Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro (right) celebrates with James Maddison and other teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match at Etihad Stadium in Manchester. — AFP
Manchester City's woes deepened with a stunning 4-0 Premier League defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, marking the first time in Pep Guardiola's illustrious managerial career that he has suffered five consecutive losses across all competitions. James Maddison scored twice within seven first-half minutes, while Pedro Porro netted shortly after the break and Brennan Johnson added a fourth goal in added time, ending City's club record of 52 consecutive home matches unbeaten in all competitions.
City remain second in the table with 23 points but are now five points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, while Spurs climbed to sixth with 19 points after 12 games. This was City's most significant loss in their history at Etihad, and their three consecutive league losses are also unprecedented during Guardiola's eight-plus seasons as manager.
"These are rare days, to come to the champions and especially City considering how they have dominated over the last few years in Europe as well," Maddison, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Saturday, told Sky Sports. "To come home with four-nil is special, these are the days you remember and I think it's important we enjoy it."
Guardiola's four-time defending champions had 23 shots to Tottenham's nine and will rue the missed opportunities, including three in the first half from striker Erling Haaland alone. However, their defensive lapses were costly, with Maddison sprinting in to side-foot home a beautiful long cross from Dejan Kulusevksi in the 13th minute. Maddison doubled the lead seven minutes later when he chipped the ball over grounded goalkeeper Ederson.
Porro sealed the match in the 52nd minute when Dominic Solanke cut back the ball for the Spaniard who unleashed a first-time effort past Ederson, and then substitute Johnson added one more in the 93rd minute. Timo Werner sprinted down the left past Kyle Walker before sending a low cross across the face of the goal that Johnson slid to knock in, watched by City's shell-shocked fans.
This was the joint-biggest defeat for Guardiola, who had previously lost 4-0 three times, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and with City, in a 4-0 defeat to Everton in 2017. City last lost a competitive home game by four-plus goals when Arsenal beat them 5-1 in 2003 at Maine Road.
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