Manchester Metropolis got here into Sunday’s fixture towards Tottenham Hotspur as they do most days — because the heavy favorites to take all three factors. This specific matchup felt like it might be a lopsided one contemplating Spurs’ damage and suspension disaster that meant they might be with out the likes of James Maddison and Cristian Romero, amongst others. By the point the ultimate whistle blew at Etihad Stadium, although, the 2 groups have been degree after scoring three objectives every.
Metropolis might have survived Son Heung-min’s sixth minute aim to provide Spurs the lead, however as the sport started to suit the reigning champions’ liking, they didn’t precisely rise to the event. It offered the proper opening for a Tottenham staff that simply may need a profitable technique in place regardless of the unavailable personnel in a match that’s equally about their triumph as it’s about Metropolis’s missed alternatives.
Please examine the opt-in field to acknowledge that you just want to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Regulate your inbox.
Sorry!
There was an error processing your subscription.
Ultimately, Sunday’s 3-3 draw serves an interesting standing replace for each groups forward of a busy stretch of the season that might set the tone for the remainder of the marketing campaign or present significant classes forward of a course correction.
Listed here are three takeaways from the thrilling Premier League matchup.
Wasteful Metropolis assault
Son’s opening aim felt like an anomaly for a primary half that performed out simply as many anticipated and ended with them 2-1 up. Metropolis was totally exploiting a Spurs again line that featured Ben Davies and Emerson Royal at heart again, a place that doesn’t naturally swimsuit both, and had 63.5% of possession, a passing accuracy of 92.3% and 12 photographs to Tottenham’s two. There was only one downside — that they had little greater than these two objectives to point out for it.
The hosts put simply two of their 12 photographs on track and their anticipated objectives tally sat at simply 1.62. Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku had two of the extra notable misses of the primary half, nevertheless it was apparent that Metropolis might have constructed a cushion by halftime.
They lived to remorse it after a second half by which Spurs got here again from behind twice to degree the rating. Metropolis clearly took their foot off the gasoline and ended the sport with simply 54.9% possession and added simply six photographs to their tally, solely two of which have been on track. They nonetheless gained the anticipated objectives battle significantly — 2.64 to 0.49 — however throughout a second half by which they shed the worry issue that may ceaselessly render opponents ineffective, will probably be troublesome for Metropolis to not mirror on the missed possibilities of the primary half.
Worrying tendencies for Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola’s aspect now have three attracts in a row in Premier League motion, which has seen them slip from first to 3rd within the desk. Every of them have come towards notable opposition — the primary one was a wild 4-4 draw at Chelsea and the following one was a 1-1 outcome towards Liverpool — nevertheless it raises questions on Metropolis’s capability to kill off matches, particularly since that they had the lead for lengthy stretches of this three sport run.
It is demonstrative of the truth that Metropolis is constructing a behavior of making excellent eventualities for themselves, solely to relinquish their agency grip on the sport sooner or later. Ten of the 16 objectives they’ve conceded in Premier League play this season have come within the closing half-hour of video games, which isn’t expensive in video games that they’ve already constructed spectacular benefits throughout, such because the 6-1 win over Bournemouth proper earlier than the Chelsea outcome. It turns into an issue when the margins are tighter, as they’ve been in current weeks.
The excellent news for Metropolis is that if any staff has the instruments to beat such a conundrum, it is this one. Between Haaland, Doku and the in-form Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden, Guardiola is spoiled for alternative. Forward of the busy vacation window, although, they might want to search out that repair sooner somewhat than later to make sure the three-point hole between them and first place Arsenal doesn’t widen.
Postecoglou’s persistence
Spurs got here into Sunday’s match on the again of a 3 match shedding streak, a lot of which will be attributed to the truth that they have been lacking a handful of their starters. They arrived to the Etihad with out 9 first staff gamers and supervisor Ange Postecoglou was stricken by questions that his attack-first preferences weren’t pragmatic and might have to vary if Tottenham have been to reverse course.
The Australian promised to not change, although and reaped the rewards regardless of a nervy first half. Metropolis’s lax strategy was an ideal opening for a Spurs staff that exudes perception and finally, tactical buy-in. They went from having simply 39% of the ball to ending the sport almost even on possession and made essentially the most of their eight photographs, placing 4 on track and scoring three.
Dejan Kulusevski, who assisted Son’s aim and scored the ninetieth minute equalizer, was arguably the standout performer on the Etihad. He began in a central attacking midfielder function due to the absences and was in a position to boot up Spurs’ assault within the first half regardless of Metropolis’s dominance. He continued that behavior after transferring to his extra acquainted large place. By the top of the sport, he was in a position to full 24 of his 28 passes and took residence man of the match honors.
That stated, Tottenham’s finest days all season actually really feel like a profitable group undertaking, a sentiment that has solely grown amidst the damage and suspensions which have gotten the perfect of them at occasions. The staff ought to get a lift on Thursday when Romero returns from a three-game suspension and ultimately when Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur and extra are again, however Sunday’s draw at Metropolis showcases that Postecoglou’s aspect could be on monitor to rediscover the robust type they began the season with, or at the very least have a combating likelihood even in troublesome occasions.
