For 45 minutes, it was tempting to wonder where this version of Manchester City had been hiding. They were energetic and incisive, threatening to tear Tottenham apart. Erling Haaland was back after injury and his 20th goal of the Premier League season – and 28th overall – was scant reward for their dominance.
City’s previous visit to this stadium in late October had brought their first defeat of the season – in the Carabao Cup – and it is remarkable to consider how they have fared since then. Before kick-off here and taking in that result, their record showed 14 losses in 27 games in all competitions. They looked set to make a more coherent statement.
