Player Ratings: Controversy as City vs Spurs Thriller Ends in Draw

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·3 December 2023

Player Ratings: Controversy as City vs Spurs Thriller Ends in Draw

Epic Encounter: Manchester City and Tottenham Lock Horns in a Thrilling Premier League Classic

Kulusevski’s Late Heroics Salvage Point for Spurs

In a pulsating showdown that will linger in Premier League lore, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur scripted a 3-3 masterpiece at the Etihad Stadium. This electrifying contest was a testament to the league’s unpredictability, as Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski emerged as the saviour, securing a precious point in the dying moments.

Early Exchange Sets the Tone

The game commenced with an intensity befitting a top-tier clash, as both sides found ample space to orchestrate attacks. Jeremy Doku’s early attempt was thwarted, but Spurs swiftly retaliated. Heung-min Son, Tottenham’s talisman, exploited a defensive lapse, catching Ederson off-guard with a goal that lacked power but not effectiveness.

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However, Son’s fortunes quickly reversed, inadvertently steering a Julian Alvarez set piece into his own net, levelling the score. The drama escalated when City’s star striker, Erling Haaland, astonishingly misfired from close range, leaving the audience in disbelief.

City’s Resilience Meets Tottenham’s Tenacity

Manchester City, displaying their trademark resilience, edged ahead through Phil Foden’s clinical finish, a result of Alvarez’s creative brilliance. Yet, Spurs remained undeterred. Giovani Los Celso’s stunning strike restored parity, only for Jack Grealish to momentarily tilt the scales in City’s favour.

But the penultimate twist was scripted by Kulusevski, whose emphatic header in the 89th minute ensured that the spoils were shared, capping off a match that encapsulated the Premier League’s essence of unpredictability and sheer excitement.

The script had another twist in the tale when referee Simon Hooper seemingly stopped a Jack Grealish one v one with the goalkeeper, after he brought back the play to a foul that most thought he had played advantage for. A frustrating moment for Pep Guardiola and his players.

Player Ratings: A Mixed Bag of Performances

Manchester City

Ederson (GK): 4/10 – An off-day, struggled with Son’s shot.
Kyle Walker (CB): 6/10 – Steady in defence.
Ruben Dias (CB): 3/10 – Continued his season’s average form.
Josko Gvardiol (CB): 3.5/10 – An off-colour performance.
Manuel Akanji (DM): 4.5/10 – Lacked midfield dominance.
Rodri (DM): 5.5/10 – Effective in transitioning play.
Phil Foden (RM): 7/10 – A goal scorer with impactful movement.
Julian Alvarez (AM): 8/10 – The creative linchpin.
Bernardo Silva (AM): 7/10 – Created multiple opportunities.
Jeremy Doku (LM): 7/10 – A first-half menace.
Erling Haaland (ST): 3.5/10 – Surprisingly misfired chances.
Manager – Pep Guardiola: 5/10 – Needs to reinvigorate the team.

Tottenham Hotspur

GK: Guglielmo Vicario – 6.5/10: Made some crucial saves.
RB: Pedro Porro – 5.5/10: Faced a tough challenge against City’s dynamic attack.
CB: Emerson Royal – 4/10: Struggled in an unnatural position
CB: Ben Davies – 4.5/10: Had a challenging game
LB: Destiny Udogie – 6/10: Initially struggled but adapted better in the second half.
DM: Yves Bissouma – 3.5/10: Overly confident at times, cost Spurs a goal
CM: Giovani Lo Celso – 7.5/10: A standout performance, marked by a brilliant goal and overall influence in midfield.
RM: Brennan Johnson – 6.5/10: A constant threat on the break, using his pace effectively. Provided the assist for Kulusevski’s goal.
AM: Dejan Kulusevski – 8/10: Impressive performance, contributing an assist and scoring a crucial equaliser.
LM: Bryan Gil – 4/10: Had a tough test up against Walker, easier matchups ahead.
ST: Heung-min Son – 6.5/10: A mixed day at the office, scoring for and against his team.
Manager – Ange Postecoglou – 7.5/10: His tactical tweak at halftime was key in turning the game around for Tottenham.