Haaland returns and strikes to guide City back into the top four

For 45 minutes, it was tempting to wonder where this version of Manchester City had been hiding? They were energetic and incisive, threatening to tear Tottenham apart. Erling Haaland was back in the line-up after a knee injury and his 20th goal of the Premier League season - and 28th overall - was scant reward for their control.

- David Hytner

City's previous visit to this stadium had brought a Carabao Cup exit and it is remarkable to consider how they have fared since then. Before kick-off here and taking in that defeat, their record showed 14 losses in 27 matches in all competitions. They looked set to make a more coherent statement.

Then the second half happened and we were reminded of why City have sunk so far. The conviction evaporated in the face of Spurs showing plenty of it themselves and an equaliser looked on. Ange Postecoglou's team were a different entity, pressing hard and they had the chances.

They could not get one to go in, the big one coming right at the end - 98 minutes on the clock, four more than the board had shown. That was because of a lengthy VAR check for what would have been 2-0 for City, Haaland eventually denied a second goal for handball.

Spurs went straight up the other end and when Pedro Porro crossed and the ball was flicked on, there was the substitute, Pape Sarr. He could not get his body into position and he sent the header high. City could exhale.