Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester City: 5 Talking points as Kane-less hosts beat the reigning champions in a tight season opener | Premier League 2021-22

#3 Too much creativity and a lack of goal-scoring threat from either side

Tottenham Hotspur's Oliver Skipp (right) battles for the ball against Manchester City's Jack Grealish

It would not be wrong to say that Tottenham and Manchester City matched each other's intensity evenly in the game. This was more evident in the final third than any other area of the pitch. Both sides repeatedly made some promising runs in and around the box but lacked sharpness inside it.

City had better chances in the early stages of the game while Spurs also caught the visiting side on the counter-attack. However, the hosts rarely threatened the City defenders.

There was not a single shot recorded on target in the first half. By the final whistle, Tottenham attempted 13 shots out of which only two were on target and they scored from one. Manchester City had 66% possession, and had 18 shots, of which only four were on target. Both teams struggled massively in the final third and this will be an equally urgent source of concern for Santo and Guardiola.

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#2 Tottenham academy product Japhet Tanganga impresses in the narrow win

Japhet Tanganga defended well against Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish

Japhet Tanganga will be looking to cement his place as the first-choice right-back at Tottenham this season. The youngster left a great account of himself in the opening fixture of the 2021-22 campaign. Tanganga was picked ahead of Matt Doherty and put in an excellent shift, receiving a standing ovation from the Spurs faithful when he was substituted in the 82nd minute.

The home-grown talent will be looking to become one of the first defenders from the academy to break into the main team in recent years. At 22, he was one of the youngest players on the field tonight and Manchester City players might've looked to target him. But the young defender rebuffed City's advances on his side, locking the left-flank down with some astute defending.

Japhet Tanganga's game by numbers vs. Man City:100% long ball accuracy 90% pass accuracy 49 touches4 duels won 4 fouls committed 2 tackles 2 clearances 1 interception 1 cross No way past. ⛔ pic.twitter.com/Xo67Ngrgii

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 15, 2021

Tanganga has done enough to secure his place for the away game against Nuno Espirito Santo's former side Wolverhampton next weekend.

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#1 Manchester City sorely need an established striker

Manchester City's Jack Grealish (centre) walks off the pitch after the match against Tottenham

Manchester City faced an alarmingly familiar problem in their opening day outing against Spurs. They had the majority of the possession, started strongly and even had more goal attempts and shots on target, but lacked decisiveness in the final third.

City recorded three shots on target, one more than Tottenham, and yet it felt as if they did not test the hosts' defense enough. City's rivals, including Chelsea and Liverpool, scored three goals in their first games of the campaign. More importantly, Manchester United thrashed Leeds 5-1 and are atop the table after Matchday 1. In comparison, City's start to the season was woefully disappointing.

Harry Kane will not be in Tottenham's squad for today's match with #ManCity. The club say ‘he is not fit enough’ to be involved. [via @TheAthleticUK]

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) August 15, 2021

Signing a striker might not be the answer to all their problems. But having an accomplished finisher will fill in what seems to be their only weakness at the moment. Whether that player is Tottenham striker Harry Kane remains to be seen.

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