Tottenham Hotspur delivered a stunning performance to secure a resounding 4-0 win over Manchester City, ending the home side’s remarkable 52-match unbeaten run at the Etihad Stadium. The defeat marks City’s worst home league loss since a 5-1 thrashing by Arsenal in 2003 and their first loss by such a margin under Pep Guardiola.
James Maddison was the star of the night, scoring twice as Spurs dismantled a City team that has now suffered five consecutive defeats for the first time since 2006. Pedro Porro added to the tally with a well-taken third, while Brennan Johnson sealed the rout with a last-minute strike. For City, the result was a bitter blow, especially coming just 48 hours after Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension.
The Tottenham faithful reveled in the moment, cheekily taunting Guardiola with chants of “you’ll be sacked in the morning” after Porro’s goal. The loss also marks the first time Guardiola has overseen three consecutive Premier League defeats and the first time in his career he has lost a home match by four goals.
This result was a remarkable turnaround for Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, who arrived at the Etihad missing their first-choice central defenders, with five teenagers on the bench, and reeling from a 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich just two weeks ago. Despite their setbacks, Tottenham outshone a City side struggling in the absence of injured midfield talisman Rodri.
Rodri, the recent Ballon d’Or winner, was the focus of pre-match celebrations, but his absence on the pitch underscored City’s vulnerability. Without him, City’s midfield lacked the cohesion needed to withstand Tottenham’s energetic pressing and incisive counterattacks.
City remain second in the Premier League, but their grip on the title race is slipping. If Liverpool defeat Southampton on Sunday, the gap at the top will stretch to eight points. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s impressive win lifts them to sixth, just four points behind City.
For City, this result serves as a wake-up call. For Tottenham, it’s a night to remember—proof that even against the odds, they can triumph in the most dramatic fashion.
