We’re back for the third and final leg of the Manchester City-Tottenham Trilogy™ and, like most sagas, they save the best for last.
The pair come into their best of three mini-series tied at 1-1. Except, it’s not really, is it?
Tottenham may have succumb to defeat on Wednesday night, but their Champions League quarter-final opening leg victory helped book them a place in the semi-finals of the competition.
‘Cruel’ was the term of choice used by City boss Pep Guardiola to lament his side’s late goal – a goal which would have sent them through – ruled out by VAR.
Not that he could argue, of course. The correct call was made and hurrah! Mauricio Pochettino’s side progressed after an utterly bonkers 90 minutes of football.
The question that now remains is how will City react? Could their European exit be the first tug of a thread that sees the remainder of their season unravel?
Or will they React Like Champions and steamroll their way to Premier League and FA Cup success?
A win today will see the Sky Blues return to the Premier League’s summit before Liverpool host Cardiff City tomorrow afternoon.
Kick off is at 12.30-pm.
So to get us started, let’s bring you today’s Team News.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Foden, Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Aguero.
Tottenham: Gazzaniga, Foyth, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen (C), Davies, Dier, Eriksen, Dele, Lucas, Son.
Two fairly strong sides named by both sides today, midweek hero Son retains his place in Tottenham’s starting XI.
To whet your appetite, some pre-match reading ahead of kick-off.
I will dream next season of fighting for the four titles, that’s my dream.”
Pep Guardiola isn’t giving up on his dreams of winning All The Trophies just yet, but is still coming to grips with City’s champions league exit.
So, how do we see this one going?
Vote in our poll – 20 minutes to kick off!
Poll Results:
Hugo Lloris has a ‘slight muscle strain’ which rules the Tottenham captain out of today’s game.
It’s not a big issue,” says Pochettino. “We’re ready to compete today – we’ve added some fresh legs to the squad.
“It was an emotional game [on Wednesday]. It was difficult to manage for some players, so it’s good to have some fresh legs in there…”
#SelfieTime
We’re just moments away from kick-off…
Settle in, pull up a chair and get ready for Manchester City v Tottenham. We want to hear from you, get in touch with us in the comments section…
Kick-off…
We’re underway at the Etihad
Son delivers Tottenham’s first chance of the game.
Stones gives the ball away under no pressure and Eriksen picks his head up to find Son.
His shot is straight at Ederson and the resulting corner comes from nothing.
Tough angle to take the shot on but a good start from Tottenham after City had enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession in the first four minutes.
GOAL!!! Phil Foden gives Manchester City the lead!
After a good start by Tottenham, it’s Manchester City who take the lead.
Bernardo Silva whips in a cross to find Aguero free at the back post. The Argentinian heads back across the face of goal for Foden to nod home from close range.
Well worked goal from Manchester City, they’re really, really up for this one. Great atmosphere in the ground.
City launch another attack from the back – Sterling’s dangerous cross is cut out.
Tottenham, since their opening chance inside three minutes, have fashioned very little. City are finding most joy up the wings and they’re probing on each side, waiting for the Spurs backline to commit to a tackle so they can exploit the space in behind.
Eriksen’s low shot is saved by Ederson – that’s a second very good chance for Tottenham.
Well-worked move the right wing and Eriksen streaks clear, stays upright despite the pressure from his markers and forces a smart save from the City netminder.
Excellent chance to go level spurned for the Londoners.
Silva’s cross again troubling the Spurs back four, but it remains 1-0.
Tottenham have had two shots saved from Ederson and Son, unleashed by Eriksen’s pass on 16 minutes, was well recovered by Laporte whose last-ditch tackle prevents a certain goal. Wonderful play from the centre back.
The warning signs are there for Manchester City in this opening half.
City have a half-hearted call for a penalty after Vertonghen’s challenge on Silva.
How happy will this man be after the first 20 minutes of play?
Tottenham seem content enough and invite City onto them, then spring out on the break with the pace of Son, Eriksen and Lucas Moura.
Gazzaniga makes an error to hand City a corner – which comes to nothing. Tried a little dink but gave his side an unnecessary head ache.
Aguero’s header from Sterling’s cross is wide – doesn’t matter anyway. Offside.
Another corner for City.
Short. Gundogan’s cross is headed behind for a throw in. Tottenham clear and City reset themselves for another run at the defence.
Aguero turns provider again, but his cross is too close to the keeper and is gobbled up Lloris’ stand in replacement, Gazzaniga.
Dele Alli has been fairly anonymous so far this afternoon in the middle of the park for Tottenham – but has burst to life in the last few minutes with an array of skills on show.
Soccer AM highlight reel stuff, comments Jamie Redknapp.
And he’s right too. Alli damn near ended Bernardo Silva’s career with a silky nutmeg.
Raheem Sterling is tackled in the Spurs box to foil City’s breakaway.
SAVE! Bernardo Silva should do better – he’s knicks half a yard but dribbles a low shot straight at Gazzaniga.
Shortly after, De Bruyne tries a spectacular from the edge of the box but he skews it high and wide.
Not good news for City – Kevin De Bruyne has gone down after that skewed shot.
Looks like a muscle injury or knee problem. He’s off.
Gutting for him. He’s a torrid season with injury. Fernandinho comes on in his place.
Walker does his best Triple H impression…
Moura darts into the box but can’t get on the end of a cross.
City again do their best to keep Tottenham pinned back, Walker’s shot from the edge of the box is well over the bar.
Five minutes or so left in this first half.
Son truly is a luxury player.
Tremendously hard working, but his touch and skill on the ball is absolutely phenomenal. Makes it look effortless at times.
He’s denied again by Ederson, this time his run from the centre circle see him skip past four City players – gets a bit of help from a ricochet at the end – and gets a shot away.
Good stop again.
HALF TIME: Manchester City 1-0 Tottenham
What did you make of the first half performance from both sides?
About to get back underway for this second half, settle in for another 45…
We’re back underway…
Second half beginning very much in the same way as the first.
Aguero has the first chance of the half, his shot is blocked from Walker’s cross and Foden follows up with a shot from close range.
Snatches at it. Should be 2-0 to City, big let off for Tottenham.
Aguero goes down after a robust challenge from Vertonghen – a moment of worry for City fans following De Bruyne’s injury in the first half.
He’s back up on his feet.
Aguero then launches the next attack. Foden goes down in the box, Michael Oliver shakes his head and correctly decides the challenge wasn’t a penalty.
Tottenham struggling to create any chances of their own in this opening 10 minutes of the second half.
Walker is a lucky, lucky boy.
The former Tottenham defender challenges Dele Alli for the ball but in the process appears to handle it in the box.
Corner is given, no more than that. Big call there for Oliver. Looked a certain penalty.
Eric Dier comes off for Victor Wanyama.
City head over from close range, Laporte with the effort.
Sergio Aguero comes off for Leroy Sané.
Good shift today from Aguero, unlucky not to have a goal but a brilliant, selfless display from the striker.
25 minutes left this afternoon. Can Tottenham muster an equaliser?
Laporte defends excellently to cut off the supply to Son.
Sané’s shot skids along the turf and past the post up the other end.
Dele Alli makes way for Danny Rose.
SAVE! Gazzaniga denies Sterling from point-blank range.
Leroy Sané makes a run down the left wing and cuts it back for Sterling on the edge of six-yard box.
His shot is low and through the legs of Vertonghen but Gazzaniga gets his foot to it to deny him. Wonderful save that keeps Tottenham in the game.
SAVE! Moura this time is denied for Tottenham.
Ederson does well to keep Lucas Moura out this time. Another warning for Manchester City.
Chances have been few and far between this half for Spurs, but they do have the quality up there to convert even if they are left to feed off scraps.
Spurs pushing hard for an equaliser, Moura fires over from the edge of the box.
Eriksen’s shot is blocked and falls to Lucas but it’s a poor effort.
Rose on as a sub is making life difficult for Bernardo Silva on the left wing. Both have had strong challenges in one another. It’s all getting a bit tasty between those two.
Sub for Manchester City as goalscorer Phil Foden makes way for David Silva.
Guardiola doesn’t appear to be changing his approach too much, retaining most of his creative players on the pitch and bringing on the likes of Sané and Silva.
Into the final few minutes.
The seconds are ebbing away and there’s an anxiety around the stadium.
Tottenham come again through Eriksen and lays off to Rose. The English defender strikes from distance and it’s harmlessly wide.
Four minutes added time.
Tottenham will throw everything at it now to try and knick a draw.
City win it back, Sterling breaks up the pitch and wins the foul. This game should have been put to bed a lot earlier. To their credit, Tottenham have hung on in there.
Vertonghen and Sterling booked after clashing.
Sterling just trying to run the clock down. Son has a half chance but it’s cleared. About a minute left… Can they hang on?
FULL TIME: Manchester City 1-0 Tottenham
City show some serious bottle to see out the result there at the Etihad. It wasn’t vintage City, but it was exceptionally gutsy to see it out.
Tottenham did have chances to get something out of the game, while Sterling’s effort from Sané’s cross was the best chance of the second half.
Well, that’s all for us here this afternoon.
The title race again swings in favour of Manchester City once again. They go a point clear of Liverpool – who themselves face Cardiff City tomorrow afternoon.
At this stage of the season, there really is no margin for error.
Thanks for tuning in, we’ll have the full report and reaction coming up this afternoon.
Bye for now!