MANCHESTER, England -- Tottenham Hotspur twice came from behind to snatch a point from under the noses of Premier League champions Manchester City in a 2-2 draw at the Etihad on Saturday. The away side created minimal chances (three total shots), but equalising goals from Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura ensured Mauricio Pochettino's side took one point back to North London, with Gabriel Jesus' late goal being ruled out by VAR for a handball in the lead up by Aymeric Laporte.
Positives
Pochettino would have been pleased with his side's ability to respond so quickly to going a goal down at Etihad Stadium. When City score one, it can quickly become two or three, but Spurs prevented the champions from running away with it by equalising shortly after going behind. Chances were few and far between for the visitors, but they were ruthlessly clinical in both halves. They also had to hold on for the game's final half-hour, and did so admirably.
Negatives
Tottenham simply couldn't cope with Kevin De Bruyne, but they didn't make life difficult enough for him. Both of City's first-half goals came through the Belgian having too much time and space on the ball to play those killer passes he's so well known for. Paired with Raheem Sterling having the freedom to run at Kyle Walker-Peters down the left, it was a recipe for disaster. Going forward, Spurs didn't play to their strengths as Harry Kane, the team's prolific danger man, just didn't see enough of the ball. Spurs might have snatched a third goal had they shown more impetus to win the game late on.
Manager rating out of 10
7 -- The substitution of Lucas for Harry Winks in the 56th minute proved to be a masterstroke straight away, with the Brazilian equalising within seconds to make it 2-2. The Spurs boss will certainly be satisfied with a point away at Manchester City.
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Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Hugo Lloris, 6 -- Occasionally caught dilly-dallying under the press of De Bruyne, but could do little to prevent City's goals. Showed good reflexes to save a deflected shot from Oleksandr Zinchenko.
DF Kyle Walker-Peters, 5 -- Struggled to handle the pace of Sterling down the left wing, leading to City's opener.
DF Davison Sanchez, 6 -- Regularly headed crosses clear, but couldn't keep up with Kyle Walker on the right flank.
DF Toby Alderweireld, 6 -- Didn't make any notable errors, and cleared the danger whenever it came his way.
DF Danny Rose, 5 -- Caught out of position when ex-teammate Walker bombed forward, and didn't read De Bruyne's run for 2-1.
MF Moussa Sissoko, 5 -- Led Spurs' surging counter-attacks down the right, but offered little in terms of chance creation. Occasionally shrugged off the ball too easily by Walker.
MF Harry Winks, 5 -- Ala Rose, Winks failed to pick up on De Bruyne's run that led to City's second. Replaced by Lucas in the 56th minute.
MF Tanguy Ndombele, 6 -- Picked out Lamela for the first equaliser in an otherwise unremarkable performance from the big-money Frenchman.
FW Erik Lamela, 8 -- Scored Tottenham's equaliser and showed his defensive capabilities, tracking back to support Walker-Peters against Sterling, and to dispossess Sergio Aguero. Also picked out Lucas for 2-2.
FW Christian Eriksen, 5 -- Should have closed down De Bruyne's cross to Raheem Sterling for City's opener. Didn't look dangerous going forward.
FW Harry Kane, 6 -- Went missing in the first half and didn't offer much in the second period either, albeit with little service. Made runs in behind but wasn't picked out.
Substitutes
FW Lucas Moura, 7 -- Came on for Winks in the second half and made an instant impact, scoring from Lamela's corner. Showed a good appetite to drive play forward and try to make things happen.
MF Giovani Lo Celso, N/R -- Came on for his countryman Lamela in the 85th minute.
MF Oliver Skipp, N/R -- Came on for Eriksen in injury time.