'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A rampant Tottenham Hotspurs at the White Hart Lane convincingly defeated Manchester City 4-1 amongst some controversial decisions in an early Saturday kickoff.
Coach Manuel Pellegrini’s side came into this game on the back of a convincing 4-1 win away against Sunderland while Spurs suffered a close 2-1 defeat the hands of North London rivals Arsenal in their respective Capital One Cup midweek games.
City made a surprising change in goal as Willy Caballero was handed his first Premier League start, retaining his place from the Capital One game instead of their regular goalkeeper Joe Hart whereas Mauricio Pochettino decided to make seven changes to the Tottenham side that started the 2-1 defeat against Arsenal during the week, with Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Dele Alli, Erik Lamela and Heung-Min Son all coming back into the starting 11.
City got the game underway as both sides looked cautious from the word go. The pace of the game gradually slowed down as there were errors committed from both sides on certain areas of the pitch.
The first chance was created Sergio Aguero whose low placed effort on the right-hand corner was pushed away by Hugo Lloris. Tottenham had two half chances, but Erik Lamela was woeful with his shot while Harry Kane’s attempt was blocked by Caballero.
The game came into life after City struck in the 25th minute through their new marquee man Kevin De Bruyne who finished off Yaya Toure’s through pass by placing it past Lloris into the back of the net.
City lapse in the second half as Tottenham finish them off with three goals
City piled up pressure from then on as Sterling made an opening for himself and fired a thumping low shot that was saved by Lloris. Spurs looked out of ideas and uninspired as the game headed towards the halftime, but Eric Dier changed that just at the 45th minute.
Walker, who was well offside, put in a brilliant cross from the right wing that met Son on the edge of the six-yard box, but Caballero saved the South Korean's shot. However, De Bruyne’s poor clearance straight into the feet of Dier allowed the midfielder to immediately unleash a brilliant strike from 30 yards out that flew through the sea of players before hitting the post and nestled into the back of the net. With the scoreline even at 1-1, the sides headed into their dressing rooms.
The Citizens started the second half on the front foot as Aguero came close to giving his side the lead but his placed shot was deflected off Vertonghen. But the tables turned five minutes after half-time as Toby Alderweireld’s excellently headed Lamela’s perfect delivery from the set piece past Caballero to put the hosts into the lead for the first time.
And that lead was doubled by an out of form Harry Kane who scored his first goal of the Premier League just after the hour mark with a lovely half-volley to make it 3-1 as he was there first to react to the rebound from Ericksen’s thundering strike off the set piece. However, replays showed that the England forward was offside
Tottenham weren’t done yet as they inflicted further punishment on the visitors in the 79th minute after Lamela skipped past both Demichelis and Caballero before firing the ball into the back of the net from close range to wrap up a thumping and comprehensive victory for Tottenham.
