Tottenham Hotspur delivered a stunning 4-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, bringing an end to the English champions’ remarkable 52-game unbeaten home streak.
James Maddison scored twice in the first half, with Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson adding further goals to complete a dominant display.
This marks City’s first home defeat from open play since November 2022, just before the World Cup.
The result leaves City five points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand and face bottom-placed Southampton on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s win propels them into the top six, relieving pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou after a recent dip in form.
City started brightly, with Erling Haaland testing Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario early on, but Tottenham struck first on their first serious attack.
Dejan Kulusevski’s pinpoint cross set up Maddison for a composed finish. Minutes later, Son Heung-min’s clever pass found Maddison again, and the England midfielder doubled the lead with a delicate chip over Ederson.
City’s defensive vulnerabilities were further exposed in the second half. Kulusevski’s cross led to Dominic Solanke setting up Pedro Porro for Tottenham’s third goal, a powerful strike that silenced the home crowd.
Despite Kevin De Bruyne making a late cameo after a two-month injury absence, City failed to mount a comeback. A final blow came when Timo Werner outpaced Kyle Walker to set up Brennan Johnson for a simple tap-in.
This was City’s fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions, extending Pep Guardiola’s worst managerial run. Despite signing a new contract until 2027 this week, Guardiola faces mounting pressure to halt City’s slump as they prepare for a challenging visit to Anfield next weekend.
The defeat highlights the absence of key midfielder Rodri, sidelined since September with a long-term injury, whose influence has been sorely missed.
For Tottenham, the victory underscores their potential under Postecoglou, especially after their earlier 3-0 win over Manchester United. The north London club will now look to build consistency as they push for a top-four finish.
