MANCHESTER City returned to the top of the English Premier League table tonight after a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in London.
The champions needed victory to overtake Arsenal going into the final round of fixtures on Sunday, and they earned the three points courtesy of two goals from Erling Haaland.
With the victory, their first ever at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Pep Guardiola’s side put themselves in the driving seat in the title race, as a win over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday would crown them champions again, regardless of Arsenal’s result at home to Everton on the same day.
It was not all smooth-sailing for Manchester City though, as they were unusually sloppy in the first half, misplacing passes and making the wrong decisions time after time.
Their nerves apparently settled at half-time and they were ahead within the first six minutes of the restart, Kevin De Bruyne setting up Haaland for his 26th Premier League goal of the season.
At 1-0, the game was finely poised and Tottenham nearly drew level late on when Manuel Akanji was robbed of the ball but goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who had replaced the injured Ederson in the 69th minute, made a brilliant save to deny Son Heung-min.
Moments later, in stoppage time, Haaland put the result beyond doubt with a cold-blooded penalty after substitute Jeremy Doku was brought down in the Spurs box.
Manchester City, who are two points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, are now on course for a fourth consecutive Premier League title, a feat that has never been achieved.
