Manchester City had to give up their place in the standings to Liverpool after failing to win in the match week 14 over their guests Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad, Sunday. There were 6 goals in that match where Pep Guardiola’s squad only drew 3-3 with Tottenham Hotspur. Hence, City only added one point.
With this result, The Citizen came close to Arsenal, who were firmly at the top of the standings. Moreover, they also had to be displaced by Liverpool, who that night won 4-3 over their guests, Fulham, at Anfield.
Manchester City is now in third place with 30 points behind Liverpool in second place with 31 points. Meanwhile, Arsenal is at the top of the standings with 33 points.
In the big match against Ange Postecoglou’s squad, Tottenham Hotspur, the home team City confidently started the match with an intense attack on the Spurs goal. However, Son Heung Min’s quick goal surprised them. This striker from South Korea managed to score a goal in the 6th minute to give the London squad a 1-0 lead.
Starting from a very fast counter-attack, Son Heung Min broke through from inside his own defense area using Kulusevski’s long pass. The fast South Korean player managed to outwit Jeremy Doku before firing a low shot that City goalkeeper Ederson couldn’t reach.
This goal was a record for Son Heung Min, who became the first player in history to score an away goal in the Premier League against the four defending champions. Son Heung Min also managed to do it when he faced the defending champions at that time from Leicester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
However, just 3 minutes later, City’s goal came as a result of an own goal from Son who misanticipated Julian Alfarez’s free kick from the right of the City squad’s attack area. City took a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute thanks to Phil Foden’s goal. This young English player received a clever pass from Julian Alvarez. Then Foden managed to beat Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and shoot the ball from close range. The 2-1 score lasted until halftime.
In the second half, Pep Guardiola’s troops continued to attack with continuous pressure on their visitors’ goal. Several City opportunities arose, including Bernardo Silva’s beautiful kick with the outside of his left foot which was blocked spectacularly by Vicario.
However, the goal that came later was in Spurs’ favor. In the 69th minute the goal was born when Giovani Lo Celso received Son Heung Min’s pass before taking a low kick into the goal guarded by Ederson. The score was tied at 2 – 2.
The match became more interesting with the hosts aggressively attacking frontally and the Spurs troops were forced to defend themselves completely. City’s goal finally came from Jack Grealish’s feet again to put the home team 3-2 up with just nine minutes remaining.
This goal was the result of neat cooperation starting from City midfielder, Rodri, who snatched the ball from Spurs defensive midfielder, Yves Bissouma. Then City quickly launched an attack down the right, with Haaland cutting the ball back for Grealish who beat Spurs goalkeeper Vicario.
While all the supporters at the Etihad were relieved by the superiority of their favorite squad, it was a shame that this superiority was not able to be maintained by the Manchester City squad in the remaining 9 minutes. The equalizing goal from the Spurs squad was born thanks to Dejan Kulusevki’s header. For the City squad, this goal was very suffocating. Brennan Johnson played a cross from the wing to Kulusevski, who directed his header into the top left corner of Ederson’s goal for a dramatic equalizer with the score at 3-3.
In the 14th week of the Premier League, no less interesting was the drama that occurred in Liverpool’s match at Anfield, facing their visiting club from London, Fulham. A rain of 7 goals was scored in that match. Liverpool scored goals in the 87th and 88th minutes to catch up with them.
Those two late goals put Liverpool 4-3 up over Fulham, resulting in a sensational late comeback. At that time, the Reds were trailing 3-2 until the 80th minute due to a goal from Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s header.
However, two goals from the feet of Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander Arnold just 3 minutes before the match ended, making Liverpool win 4-3 over their guests. It’s very dramatic for Reds fans.
The series of Premier League matches in December are getting tighter and more exciting, at least they will face the 20th match at the end of December 2023 later. A busy end of year amidst Christmas and New Year.
