Manchester City comeback to defeat Tottenham

• Manchester City comeback against Tottenham in a six-goal thriller
• Goals from Kulusevski and Emerson Royal gave Tottenham a half-time lead
• Manchester City came back to win 4-2

Manchester City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points after coming from behind to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium.

Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal put the Lilywhites up 2-0 just before halftime. Still, Pep Guardiola’s half-time team talk worked a treat, as Riyad Mahrez’s brace, Erling Braut Haaland’s header, and Julian Alvarez’s tap-in turned the enthralling contest on its head.

Once again, in a Tottenham match, one team was the master of their demise in the first half, but this time it was not those in white.

Tottenham’s first-half goals stun City

Romero tackles Jack Grealish.|PHOTO: Getty Images|

Despite dominating possession early on, Guardiola’s men made few inroads. They left Hugo Lloris largely untested, save for a deflected Rico Lewis shot in the 40th minute, which the Frenchman saved well down to his left.

Cristian Romero had to be alert to prevent Jack Grealish from running through on goal nine minutes earlier, making a fantastic last-ditch tackle. Still, no one could have predicted the hosts’ end-of-half capitulation.

After Haaland had missed two more golden opportunities, Ederson played a risky pass to Rodri inside his area in the 45th minute. Rodrigo Bentancur immediately dispossessed the Spaniard before Kulusevski scored.

Some City fans arrived early for their halftime refreshments, and those who did were fortunate, as Guardiola was left stunned after watching his team fall two goals behind in a matter of minutes.

Rodri was again robbed of the ball during the second minute of first-half injury time, this time by Harry Kane, whose effort from a tight angle met Ederson’s gloves, but Emerson was on hand to head home the rebound from a few yards out.

The Comeback

Riyadh Mahrez’s brace inspired a Manchester City comeback.|PHOTO: Goal|

Guardiola chose not to make any changes at halftime, and the decision paid off just six minutes later when the ball fell kindly at the feet of Alvarez after a goalmouth scramble. The Argentine duly fired home into the roof of the net.

Only two minutes later, Spurs’ lead was gone, as Mahrez headed Rodri’s chipped pass in the direction of Haaland, who nodded home from a yard out for his 22nd Premier League goal.

The momentum could not have shifted faster, but Spur came agonizingly close to a fifth goal on the hour mark, as Ivan Perisic’s effort deflected off Lewis and onto the woodwork after Kulusevski’s pass.

Three minutes later, Perisic misjudged a long ball out to the right, which found the effervescent Mahrez, who dribbled into the box and beat Lloris at his near post thanks to a slight deflection off of Ben Davies.

City looked the more likely to extend their lead and were arguably unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute when the ball struck Richarlison’s outstretched arm – given his second reprieve in as many hours after the FA ruled that his altercation with Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale in the North London derby warranted no retrospective punishment.

Another defensive blunder would lead to a fourth goal for the Blues in the 90th minute, as Clement Lenglet misjudged a long ball over the top, and Mahrez ghosted into chip Lloris for his second of the game.

Manchester City could close the gap on Arsenal to two points with a win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. At the same time, Tottenham Hotspur remains fifth in the table ahead of Monday’s London derby with Fulham.