Manchester City’s relentless march to regain the Premier League title continued with a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur after champions Liverpool surrendered in Leicester City and suffered a third straight defeat on Saturday.
On form Ilkay Gundogan scored two goals for City, who have now won 11 consecutive Premier League games.
The German scored 11 league goals this season when he scored twice in the second half after Rodri’s penalty in the first half gave Pep Guardiola’s side the lead after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fouled Gundogan.
The win earned City 53 points, seven points ahead of second-placed Leicester and with one game in hand.
The only slight concern for Guardiola, whose side have won 16 straight wins in all competitions, was that Gundogan was substituted in 69th due to a tight groin.
Although striker Sergio Aguero was among the City substitutes after eleven games due to COVID-19, Guardiola was a lucky man.
“It was well deserved, they hit the post and that can change the game, but the way we wanted to play was there,” said Guardiola. “Tottenham have a special quality, we’ve played well against them in the past and lost 2-0.”
That 2-0 defeat at Tottenham in November put Jose Mourinho’s side at the top of the league but the north London club’s form has vanished and they were played out on Saturday despite Harry Kane’s free kick hitting the post at 0-0 .
Tottenham are ninth after losing four of their last five league games to Mourinho reaching for straws.
“We were punished with what I call the modern penalty,” said Mourinho. “The undeniable penalty was a contact, but now in modern football, every contact is a penalty.”
Liverpool’s fourth-place defeat left them 13 points behind City after playing one more game and they are now at risk of dropping out of the top four.
Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool the lead in the 68th minute at Leicester, but Jurgen Klopp’s side imploded again, conceding three goals in seven minutes after conceding four goals against City in the second half last week.
After VAR canceled a penalty against Leicester, James Maddison equalized on the ensuing free kick. Goalkeeper Alisson, who made two blatant mistakes in Liverpool’s defeat by City last weekend, cost his side again.
The Brazilian raced out of his goal to hit a long ball over the top but collided with debutant Ozan Kabak and Jamie Vardy put the ball in an open goal.
Harvey Barnes secured the win four minutes later when Liverpool lost three straight league games for the first time since 2014 when Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers took command.
“I don’t think we can close that gap this year to be honest,” said Klopp about the gap with City.
“The situation is not easy, that is clear, but it is our situation and, as it always is with your own situation, you have to sort it out yourself and we will.”
Burnley’s 3-0 win at Crystal Palace brought them 11 points above the relegation places.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson gave the Clarets the lead and Jay Rodriguez headed the lead in his first Premier League goal of the season. Matt Lowton added a third after the break.
Aston Villa moved up to eighth after a 0-0 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion.
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