Man City vs Tottenham result, highlights and analysis as Riyad Mahrez completes stunning comeback

Joe Wright

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Man City vs Tottenham result, highlights and analysis as Riyad Mahrez completes stunning comeback image

Manchester City completed a sensational comeback to defeat Tottenham 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

Two goals in three minutes at the end of the first half from Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal put Spurs 2-0 up against the reigning champions, who were booed off the pitch by some of the home fans.

There was a flat atmosphere after the restart, but City soon changed that, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland scoring a goal each for the hosts in the space of just two minutes.

Riyad Mahrez, who had been at the heart of both of City's first two goals, swept a finish beneath Hugo Lloris to put Pep Guardiola's men ahead just past the hour mark shortly after Ivan Perisic saw a shot deflected off the post.

The brilliant Algerian scored his second late on to end Spurs' resistance, dinking a clever finish over Hugo Lloris after a mistake from Clement Lenglet.

Man City vs Tottenham final score

  1H 2H FT
Man City 0 2 2
Tottenham 2 4 4

Goals: TOT — Kulusevski — 44th min

            TOT — Emerson Royal — 45+2 mins

            MCI — Alvarez — 51st min

            MCI — Haaland — 53rd min

            MCI — Mahrez — 63rd min

            MCI — Mahrez — 90th min

MORE: Watch every Premier League match live with fuboTV in Canada

Spurs were substantially better early on here than they were against Arsenal last time out, although there was little by way of incident until the closing stages of the half.

Ederson's pass played Rodri into trouble and Kulusevski pounced, winning the ball just inside the box and firing beneath the City keeper. And suddenly, it was 2-0, Kane challenging Rodri successfully and blasting the ball at Ederson, giving Emerson Royal an easy headed finish on the rebound.

City players were booed off by some of the home fans at halftime — a strange experience for most of these players under Guardiola — but whether it was the crowd's anger or the manager's wrath, they were certainly fired up after the restart.

They gave Spurs a taste of their own medicine with two quick-fire goals, with Mahrez at the heart of both. His run and cross towards Ilkay Gundogan forced a scramble in the box from which Alvarez swept home, and Mahrez then nodded Rodri's ball over the top to Haaland to head in the equaliser.

Moments after Perisic's shot deflected off Rico Lewis and onto the woodwork, Mahrez made it 3-2, racing away from the Spurs wing-back before rifling a shot that took a slight deflection as it beat Lloris at the near post.

Antonio Conte's visitors did not manage another shot on target but Mahrez capped a glorious second-half performance with his second goal, chipping a finish over the onrushing Lloris after substitute Lenglet miscontrolled the ball.

Magnificent Mahrez fires reminder to Arsenal

Had City lost this game, Arsenal would have had the chance to go 11 points clear at the top at the halfway point of the season by beating Manchester United on Sunday.

Certainly, the way they played in the first half offered little indication that they would deny Spurs another famous Etihad win, and the fans made their displeasure quite clear.

However, just as they have done in recent games against Chelsea and United, City moved up a gear or two after the break. They pinned Spurs back and never really let them out, which is no mean feat against a side who have traditionally saved their better football for after halftime this season.

The star of the show was Mahrez. His movement and individual skill led Perisic on a merry dance, and he was involved in all four goals, scoring two and getting an assist to boot. It was an exceptional performance from a player often unfairly overlooked among debates around the very best in the division.

It also showed Arsenal that City will not go away quietly in this title race.

Could this be Conte's breaking point?

Spurs were significantly better in the first half than they were in the North London derby, and Conte would likely have felt his team had done a pretty perfect job by halftime, snuffing out City's spark and snatching two goals of their own.

Yet the manner in which they let the game slip from their grasp — especially when they have made a habit of comebacks of their own this season — will have infuriated their manager. Indeed, you wonder if this is the sort of result for which he will not stand.

Conte suggested he could walk away from Spurs during a previous difficult run, and they have now won just five of their past 15 matches in all competitions. These latest back-to-back losses to the two title favourites will have strengthened the Italian's belief that further investment is the only way for Spurs to close the gap to the best. If new faces do not arrive before the January transfer window closes, Conte could decide this project is no longer for him.

Man City vs Tottenham lineups

Man City (4-2-4, right to left): 31.Ederson — 82.Lewis, 25.Akanji, 5.Stones, 6.Ake — 8.Gundogan, 16.Rodri — 26.Mahrez, 10.Grealish — 19.Alvarez, 9.Haaland

Man City subs: 2.Walker, 3.Dias, 4.Phillips, 7.Cancelo, 14.Laporte, 17.De Bruyne, 18.Ortega Moreno, 20.Silva, 47.Foden

Tottenham (3-4-3, right to left): 1.Lloris — 17.Romero, 15.Dier, 33.Davies — 12.Emerson, 30.Bentancur, 5.Hojbjerg, 14.Perisic — 21.Kulusevski, 10.Kane, 7.Son

Tottenham subs: 2.Doherty, 6.Sanchez, 9.Richarlison, 19.Sessegnon, 20.Forster, 25.Tanganga, 29.Sarr, 34. Lenglet, 38.Bissouma

Man City vs Tottenham commentary, highlights

FT: That's it! Man City complete a brilliant comeback to move to within five points of leaders Arsenal. What a game, and what a performance from Riyad Mahrez!

92 + 3 mins: Spurs are having one more go here, but it's all a bit forlorn. There's only around 90 seconds left.

90th min: MAN CITY MAKE IT 4-2! It's the brilliant Riyad Mahrez who surely kills the game! Clement Lenglet makes a horrible job of controlling a long ball and Mahrez nicks it off him before clipping a finish over the onrushing Hugo Lloris.

89th min: Pep Guardiola is getting agitated on the touchline. Spurs have started to look more threatening, but Harry Kane's whipped cross just now is claimed well by Ederson ahead of Son Heung-min. We're approaching injury time, for which Ruben Dias will come on for City.

85th min: Great challenge, Cristian Romero! Riyad Mahrez looked to have slid Erling Haaland through on goal, but Romero stood up well and eased the striker off the ball fairly. It's City doing all the attacking, though.

82nd min: Has Richarlison got away with one, there? A deep corner picks out Rodri at the far post, and his header comes off the Spurs forward's outstretched arm. There was very little distance between the players and Richarlison had his back turned, but that was certainly a case of his arm making his body bigger. Still, VAR says play on.

80th min: Richarlison is on for Tottenham, who have got to go for broke now. City spring a quick attack from Ederson's long ball, Riyad Mahrez looks to find Julian Alvarez, but Eric Dier and Ryan Sessegnon get across to cover.

74th min: Spurs break well and Jack Grealish is a bit overzealous in trying to win it back, and ends up playing the ball off Manuel Akanji and into Harry Kane's path. He plays it through to Son Heung-min, but Spurs. No.7 hesitates and the chance is gone.

70th min: Ivan Perisic, who's had a pretty decisive few minutes in terms of City's comeback, has gone off for Ryan Sessegnon. Spurs win a cheap free-kick off Ilkay Gundogan in a promising position, and Son Heung-min tries a clever short one to Harry Kane, but he miscontrols it and is penalised for handball.

63rd min: MANCHESTER CITY ARE IN THE LEAD! Riyad Mahrez completes the comeback! He wins a challenge with Ivan Perisic and suddenly there's space to attack. Mahrez drives into the box, goes onto his right foot with a little stepover, and drills a right-footed shot straight under Hugo Lloris! The Spurs keeper seemed to be undone by a slight deflection, but Man City won't care!

Watch Mahrez score for City (UK):

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59th min: IVAN PERISIC! How are Spurs not back ahead? Dejan Kulusevski breaks clear down the right and cuts the ball low back across the box to Perisic. His first-time shot comes off the foot of Rico Lewis, bounces up and off the woodwork, and City clear!

54th min: MAN CITY ARE LEVEL! Erling Haaland makes it 2-2! Riyad Mahrez lays the ball back to Rodri and makes a run into the box. Rodri's ball over the top is spot on, Mahrez nods it across goal, and Haaland heads it in from point-blank range. That's two goals in two minutes for City, who have improved immeasurably since the break.

Watch Alvarez and Haaland bring Man City level (UK):

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51st min: CITY GET A GOAL BACK! Sorry, Spurs fans — I jinxed that one! Rico Lewis starts the move with a positive run forwards. Riyad Mahrez works his way into the box and clips a cross towards Ilkay Gundogan. Hugo Lloris gets something on the ball but, before Spurs can scramble it clear, Julian Alvarez sweep the ball high into the net. Game on!

49th min: Julian Alvarez tries a shot from outside the box, but it's nowhere near Hugo Lloris' goal. The Etihad is very, very quiet; it certainly doesn't sound like the City fans believe in a comeback. For now...

46th min: We're back underway. What can Man City do about this?

HT: Before tonight, Tottenham had scored one first-half goal in the league since November 1. That was the worst record in the division, alongside Southampton. No wonder Pep Guardiola is keeping his players in the dressing room for as long as possible...

HT: The halftime whistle sounds, and there is BOOING at the Etihad Stadium. How often have we heard that in the Pep Guardiola era? Spurs are currently handing Arsenal a massive boost in the title race!

45 + 2 mins: SPURS HAVE SCORED AGAIN! What's going on, here? Manuel Akanji can't clear a Spurs counter and City suddenly look all over the place at the back. Harry Kane wins a 50-50 with Rodri in the box and blasts the ball at Ederson from a tight angle. The keeper parries it, but Emerson Royal reacts quickest to nod home! It's 2-0!

Watch Spurs score a quick-fire double (UK):

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44th min: GOAL FOR SPURS! Oh, Ederson, what have you done? City's keeper plays a short pass to Rodri but it's a poor one. The midfielder tries to turn the ball wide but it goes straight to Dejan Kulusevski, who fires a low finish past the goalkeeper from inside the box.

43rd min: Two chances for Erling Haaland! Firstly, the striker gets in behind the Spurs defence but Hugo Lloris comes out to block at his feet as the Norwegian just failed to get control of the ball. Then, Lloris comes and fails to reach a Riyad Mahrez cross from the right, but Haaland can only head over the bar.

39th min: Good save, Hugo Lloris! Rico Lewis strikes from the edge of the box and it deflects off Son Heung-min's foot. Lloris reacted well, saving low to his left. That was a similar effort to the one from Martin Odegaard that got past him in the derby.

36th min: Chance for Son Heung-min! Spurs work it to the left-hand side and Ben Davies clips a cross towards the far post. Son meets it but his header glances off Nathan Ake and it's a comfortable save for Ederson. Ake has been the most important player in this half.

32nd min: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is booked for catching Rico Lewis on the ankle. The fans are getting frustrated with some of Spurs' disruptive play without the ball, but City have so far no looked particularly threatening. Hugo Lloris and Ederson remain untested.

27th min: Ivan Perisic teases a cross towards Harry Kane, who's waiting for a volley, but Nathan Ake adjusts well to nod it behind for a corner. Spurs work the ball to Emerson Royal 25 yards out, but his shot is... not close.

25th min: Jack Grealish races back to tackle Son Heung-min and prevent a Spurs break. The home fans give him a huge cheer — that could've been a two-on-one for the visitors, and Grealish had to get there.

21st min: Brilliant block from Eric Dier to deny Julian Alvarez after a decent move down the left from City. Riyad Mahrez then takes out Dejan Kulusevski to stop a Tottenham break and gets the first yellow card of the game (and of his league season).

18th min: Harry Kane spins in behind the City defence and flashes a shot into the side-netting. He was comfortably offside, but that was a warning for the hosts. This is definitely much better from Spurs compared to the first half against Arsenal.

14th min: Riyad Mahrez lines up a free-kick from 30 yards out but sticks it straight in the wall. This game hasn't got going yet.

10th min: Half a chance for Erling Haaland there! He's picked out unmarked at the far post from a corner but seems quite tentative in his volley, and it deflects behind. It seemed like he could've put his foot through that one.

5th min: At the moment, Jack Grealish is playing centrally behind the City front two, with Riyad Mahrez in a middle three. You'd suspect that could (will) change as the game goes on. Spurs have started well here in possession, but there have been no chances yet.

KO: Here we go! Spurs get us underway under the Etihad Stadium lights.

10 mins before KO: What are we predicting for tonight, then? There's just about time to take in our betting preview, if you're looking for inspiration...

40 mins before KO: That's quite the call from Pep Guardiola to go with Erling Haaland AND Julian Alvarez. Exactly how that lineup will work is something we'll see shortly. It's certainly a very strong bench if anything goes wrong.

1 hr before KO: The team news is in, and it's interesting from City's perspective! John Stones is back at the heart of defence alongside Manuel Akanji, with Nathan Ake moving to left-back and young Rico Lewis on the right.

In attack, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland both start, presumably with Alvarez in a deeper role. Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish provide the support, while Kevin De Bruyne is only on the bench.

As for Spurs, Emerson Royal and Ivan Perisic look to be playing as the wing-backs tonight. Rodrigo Bentancur returns in midfield alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

1 hr 30 mins before KO: We've got quite the striker duel lined up for tonight: Erling Haaland, the man threatening to break new goalscoring ground in the Premier League, against Harry Kane, the man who could've been lining up for the champions had previous transfer plans come to fruition.

2 hrs before KO: Manchester City don't always enjoy playing Tottenham, and this feels like a game they really need to win, with Arsenal and Manchester United facing one another this weekend. Can they avenge last season's two defeats?

Man City vs Tottenham lineups

John Stones is back at the heart of defence to partner Manuel Akanji, with Nathan Ake moving to left-back and youngster Rico Lewis on the right.

Jack Grealish scored City's goal at Old Trafford after coming on as a substitute and he is rewarded with a start. Interestingly, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland are both in the first XI, with Kevin De Bruyne on the bench. It's likely a 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-4 for City.

Man City lineup (4-2-4): Ederson (GK) — Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake — Rodri, Gundogan — Mahrez, Grealish — Alvarez, Haaland

Man City subs: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Dias, Phillips, Cancelo, Laporte, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden

Rodrigo Bentancur returns in midfield alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Lucas Moura remains sidelined by a heel issue and Richarlison starts on the bench. Ivan Perisic and Emerson Royal come in as wing-backs.

Tottenham lineup (3-4-3): Lloris (GK) — Romero, Dier, Davies — Emerson, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Perisic — Kulusevski, Kane, Son

Spurs subs: Forster, Doherty, Sanchez, Tanganga, Lenglet, Sessegnon, Bissouma, Sarr, Richarlison

Man City vs Tottenham live stream, TV channel

This Premier League match will be played at Etihad Stadium. Here's how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.

  TV channel Streaming
USA — Peacock
Canada — fuboTV
UK Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League Sky Go
Australia — Optus Sport
New Zealand Sky Sport Premier League, Sky Sport Now Sky Go
India Star Sports Select 1 JioTV, Hotstar VIP
Hong Kong 620 Now Premier League TV, 621 Now Premier League 1 Now E
Malaysia Astro SuperSport 3 sooka, Astro Go
Singapore — StarHub TV+

UK: Matches through the season are carried across Sky Sports and BT Sport streaming and TV platforms, with select matches on Amazon Prime. Sky have the rights for this one. 

USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamed on fuboTV. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.

Canada: Every Premier League game streams live and on demand exclusively via fuboTV.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream matches live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a Senior Editor at Sporting News. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has reported live on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia.