Tottenham Player Ratings vs. Man City: Spurs Shock the Champions with Dominant 2-0 Masterclass

Tottenham Player Ratings vs. Man City: Spurs Shock the Champions with Dominant 2-0 Masterclass

A pair of first-half strikes enabled Tottenham Hotspur to claim a remarkable 2-0 triumph against Manchester City in their second Premier League match of the campaign on Saturday.

Tottenham's unsuccessful chase for Eberechi Eze could have damaged morale before traveling to Manchester, but Spurs remained composed during the opening period at the Etihad Stadium. They applied high pressure with remarkable energy, causing City to make mistakes while struggling to deliver the decisive strike.

However, the North London side kept disrupting their opponents with their concentration and attacking approach, finally being rewarded for their excellent beginning ten minutes before halftime. Mohammed Kudus redirected a lengthy clearance from the back and Richarlison perfectly timed his movement—as VAR confirmed after initially flagging the goal for offside—before setting up Brennan Johnson from eight yards out.

Tottenham maintained their relentless pressure on City in their defensive zone and rightfully extended their advantage during added time to complete an outstanding first half from Thomas Frank's squad. Spurs capitalized on James Trafford's misplaced pass within his own box, with João Palhinha scoring his first goal for the club to increase the gap between the teams.

Tottenham dropped back after halftime but defended bravely to prevent City from scoring. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven stood firm at the center of defense, while Guglielmo Vicario stepped up when needed.

It demonstrates City's struggles that they couldn't create any genuine scoring chances in the second half while pursuing their equalizer, with Frank orchestrating a magnificent display that secured consecutive victories for the Lilywhites to begin the new campaign.

Frank's Pressing Machine

Tottenham, Thomas Frank

Tottenham fans recognized that Thomas Frank's appointment and, more significantly, Ange Postecoglou's exit would lead to a more cautious strategy going forward. The former Brentford boss is far less attacking or idealistic than his predecessor, with Spurs' defensive setup in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain demonstrating a greater readiness to drop deep and withstand pressure.

Nevertheless, Frank's appointment hasn't eliminated Tottenham's high-pressing style. Spurs were eager to disrupt City's possession game and quickly sensed opportunity, stealing the ball from their hosts and earning set pieces in dangerous areas twice within the first ten minutes. They worked as a unit and harassed effectively, giving City no moment to settle.

That aggression proved vital in Tottenham's second goal of the match, with Pape Matar Sarr cutting out a poor pass from Trafford and Palhinha, through several touches from Richarlison, capitalizing from short range. Their courage without the ball was admirable at a ground that frequently intimidates visiting sides.

In the second period, Spurs were content to sit back, and they performed admirably in keeping City at arm's length while still threatening on the break. Every Tottenham player excelled at the Etihad, but their manager's strategic brilliance will capture the headlines.

Richarlison Lays Down Another Marker

Man City

Frank was resolute in his pre-match media session when questioned about Richarlison's position in his lineup. "Currently he's my first-choice striker," declared the Danish manager, who saw the Brazilian net two superb goals in the 3-0 victory over Burnley the previous weekend. Two instinctive finishes—including a spectacular overhead kick—showcased what Richarlison can accomplish when fit.

Predictably, he was selected to spearhead the attack again at the Etihad, and he immediately troubled City's defense. The 28-year-old moved energetically around the center-backs with passion and determination, intervening when chances presented themselves. His defensive contribution enabled Tottenham to press aggressively up field, preventing City from establishing their passing tempo from deep positions.

Richarlison's commitment has never been questioned, but his finishing ability has. Following two clean strikes last Saturday, the former Everton striker again highlighted his sharp instincts with an excellent setup for Johnson's opener, timing his movement perfectly to exploit City's high defensive line and finding his teammate under duress.

The pressure will be mounting for Dominic Solanke after witnessing Richarlison deliver another exceptionally strong performance.

Tottenham Player Ratings (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Player

Rating (Out of 10)

GK: Guglielmo Vicario

8.0

RB: Pedro Porro

7.3

CB: Cristian Romero

7.6

CB: Micky van de Ven

6.9

LB: Djed Spence

6.7

DM: João Palhinha

8.2

DM: Rodrigo Bentancur

7.3

RW: Mohammed Kudus

7.5

AM: Pape Matar Sarr

6.6

LW: Brennan Johnson

8.0

ST: Richarlison

7.6

SUB: Wilson Odobert (77' for Johnson)

6.5

SUB: Dominic Solanke (77' for Richarlison)

6.1

SUB: Lucas Bergvall (86' for Kudus)

N/A

SUB: Kevin Danso (90+1' for Palhinha)

N/A

Subs not used: Antonín Kinský, Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Luka Vuškovi, Mathys Tel.

Player of the Match: João Palhinha

Man City (4-2-3-1): James Trafford; Rico Lewis, John Stones, Rúben Dias, Rayan Aït-Nouri; Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González; Oscar Bobb, Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush; Erling Haaland.

Subs: Ederson (GK), Abdukodir Khusanov, Nathan Aké, Nico O'Reilly, Matheus Nunes, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Jérémy Doku, Phil Foden.