Riyad Mahrez struck twice as Manchester City staged a surprising fightback to reignite their title hopes with a 4-2 win over Tottenham.
The Premier League champions had been rocked when Spurs struck twice via Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal within the closing moments of the primary half after Ederson errors on the Etihad Stadium.
Yet confronted with the prospect of trailing leaders Arsenal by eight factors and having performed a sport extra, Pep Guardiola’s facet roused themselves after the break.
Julian Alvarez pulled one again and Erling Haaland, together with his first objective in 4 video games, restored parity earlier than the influential Mahrez secured victory with a double.
The turnaround prevented City sinking to a 3rd successive defeat in all competitions and can in all probability have left Arsenal bemoaning their rivals’ lack of ability to land one other blow on the champions.
Manager Guardiola had responded to City’s latest issues, together with Saturday’s derby loss to Manchester United, by shaking up his facet.
His adjustments surprisingly included naming Kevin De Bruyne among the many substitutes whereas World Cup-winner Alvarez was provided a uncommon probability to begin in the identical facet as Haaland.
Without De Bruyne, City did lack dynamism however such was the management they exerted within the first half that it was exceptional they ended it 2-0 down.
Mahrez fired a free-kick into the wall, Ilkay Gundogan curled a shot simply broad and Alvarez had an effort blocked. Rodri was additionally shut down on the sting of the world and Hugo Lloris saved properly from a deflected shot from spectacular teen Rico Lewis.
Haaland was quiet however nonetheless headed an excellent probability over and was denied by Lloris after one other run into the world.
Yet Spurs nonetheless carried a risk and solely an important header from Nathan Ake prevented Kane unleashing a volley whereas Son Heung-min headed at Ederson.
The guests had been gifted the opener when Ederson performed Rodri into hassle with a poor move and Kulusevski steered into the web after strain from Rodrigo Bentancur.
City hardly had time to regroup earlier than they conceded once more, Ederson once more culpable as he palmed a Kane cross in the direction of Emerson, who merely headed again into the objective.
City had been booed by a small part of followers as they headed for the dressing room however their response was exceptional.
Mahrez took management of affairs and, after his cross into the field resulted in a goalmouth scramble, Alvarez lifted the ball into the roof of the web to scale back the deficit six minutes after the restart.
Mahrez was once more concerned as City equalised two minutes later. This time the Algeria winger headed throughout objective to tee up Haaland’s twenty eighth objective of the season from shut vary.
Spurs tried to reply and had been unfortunate when an Ivan Perisic shot was deflected onto the publish by Lewis, however they often struggled to comprise City.
They had been undone by Mahrez once more when he turned Perisic and raced into the world to drive a low shot via the legs of Lloris and put City forward.
Spurs pushed however couldn’t get again into the sport and Mahrez wrapped up the factors late on after seizing on an error by Clement Lenglet and clipping house.
