Our 3️⃣ points as Man City and Spurs share spoils in a PL classic | OneFootball

Manchester City and Spurs drew 3-3 on Sunday evening in a game filled with comebacks and controversy.

This is what we made of it.

Worthy of top billing

This game headed the Sunday slate of Premier League fixtures which had already delivered throughout the day in incredible fashion.

There was Liverpool’s epic late comeback against Fulham to snare a 4-3 win at Anfield, Chelsea showing their spirit with 10 men to edge out Brighton for a 3-2 win and Aston Villa claiming a late point at Bournemouth in a pulsating 2-2 draw but this was the headline act for a reason.

It was a game filled with talking points and memorable moments. City’s football for their second was sensational and a glimpse of how good they can be when things click, Phil Foden capping off a fine move after being teed up by Julián Álvarez, who was again a big positive for the home side.

Heung-min Son became just the second man to score at both ends in the opening 10 minutes of a Premier League game after Gareth Barry but the incident which will garner most attention is undoubtedly the one which came with almost the final kick.

Haaland was fouled just inside his own half but immediately leapt back to his feet and sent Jack Grealish scampering through on goal for the chance to win it – only for referee Simon Hooper to pull play back for the initial foul, offering City no advantage which may have secured all three points.

“Next question,” Pep Guardiola said bluntly afterwards as he attempted to avoid a potential fine. “What the f**k,” Erling Haaland was quick to post on social media afterwards regarding it, while even the Spurs boss acknowledged that his side ‘got lucky’ with it.

Worry for City?

Manchester City don’t quite look like the same beast which ran roughshod over England and beyond last season do they?

They appear more vulnerable than they have in some time, with a result like this and a 4-4 draw at Chelsea evidence of their defensive struggles in particular.

It should be noted though that they are missing key men Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones (although he was on the bench here), two big losses which are undoubtedly impacting them.

Ederson had criticism directed his way for Son’s opener and in attack, Erling Haaland also had a rare off day, highlighted by his big first half miss from eight yards out with the goal gaping.

It is the first time in the Norwegian’s career that he has had as many as five shots on goal in a single game without finding the target once.

And the headaches don’t stop there for Guardiola, who takes his side to Aston Villa in midweek. They have a perfect record at home this season and City will be without Rodri and Jack Grealish for it, who both picked up bookings and are suspended.

“We’re struggling a little bit,” admitted the Catalan afterwards. Plenty for him to ponder.

Uncompromising Ange

Even now as advent calendars are being opened up, it seems some still expect some ‘pragmatism’ (whatever it may entail) from Ange Postecoglou.

Going to the Etihad and attempting to play their well-documented brand of football would likely result in disaster, several predicted, as they encouraged the Australian to opt for a more cautious approach.

He did not and will not waver on his principles: even in the face of a mounting injury list and taking on Guardiola’s all-conquering treble winners in their own back garden.

Spurs, who have by a distance played more short passes than any other side in the Premier League this season, were rewarded for their bravery and were deserving of the point they left with.

Some unwanted history appeared to be on the cards when they trailed on two separate occasions after Son’s opener as they looked set to become the first Premier League team ever to lose four straight games after scoring the opener.

But if it wasn’t clear already, Spurs are a different animal now. A revitalised Giovani Lo Celso again made the most of his chance and netted an excellent goal for 2-2 before Dejan Kulusevski claimed a last minute point by crashing a header in off the woodwork with his shoulder.

In three Spurs appearances at the Etihad, the Man of the Match has three goals and two assists and is just the second player ever to score away goals against the defending champions in three straight seasons (after Danny Murphy).