan Ake-5/10: Came on at halftime and tried hard at the back. Of all three of City’s centre-backs, he looked the best of all three.

Kevin De Bruyne- N/A: He was City’s most creative player in the twenty minutes he was on the pitch. That says it all really.

Jack Grealish- N/A: Not on long enough to mark but it was good to see him back on the pitch.