Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
It started as an evening of celebration for Manchester City. It ended with the four-time defending Premier League champion conceding four goals and falling to a fifth-straight loss in all competitions as it faces a deepening crisis in a season that is threatening to unravel.
Tottenham's James Maddison celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
A 4-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday left City five points behind league leader Liverpool, having played a game more, and with manager Pep Guardiola questioning whether he could get its title challenge back on track.
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
“I would say when you lose three Premier League (games) in a row, the wrong thing to say is we are going to be champion,” Guardiola said. “But the reality is here, we have to do it guys. We have to break (the run), start to win games.”
Two goals from James Maddison inside 20 minutes at the Etihad Stadium stunned the home crowd, which had been treated to a light show before kickoff to mark midfielder Rodri winning the Ballon d’Or award for the best soccer player in the world.
With Guardiola also having signed a two-year contract extension this week, there was double reason to celebrate. But City's latest loss highlighted onfield problems that he is struggling to stop. Pedro Porro scored a third for Tottenham after halftime and substitute Brennan Johnson added a fourth in the third minute of stoppage time.
Defeat extended what was already Guardiola's worst losing streak in a glittering coaching career at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.
It also handed Liverpool a perfect opportunity to tighten its grip on the title race when it plays last-place Southampton on Sunday. City plays Liverpool at Anfield next weekend.
Rivals are also closing in on second-place City, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton all winning on Saturday to move within a point of Guardiola’s team.
“If in the end we don’t win (the title) it’s because we don’t deserve it," Guardiola said. "We won it in the past because we deserved it.”
Manchester City's Rodri waves to fans with his Ballon d'Or Golden Ball trophy ahead of the British Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (Carl Recine, Pool Photo via AP)
Losing streak
After losses to Tottenham, Bournemouth, Sporting Lisbon and Brighton, City was looking to get the season back on track with a win that would have closed the gap to Liverpool to two points.
Tottenham's James Maddison scores the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
But a flying start from Spurs soon put the home team on course for another loss as Maddison volleyed in from close range in the 13th minute and produced a delicate finish to lift the ball over Ederson for his second in the 20th.
Manchester City's Rodri with his Ballon d'Or Golden Ball trophy ahead of the British Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Nov. 23, 2024. (Paul Currie, Pool Photo via AP)
Porro blasted in a third after a swift counter in the 52nd and Johnson completed City’s misery and leave Guardiola admitting his players were “fragile” after the latest loss.
Rivals close in
Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton are six points behind Liverpool after taking the chance to keep the pressure on Arne Slot’s team.
