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Still rolling
Another convincing victory for a Manchester City side that’s making it look so easy.
It’s becoming somewhat redundant with the Sky Blues who were dominant yet again in a 3-0 win over Tottenham.
Ilkay Gundogan continued his fine form adding two more goals to his Premier League stats. Rodri got the ball rolling in the 23rd minute with a rare sight for City fans, a goal from the penalty spot.
It’s the teams 16th straight win as they continue to cruise atop the league standings. They’re now seven points clear of second-place Leicester City in the table.
Game Story
As expected Guardiola’s men took their time to settle into the match holding much of the ball, stringing dozens of passes together in the first ten minutes.
It was Spurs, however, who had the first real opportunity in the 14th minute.
A brilliant free-kick from Harry Kane about 20 yards out seemed labelled for the top corner going through the wall but thrashing off Ederson’s goalpost.
That moment was a wakeup call for the Citizens who took over the game from there.
Just past the 20-minute mark City got their breakthrough.
An excellent feed by Gabriel Jesus on the left for Ilkay Gundogan as the German tried to turn inside the box but got clipped by Pierre-Emile Hojberg.
Rodri stepped up to take the penalty, and for once City got a break from the spot as Lloris got a firm hand to it, but it squirmed in to give City the lead.
As they’ve done in the past City came out flying in the second half, intent on putting the game to bed.
The second blow of the game came five minutes after the interval.
Some great work from Raheem Sterling who carved a dizzying path through the Spurs penalty area. He played a lovely one-two with Phil Foden before slipping Gundogan through near the six-yard area. The German rifled it home from close range.
Gundogan got another 16 minutes later.
Of all people, it was Ederson with a brilliant clearance from his box threading a superb long ball into the path of Gundogan. The midfielder beat out two defenders for the ball slotting it past Lloris in the bottom-right corner.
Even Gareth Bale’s presence did little to spark Tottenham as City’s defence looked comfortable once again and cruised to another victory.
Man of the Match
We’re running out of superlatives to describe Ilkay Gundogan.
The man was awesome yet again scoring twice and creating the opening goal after being brought down in the box.
The man can seemingly do no wrong.
He’s brilliant winning ball deep in City’s end and every time he touches it, something good seems to happen.
He’s now got 11 goals in 18 Premier League matches, nine of those have come in 2021.
The biggest concern is how he limped off the field with what appeared to be a groin problem just a few minutes after scoring his second goal.
Guardiola will hope it’s nothing serious as he’s been an integral part of City’s form this year.
Smashing Records
Every game there seems to be a new record that City is breaking.
With a ninth consecutive Premier League wins, this year City has equalled a top-flight record in English football.
Only twice before has a top-flight side in England started the calendar year by winning nine in a row and interestingly both teams are situated in Greater Manchester.
Manchester United began 2009 with nine in a row, and Bolton Wanderers won nine straight back in 1906.
Cleaning up the house
It’s hard to keep track of all the records City’s been setting in this current run.
Tonight’s shutout is their seventh at home this season which ties a record that stood for over 70 years.
The last time the team had this many clean sheets at home, they were in the second division in 1946-47.
City is the first side to keep 14 clean sheets in their opening 23 Premier League matches since Man United (17) and Chelsea (14) both did it in 2008-09.
The Citizens have only conceded six goals on their current 23-match unbeaten run.
Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris remains one shutout away from 100 in his Premier League career.
Taking the lead
Winning 16 straight is genuinely remarkable, but there’s something else that makes this run very special.
Since dropping a 2-0 decision to Tottenham Guardiola’s side hasn’t trailed a single minute in any Premier League match.
As if they haven’t broken enough records in this stretch, a few more results could set another new standard. Only Arsenal have had a more extended period of consecutive top-flight games without trailing, hitting 19 games between December 1998 and May 1999.
Conceding
It’s safe to say Tottenham are in perhaps the worst form in a long time.
They’ve lost four of their last five Premier League games. That’s as many defeats as they’ve had in their previous 28 top-flight fixtures.
A team that’s used to scoring in bunches is now conceding plenty. Spurs have given up eight goals in their last two games; the most a Jose Mourinho side has given up across a 2-game period in his entire managerial career.
Managers Words
Following the match City manager, Pep Guardiola said he’s pleased with the win but adds they got a couple of lucky breaks.
“We beat an exceptional team. They hit the post, in a situation which can change the game, and the last action from Gareth Bale, but they didn’t [create] anything else, so that is so good in terms of defensive commitment.
“And in terms of the way we were playing with the ball was really good, especially in the second half. Another victory, important against a good team, and we continue our good rhythm. We will see tomorrow [about Gundogan’s injury]. He said it was nothing, it was tight, but we will see tomorrow, day after tomorrow.”
Next Up
City goes for 17 straight wins when they face Everton Wednesday night.
The kickoff from Goodison Park is at 8:15 pm. (JSL).
