Holding Premier League leaders Manchester City produced a second-half performance befitting their status as champions after a fantastic second-half comeback at the Etihad Stadium in a 4-2 win over Antonio Conte’s frustrated Tottenham Hotspur FC.
Man City cut the gap to five points 💪#MCITOT | @ManCity pic.twitter.com/vNTipmY0qF
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 19, 2023
On a bitterly cold night in Manchester when City was determined to get back on track in the league after consecutive defeats amid questions surrounding star pair Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, Tottenham had their own motivations to get back in the thick of the action among the top-four in the Premier League, with Harry Kane having a double chance at making history in front of goal.
Neither side came out swinging in the opening twenty minutes of play, however, with possession numbers showing a nearly-even split on the ball as both sides looked to spar their way into confidence at the Etihad Stadium.
The first half remained quiet throughout, with sounds of frustration regularly heard emanating from the City fanbase, with an Ederson blunder adding to the angst around the ground when his lapse in concentration saw the Brazilian’s attempt to play out of the back to an unexpected Manuel Akanji whose clearance fell to Dejan Kulusevski for the Swedish international to slot home low past Ederson to give Spurs an unexpected 1-0 lead.
Antonio Conte’s men would double their advantage just one minute later after Harry Kane’s work ethic eventually found the England man free in the box to smash a tight-angle effort at Ederson who parried right to Emerson Royal who would dispatch a looping header into the back of the net to send the away fans end into rapture.
City would punch back early in the second half through none other than Argentine starlet and World Cup winner Julián Álvarez to continue his hot form during the 2022-23 season when the forward pounced on a loose ball to slam home past Hugo Lloris after Riyad Mahrez skinned Ben Davies down the left channel to loft his cross into the area before Lloris’ attempted punch to clear fell for the youngster to cut the deficit in half.
Sensational individual performance from Mahrez in that second half. Some horrible individual errors from Spurs, just can’t do that against City.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) January 19, 2023
Mahrez was once again the focal point for City when the champions took a 3-2 lead in the 63rd minute after the Algerian winger slotted past Lloris in the wake of turning provider for City’s earlier goals in the half, with Spurs left reeling after seeing their double-advantage at halftime disappear in stunning fashion as Guardiola’s men produced a comeback befitting of their status as the reigning elite side in the Premier League.
City sealed all three points just before the conclusion of normal time with Mahrez bagging a brace in what was a Man of the Match performance after the Algerian burst through on goal to beat the last man back to calmly chip over Lloris to cement City’s magical comeback win, on a night where Mahrez directly contributed to all four goals on the scoresheet for Guardiola’s motivated outfit.
It was a result that Arsenal fans certainly did not want to see when it comes to the title race picture, but even more so, Spurs supporters head back south to London with even more questions sure to emerge in the wake of a cataclysmic collapse away from home that will, once again, put Conte and the club’s pathway directly under the microscope.
📰 Table Of Contents
Manchester City Player Ratings
- GK: Ederson – 6
- RB: Rico Lewis – 6.5
- CB: John Stones – 7
- CB: Manuel Akanji – 7
- LB: Nathan Aké – 7
- RM: Riyad Mahrez – 10
- CM: Rodri – 7.5
- CM: Ilkay Gündogan – 6.5
- LM: Jack Grealish – 7
- RF: Erling Haaland – 7
- LF: Julián Álvarez – 8
- Sub: Bernardo Silva – 6
- Sub: Kyle Walker – 6
- Sub: Rúben Dias – N/A
Tottenham Player Ratings
- GK: Hugo Lloris – 5
- RCB: Cristian Romero – 5.5
- CB: Eric Dier – 5.5
- LCB: Ben Davies – 5.5
- RWB: Emerson Royal – 8
- LWB: Ivan Perišić – 6.5
- CM: Rodrigo Bentancur – 6
- CM: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 7
- RAM: Dejan Kulusevski – 7.5
- LAM: Son Heung-min – 6
- CF: Harry Kane – 6
- Sub: Ryan Sessegnon – 6
- Sub: Yves Bissouma – 6
- Sub: Richarlison – 6
- Sub: Clément Lenglet – 5.5
Key Data & Performances
1/54 – Manchester City have only won one of 54 previous Premier League games in which they have trailed by 2+ goals at half-time (D2 L51); that win, however, was the most recent occasion, beating Crystal Palace 4-2 in August. Mountain. pic.twitter.com/1cdWFqdXs3
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 19, 2023
Emerson Royal’s first half by numbers vs. Manchester City:
100% dribbles completed
100% aerial duels won
90% pass accuracy
34 touches
5/5 ground duels won
2/2 tackles won
2 clearances
1 goalDoubles Spurs’ lead. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/s11umJHubl
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 19, 2023
Dejan Kulusevski’s first half by numbers vs. Manchester City:
24 touches
2 clearances
2 key passes
1 shot on target
1 goalCapitalising on City’s mistake. 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/hLPV8xqb4U
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 19, 2023
Here’s an extract from my Talking Tactics column for the Premier League.
Ederson is really struggling this season. pic.twitter.com/6SybMF83hs
— Adrian Clarke (@adrianjclarke) January 19, 2023
Riyad Mahrez’s game by numbers vs Spurs:
8 touches in opp. box
5 duels won
4 shots
3 chances created
2 goals
1 assist
0.52 xGMagical Mahrez. 🪄 pic.twitter.com/7QcTYJRdTl
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 19, 2023
Erling Haaland’s game by numbers vs. Tottenham:
21 touches
5 aerial duels won
2 shots on target
1 goalGoal drought. Over. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/aNRFoQQVrc
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 19, 2023
Manchester City 4 (2.3)-(1.2) 2 Tottenham pic.twitter.com/Av8dXG4NGR
— Cannon Stats (@CannonStats) January 19, 2023
3 – Last three Manchester City players to register brace + assist in a second half by Premier League:
2012 – Carlos Tevez 🇦🇷 vs. Aston Villa (5-0)
2015 – Sergio Agüero 🇦🇷 vs. QPR (6-0)
2023 – Riyad Mahrez 🇩🇿 vs. Spurs (4-2)Stake. pic.twitter.com/04zP9a0rWa
— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) January 19, 2023
Spurs’ record since the World Cup:
🏟️ 6 games
✅ 2 wins
🤝 1 draw
❌ 3 losses
⚽ 9 goals scored
🥅 10 goals concededPatchy form. 🫥 pic.twitter.com/lY84ygVIdu
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 19, 2023
Social Media
In 2016/17, Antonio Conte became the first manager to complete a league double against a Pep Guardiola team.
Tonight, he could become the first manager to win 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 consecutive league games against him. 😤
(@WrldSoccerShop) pic.twitter.com/XfXoNLsvkY
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 19, 2023
It could be a 𝗯𝗶𝗴 night for Harry Kane ✨
⚽⚽ Two goals would see him hit 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ in the Premier League 🙌
⚪ A brace would also see him break Jimmy Greaves goal-scoring record for Spurs – which stands at 266 goals! 📊#BBCFootball #MCITOT pic.twitter.com/DCaWAGjy0e
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 19, 2023
Man City fans and fantasy football managers be like: 🤞
Who’s backing Erling Haaland to end his ‘drought’ tonight? ⚽#BBCFootball #MCITOT pic.twitter.com/yYcHSGeXjh
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 19, 2023
Two great strikers meet in Manchester 🔥
Who will come out on top?#MCITOT pic.twitter.com/5kmnNOZlqm
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 19, 2023
🗣️ “Is it the case that Guardiola can’t work with a 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧 number 9…?”@richardajkeys questions @ErlingHaaland‘s contribution to @ManCity and asks if the Norwegian striker is Guardiola’s “new Zlatan”.#beINPL #MCITOT #MCFC pic.twitter.com/uxFXj27mZ4
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) January 19, 2023
Not much to report yet. Lots of tactical fouls, mostly from Spurs but now one from Mahrez on Kulusevski to stop a potentially menacing counter. Booked.
— Tim Spiers (@TimSpiers) January 19, 2023
A remarkable opening 20 minutes from Tottenham as they don’t find themselves 2-0 down
— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) January 19, 2023
#THFC fans singing “we want Levy out” and singing in praise of Conte. #MCITOT
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) January 19, 2023
HT—Man City 0-2 Tottenham
Arsenal fans: pic.twitter.com/vbpv5oROpl
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 19, 2023
GOALLL! Julian Alvarez slots home. Brilliant from Mahrez down the right to beat Perisic and clip in the ball. Hugo Lloris beats Jack Grealish to the second knock but Alvarez is there to finish. Game on! #MCFC 1-2 #THFC #MCITOT
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) January 19, 2023
2-2 Haaland! Spurs have their first and second halves mixed up tonight
— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) January 19, 2023
MANCHESTER CITY COMPLETE THE COMEBACK!
RIYAD MAHREZ MAKES IT 3-2. pic.twitter.com/AWrfcGQzdd
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 19, 2023
Two goals and an assist to complete the comeback.
Riyad Mahrez put on a show 🪄 pic.twitter.com/2JkytR0ifS
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 19, 2023
