City win this one, and now are only two points behind Chelsea. Only early stages, but this season’s trophy already looks to the early hues of blue on it.
It’s fulltime at the Etihad, and it’s the result we were suspecting. Not the thrashing of the season past, but Sergio Aguero did enough personal damage to Tottenham Hotspur with four goals. Four penalties, two converted, two saved.
Aguero grabs the headlines, but both keepers had fine games in their own rights, in an otherwise inept defensive performance from both teams.
FINAL SCORE:
Manchester City 4
Tottenham Hotspur 1
The English Premier League resumes at the home of the champions, as Manchester City face Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 10:45pm (AEDT).
6-0. 5-1. A simplistic observation of this match is that Tottenham are set for a 4-2 loss to Manchester City, which would be marked as improvement.
It is not a thought that bodes well for a club that considers itself Champions League standard.
Much has changed though for Tottenham Hotspur in the post-Gareth Bale era. Where the Welshman’s departure saw a plethora of new faces come in, a year later the only significant change is manager Mauricio Pochettino, and the Argentine has been positive about his team’s opportunity to cause an upset at the champion’s den.
To do so, Pochettino may be without goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who suffered a knock during duty with France, which means he may turn to Michel Vorm following the Dutchman’s arrival from Swansea City.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adebayor’s involvement against his former club is to be determined after a combination of poor early-season form, fitness and a short turnaround since his return from Togo.
The other major consideration will be to play midfielder Etienne Capoue in place of a number 10, likely to be either Erik Lamela or Christian Eriksen. The Frenchman’s presence will likely be the factor on how well Tottenham contains the Manchester City threat.
For the home side, manager Manuel Pellegrini’s chief concern following the international break revolves around the availability of playmaker Yaya Toure.
The Ivorian was only due back for City training on Friday, and given the travel, Pellegrini may opt to confine him to the bench. Should this occur, it’s likely that the underrated James Milner will occupy Toure’s role.
Otherwise, it is business at usual for the Citizens, who begin the next phase of the Premier League aiming to wrest back Chelsea’s five-point advantage on the ladder.
Pellegrini will be relieved to have found both Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero come through their international commitments unscathed, especially with Stevan Jovetic’s relentless injury issues.
Aside from their front two, City can also rely on the peerless David Silva and former Arsenal player Samir Nasri to inflict maximum damage against Spurs’ suspect defence.
Manchester City will find Mauricio Pochettino to be made of tougher teak than either Andre Villas-Boas or Tim Sherwood, which may well nullify City’s attacking qualities. But a Spurs upset against a side they shipped 11 goals to last season is a bridge too far.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:45pm (AEST). If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+3: Townsend's shot is off the wall, and Hart once again gets his wall spot on. City win this one, and now are only two points behind Chelsea. Only early stages, but this season's trophy already looks to the early hues of blue on it. It's fulltime at the Etihad, and it's the result we were suspecting. Not the thrashing of the season past, but Sergio Aguero did enough personal damage to Tottenham Hotspur with four goals. Four penalties, two converted, two saved. Aguero grabs the headlines, but both keepers had fine games in their own rights, in an otherwise inept defensive performance from both teams. I'll be back on Thursday morning to bring you Matchday 3 of the Champions League at Anfield, as Liverpool face Real Madrid in possibly the headline group game this season. After that, I'll return to bring you the Premier League clash next Monday morning across town, as Manchester United face Chelsea. At fulltime at the Etihad, it finished Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+1: Three minutes added, and both teams looking to preserve themselves for challenges that await. Spurs will return home next week to face struggling Newcastle United, while Man City travel to face CSKA Moscow in the Champions League. Free kick won by Chadi just outside the penalty area. Chance for a late consolation for Spurs. Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'88: OFF THE POST FROM MILNER! It built up well, before the former Leeds man unleashed an effort that beat Lloris at his far post, and rattled off the left post! At times, you can forget how elegant a footballer he can be James Milner. Aguero will get the plaudits with four goals, but don't underestimate the mettle and application James Milner brings to this Manchester City team. At the other end, Soldado is offside. He cannot take a trick. Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'85: Offside against Milner, as the TV commentators ponder the significance of that missed penalty from Roberto Soldado. While Aguero himself missed a spot kick, it was from a one-goal advantage. Soldado's miss was in attempting to level the scores, and since then, the dismissal of Fazio has seen City score a further two. This game is now eking out into sometimes exhibition football by Manchester City, while Spurs doing just enough to prevent a fifth. Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'83: Milner with a lovely backheel plays in Jovetic. How the Englishman is not a regular starter for City, I simply don't know. Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'81: Last ditch challenge from Rose denies Jovetic getting his shot away! Moments earlier, Andros Townsend had a good effort from outside the penalty area curl past Hart. It was a strong effort, but the bend was too acute, and Hart was left untroubled. Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'80: Aguero still out there, which means he'll see out the 90 minutes. Toure may be on for the Brazilian Fernando. Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'78: Toure now on, but no confirmation on whose place he's taken. Aguero would be an ideal choice, given City's midweek travel to Russia. Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'75: Such as the embarassment of riches for Manchester City, they are about to bring on Yaya Toure. But before that, Aguero gets his fourth! It's beautifully placed past a hapless Lloris! He stayed onside to run onto a great midfield pass, and Spurs' defensive paucity means he has acres of space to twist, then pass into the far right corner past Lloris! It is four for City, four for Aguero. His work surely is done today! Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'75: A poor free kick from Eriksen, as it smashes into the wall. Breathe easy City fans. Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'73: Fernandinho fouls Dembele to present a free kick opportunity about 20 yards out. Spurs should really not be able to come back here - two goals down, a man down. But this is a chance to give City some worry in the closing stages. Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'71: Tottenham taking off Ryan Mason and brings on Jan Vertonghen, which is necessary given Fazio's dismissal. That is Spurs' final change. City themselves take off David Silva and bring on Stevan Jovetic, who returns after a lengthy injury layoff. Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'70: As meek as Aguero's second penalty effort was, the third was emphatically dispatched! Fazio red carded for a blatant shirt tug on Aguero off the ball. Professional foul, and that is a clear red any day. Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'67: Would you believe it? It is a fourth penalty, it's to City, and it's a red card for Ferderico Fazio who fouled Aguero off the ball to prevent his compatriot from meeting Navas' cross. Aguero will take his third penalty attempt. It's a hat-trick this time, and that should wrap it up for Manchester City! Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'65: Outstanding save Hart! This time Soldado got great power from Rose's cross, and it was goalbound, and Hart hurled himself in the way to stop that! Both keepers earning their fee today. Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'63: Well Roberto Soldado has not scored a Premier League goal for a long time. He can't ask for a better opportunity. It was directed for the corner, but it was a weak effort! Hart's save was good, but he had plenty of time to spot the direction and lunge himself at the ball. Two penalty saves for both keepers. Both of them against fairly tame efforts. It's been a very poor game at times, exemplified by those type of moments. Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'62: One, was it a foul? Second, was it in the box? I can say with confidence it was neither. But Soldado has a chance to equalise. But Hart saves! City keep their lead! Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'61: Pochettino makes a double change, with Lamela and Capoue off for Townsend and Dembele. Replays of that handball appeal early show Sagna got a clear hand on Etienne's shot. Penalty for Spurs! It's Martin Demichelis who fouls Soldado. But was it outside? Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'59: Once again, City expose Spurs in defence, and Navas has acres of space to run into. Lloris again forced into a save. End to end at the Etihad! Now Silva lays off a cross for Aguero, who cannot meet the ball in time before it rolls out! It was a cross, but it nearly entered the net on its own accord! Spurs living dangerously here! Aguero wincing in pain. It was a long stretch he was forced into! Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'57: Golden chance Spurs, as Rose whips in a delightful cross that evades Soldado's head! Then Spurs claim a handball, denied by Jon Moss. All after that, City then break yet again to expose the suspect Spurs defensive cover. Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur