Tottenham Hotspur’s first top-flight title challenge in a generation gathered further momentum with a landmark 2-1 win at Manchester City in the English Premier League on Sunday as star Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen scored a late winner on his birthday.
Spurs’ vibrant, young team celebrated their fifth straight victory — and their first away against a high-profile opponents — by throwing their jerseys into the away end at the Etihad Stadium, before manager Mauricio Pochettino shook his fists to loud cheers from the Spurs fans.
With Tottenham just two points off the lead held by Leicester City, after the Foxes fell to a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in Sunday’s early kickoff, the underachieving club are starting to believe.
Photo: Reuters
“It is important to start to feel that you can come to a stadium like Man City against a big, big team and you can win,” Pochettino said. “It is true our supporters can dream.”
Spurs went ahead in the 53rd minute through a penalty by Harry Kane that was controversially awarded, with Raheem Sterling adjudged to have handled as he turned his back on a cross from Danny Rose.
Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho equalized in the 74th minute with the first clear-cut chance created by City, only for Eriksen to race onto Erik Lamela’s through-ball and slip a low finish past goalkeeper Joe Hart. It was the perfect way for the Denmark midfielder to celebrate his 24th birthday.
City scored a total of 10 goals in its past two home games against Tottenham, but this Spurs team are a different prospect entirely and have become some pundits’ favorites for the title — despite their unfamiliarity with their lofty position. The club’s last league title came in 1960-1961 and they were last this high in the league at this stage of the season in 1984-1985.
The mobility of Tottenham’s midfield caused City problems all game and led to the winning goal after Yaya Toure was robbed by Lamela. The Argentine surged forward, and his pass was expertly controlled and finished by Eriksen.
“I think it was an important victory for the future,” said Pochettino, who is surely thinking more about the present.
As for City, a second straight home loss — after previous weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Leicester — kept the team six points off the lead. A squad reeling from midfield injuries is looking stretched as they go for trophies on four fronts.
The midfield lacked balance, with playmaker David Silva out of position on the right — to accommodate Toure in the No. 10 role — and forced into lots of defensive work. Sergio Aguero was isolated and frustrated up front until Iheanacho came on just after the hour mark.
Pellegrini complained about the penalty decision, but was just as concerned about City’s recent form. They have not won any of their eight matches against teams in the top six this season.
“The first problem is our team,” said Pellegrini, who gave captain Vincent Kompany his first start since November last year after an injury. “We need to improve in a lot of things.”
Earlier, Liverpool pushed Aston Villa even closer to relegation when they crushed the bottom club 6-0, leading to a mass exodus of home fans long before the final whistle at Villa Park.
It was Aston Villa’s heaviest home defeat in the top flight since they lost 7-1 to Arsenal in 1935 and the first time they had conceded six at home in a league match since Arsenal inflicted another thumping in 1983.
Villa remain eight points from safety having taken just 16 points from 26 matches.
“I feel humiliated,” Villa manager Remi Garde told Sky Sports. “I am sorry for the fans who came to Villa Park. Before the game you could expect the two teams were not on the same level, but after 15 minutes, I don’t know what happens.”
Liverpool went ahead when Daniel Sturridge, who has been injured for most of the season, headed in after 16 minutes, before former Villa winger James Milner doubled their lead with an inswinging free-kick eight minutes later.
Villa collapsed midway through the second half, conceding four goals in 13 minutes, with Emre Can starting the blitz with a long-range shot that beat goalkeeper Mark Bunn after 57 minutes.
Divock Origi burst through to make it 4-0 a minute after coming on as a substitute, before England defender Nathaniel Clyne made it 5-0 with a tap-in and Kolo Toure headed a sixth in the 70th minute.
“I understand the fans’ frustration,” Garde said. “I don’t know who has let down who in this football club. I am trying to concentrate on my job and working with the players who want to fight.”
Liverpool’s win ended their run of five games without a victory in all competitions.
“It does not happen too much where a manager can enjoy the last 20 minutes. A very clear result in the end,” Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp told Sky Sports. “We broke the opponent after the third or fourth goal. After that they could not come back into the game.”
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