Guardiola suffers a fifth straight defeat for first time in managerial career

Pep Guardiola suffered a fifth straight defeat for the first time in his managerial career as Manchester City's crisis worsened following an incredible 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham.

City will fall eight points behind Liverpool if the Premier League leaders win at Southampton on Sunday – before traveling to Anfield next week, live on Sky Sports.

“Man City were outplayed in every department,” summarized Sky Sports' Gary Neville. “They look nice and short, as short as I've seen them since Guardiola's first season.”

There was a festive mood around the Etihad before kick-off as Man City midfielder Rodri displayed his Ballon d'Or trophy on the pitch. There was also the news of Guardiola's new two-year contract to stay with the Premier League champions and the positive atmosphere translated into the early stages on the pitch.

With Phil Foden, who started in the number 10 position behind Erling Haaland, pulling the strings, Man City began by cutting open Spurs with ease. “It's a bit too easy,” said Sky Sports' Gary Neville, but it was Haaland's waste in front of goal that would cost him dearly. Haaland grabbed his shot after being played in by Josko Gvardiol, before the Norwegian striker fired straight at Guglielmo Vicario after being picked out by Savinho's cross.

Spurs punished City when they took the lead “out of nowhere”, according to Neville. The brilliant Dejan Kulusevski's superb cross found James Maddison, who fired past Ederson to leave the Etihad stunned.

The visitors were now in complete control and it was City who were cut open at will. Ederson had to make a stunning fingertip save to deny Heung-Min Son, but he could do nothing to deny Maddison a second. It was fast becoming a 28th birthday to remember for the England midfielder, who took advantage of a Gvardiol error before producing a deft finish over the Man City goalkeeper to double Spurs' lead.

Nathan Aké replaced John Stones at half-time but there was no change in City's fortunes.

Kulusevski again played a key role as Spurs continued to extend their lead. He carried the ball out of defense and held off two challenges before releasing Dominic Solanke. The striker set up Pedro Porro, who smashed the ball into the back of the net to send Spurs into dreamland.

“The stadium is in shock. They can't believe what they're seeing,” Neville said after Spurs' third goal. Haaland hit the crossbar with an effort before Guardiola made the substitutions, bringing on Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish to try and find a way back into the match.

It didn't happen and Spurs' celebrations grew even bigger in stoppage time when substitute Timo Werner ran past Kyle Walker like he wasn't there before teeing up Brennan Johnson for a tap-in as Man City scored their third successive Premier League defeat suffered for the first time under Guardiola.

It doesn't get any easier for City. They will try to avoid a sixth straight defeat to Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday before a huge Premier League showdown against league leaders Liverpool, who have the chance to move eight points clear when they play Southampton on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

“I felt like this is not the time to leave. I would be letting the club down and I felt like I had to do it,” Guardiola said earlier this week as he signed his contract to stay at City , amid their poor recent form. .

Defeats to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, Sporting in the Champions League, Bournemouth, Brighton and now Spurs again in the Premier League have exacerbated those problems for Guardiola and City.

The goals: Spurs stun City…

Pep: We are vulnerable defensively

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola:

“At the moment we are vulnerable defensively. We started very well, but we couldn't score and then we gave in. Then we conceded some more, which is difficult for our emotions at the moment.

“In eight years we have never experienced such a situation. Now we have to live with it and break it by winning the next matches, especially the next one. Now we see things one way, maybe in a few weeks.” otherwise.

“Naturally [the players are struggling]. We are happy when we win and worried when we don't win. It's normal. There would be a problem if they weren't concerned, and neither was I.

“We are not used to this situation, but life is like that. Sometimes it happens and we have to accept it. It is what it is now and we will get up and do it.

“The fire is when you win a lot of matches, which is better than when you lose, but we accept this. We have to move forward, break it and try.”

'A sobering day for the short City'

Sky Sports' Gary Neville at the Etihad Stadium:

“Man City were outplayed in all departments. They look quite short, as short as I have seen them since Guardiola's first season.

“[Pep] would have wanted that international breakthrough to come, assuming that it would be a reset moment.

“But it further reinforces the view that this is a City side that is currently in decline. It seems madness when you think about what they have achieved.

“We have emphasized the number of shots, but that is not City's biggest problem at the moment. It is the fact that they have become easier to play against. Teams are encouraged. The vulnerability is plain for all to see.”

'It's a sobering day for Man City'

'Spurs brilliant for a man'

Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:

“Tottenham were fantastic. We all looked at the team with Ben Davies and Dragusin: how are they going to keep this Manchester City striker quiet? Impossible. They were fantastic. Brilliant for a man.”

“When they scored that goal in the thirteenth minute, they were by far the better team.

“Tottenham must have had a lot of demons in their heads after that game against Brighton when it was just the two of them. There was a real calm about them today. They were absolutely fantastic.”

“Tottenham are capable of brilliance. We've seen it. They have moments in games where they are a joy to watch, but the chaotic nature they normally have wasn't there.”

Ange: Significant win for Spurs

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou to Sky Sports:

“It's significant when you understand the context of who we were playing against.

“I'm proud of the boys, the football we played, the resilience and discipline we showed. When you play against City they test every aspect of your game and we dealt with that well.”

“It was an important game for us, the way the boys responded [to defeat to Ipswich]. It's easy when you're under pressure to splinter, but I never felt like it would happen this week.

“The disappointing thing about the last few games is that we are not the kind of team we want to be. But I have no doubt that we are on the right track.”