Football Features

    Man City 2-2 Spurs: Full player ratings as VAR stings Guardiola again

    By Ollie Thomas

    Published: 19:50, 17 August 2019 | Updated: 18:02, 29 September 2019

    Full time: Manchester City 2-2 Tottenham. Pep Guardiola must be sick to death of VAR already.

    In what was a scarcely believable finish, City’s joy was viciously squashed by VAR against Spurs again as Gabriel Jesus’ late strike was disallowed for an inadvertent handball in the build-up by Aymeric Laporte – as per new rules brought in ahead of the 2019/20 season.

    The goal was the least that City deserved. Spurs managed just three shots all game: both their goals and a 60-yard effort from Harry Kane. City, on the other hand, had 30. Guardiola will be far less satisfied with the point than Mauricio Pochettino, who pulled off his second dramatic smash-and-grab in as many trips to the Etihad.

    Here’s how the players rated.

    Manchester City

    Ederson – 5 – As outrageously confident as ever on the ball but sloppy positioning gifted Spurs their first equaliser. Very little to do all game.

    Kyle Walker – 6 – Showed off an impressive passing range and was constantly up and down the right flank, but allowed Moura to get the nod ahead of him for Spurs’ second goal.

    Nicolas Otamendi – 6 – Not overworked but did everything he needed to well. Couldn’t do much about either goal and certainly threw his body around on a number of occasions.

    Aymeric Laporte – 6 – Guilty of turning his back for Lamela’s opener but very solid otherwise. Was unlucky to be penalised for handball in the build-up to City’s overturned late goal.

    Oleksandr Zinchenko – 6 – Steady, but unspectacular. Like the whole of City’s defence, he had very little to do. Struggled to contain Lucas Moura and his blistering pace after he came on.

    KEY STAT: His 100% win rate in the Premier League has finally come to an end in its 23rd game.

    Kevin De Bruyne – 9 – On a pitch brimming with quality, De Bruyne looked head and shoulders above the rest. At his scintillating best, he provided two unbelievable crosses for City’s first-half goals and seemed to be carrying the entirety of his side’s attacking threat on his shoulders.

    Rodri – 7 – The Spaniard would have been forgiven if he needed time to adapt to the Premier League, but this display was another sign that he doesn’t. This performance went some way to showing just how solid a signing he is.

    KEY STAT: Rodri had a 98% passing accuracy, as well as making more tackles (4) than any other City player.

    Ilkay Gündogan – 6 – Allowed Lamela to run off him for Spurs’ opener before missing a golden opportunity to make it 3-1. Largely anonymous for spells as De Bruyne and Rodri took control of possession and creativity.

    Bernardo Silva – 6 – Was hustling and bustling down the right-flank but often with little effect. Tidy on the ball but lacked a cutting edge at times.

    Sergio Agüero – 6 – Was totally anonymous apart from his crucial goal. Even for a striker who is hardly renowned for his willingness to get involved in link-up play, he was quiet to say the least.

    KEY STAT: Aguero’s goal in the 35th minute was only his ninth touch of the game.

    Raheem Sterling- 7 – Began the game with a well-taken goal and was a constant thorn in Walker-Peters’ side. Was perhaps guilty of going missing in the second half at times and lacked the killer instinct that we have often come to expect from him.

    Substitutes

    Gabriel Jesus – 6 – Almost tried too hard at times as he desperately tried to impress following Aguero’s underwhelming display. His disallowed winner was taken outstandingly well.

    David Silva – 6 – Perhaps unlucky not to start the game, he wasn’t allowed enough time to work his magic.

    Riyad Mahrez – 6 – Added some trickery on the flanks but did little to affect the game.

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    Tottenham Hotspur

    Hugo Lloris – 8 – Kept Spurs in the game with some very smart saves. Wasn’t afraid to come and challenge for the ball in his penalty area and take some pressure off his defenders.

    Kyle Walker-Peters – 5 – Totally lost Sterling for the opener and looked out of his depth in the first half. As Sterling moved narrower, he grew into the game and will certainly be able to take a lot from another huge test at right-back.

    Toby Alderweireld – 7 – Imperious on and off the ball, he recovered from a shaky start to spearhead a stubborn rearguard action against a star-studded front line. Spurs will be delighted that he hasn’t left the club (yet).

    KEY STAT: Alderweireld made more passes (80), more touches (92) and more tackles (5) than any other Spurs player.

    Davinson Sánchez – 6 – Similar to Alderweireld: was poor for both goals but impressed in the second half. Appeared confident on the ball and made his enormous physical advantage tell.

    Danny Rose – 5 – City got all their joy down the right-hand side and this was largely down to Rose’s performance. Was erratic at times and simply didn’t help his defensive team-mates out as much as he should have.

    KEY STAT: Only Kevin De Bruyne (23) lost possession more times than Danny Rose (17).

    Harry Winks – 5 – Hauled off after 55 minutes, a decision which immediately paid dividends. Worked hard but struggled to wrestle control of the midfield.

    Tanguy Ndombele – 7 – Got through some serious leg work in the middle of the park and set up Lamela’s goal with a nicely weighted pass. An all-action display which underlined why Daniel Levy paid the money that he did.

    Moussa Sissoko – 6 – Lacked quality at times but was crucial in keeping Spurs’ second-half clean sheet intact. Gave Kyle Walker-Peters some much-needed help down the right-hand side.

    KEY STAT: Sissoko regained possession more times (6) than any other Spurs player.

    Erik Lamela – 6 – Was Spurs’ most lively player until Lucas Moura came on. Took his goal well and scored at a crucial time as the game looked like it was already out of Spurs’ reach. He worked extremely hard as he tried to carry Spurs up the pitch, but his challenge on Rodri, which VAR chose to ignore, was ill-advised.

    Christian Eriksen – 3 – He was Spurs’ best player against Aston Villa. However, to put it bluntly, he may as well have not been on the pitch today. Failed to bring Spurs up the pitch and gave the ball away very cheaply on a number of occasions when Spurs finally regained possession.

    Harry Kane – 5 – Similar to Aguero, he was totally anonymous. Not entirely his fault, however: he had to come very deep to try and receive the ball as City’s complete and utter dominance made it impossible for him to have an impact. His only shot came from inside his own half.

    Substitutes:

    Lucas Moura – 8 – Totally changed the game when he came on. Scored with his first touch and gave Pochettino’s men a whole new dimension going forward. Quick, direct and unsettling, many were left wondering why the Brazilian didn’t start the game.

    KEY STAT: Moura had been on the pitch for just 19 seconds before he scored Spurs’ equaliser.

    Giovani Lo Celso – N/A – A late sub.

    Oliver Skipp – N/A – A late sub.

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