Man City thrashed by Tottenham for 5th consecutive loss
Manchester City’s misery continued on Saturday with a 4-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. It was the first time in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career that the team had lost five consecutive games in all competitions. James Maddison scored two goals in the first seven minutes, Pedro Polo scored just after half-time and Brennan Johnson added a fourth in added time to end City’s unbeaten streak of 52 consecutive home games in all competitions.
City remain second in the table with 23 points, but the Reds are five points behind leaders Liverpool due to playing fewer games, while Spurs have risen to sixth with 19 points from 12 games. “At the moment we are weak defensively,” said Guardiola, who signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday. “As always, we started very well but we couldn’t score and then we conceded goals.” They conceded more goals after that, but it’s tough mentally at the moment.
“In the last eight years, we’ve never been in a situation like this. Now we have to go through it and overcome it by winning the next game, especially the next one. Right now, we see things one-sided, but maybe in a few weeks we’ll see it differently.” It’s City’s most one-sided defeat in their history at the Etihad, and it’s also Guardiola’s first three consecutive league losses in more than eight seasons as manager. On his 28th birthday, Maddison told Sky Sports, “It’s a rare day for the champions, especially City, given their dominance in Europe in recent years.” “Going home 4-0 is something special. It’s a day to remember, so I think it’s important to enjoy it.
” Guardiola’s four-time defending champions had 23 shots on target compared to Tottenham’s nine, missing numerous chances including three in the first half from striker Erling Haaland. But defensively they were a total mess and paid the price in the 13th minute when Maddison ran in and inside-footed a beautiful long cross from Dejan Kulusevski. Seven minutes later, Maddison doubled the lead by lofting the ball over prone goalkeeper Ederson. Polo put the game in danger in the 52nd minute when Dominic Solanke crossed the ball and Polo fired a direct shot past Ederson, before substitute Johnson added another in the 93rd minute. Timo Werner got past Kyle Walker on the left and sent a low cross towards goal which Johnson smashed into the goal to score in front of shocked City fans. It was Guardiola’s heaviest defeat to date, having previously lost 0-4 against Real Madrid and Barcelona and 0-4 with City at Everton in 2017. The last time City lost a home game by more than four goals was when Arsenal won 5-1 at Maine Road in 2003.
