• TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris: 6 - The goalkeeper had little to do but looked shaky on occasion when coming out to collect aerial deliveries.
    TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris: 6 - The goalkeeper had little to do but looked shaky on occasion when coming out to collect aerial deliveries.
  • Japhet Tanganga: 9 - Tasked with keeping both Grealish and Sterling quiet, the youngster did his job well. He would often go tight to the two wingers, making sure he was aggressive to stop them before they had a chance to turn towards goal.
    Japhet Tanganga: 9 - Tasked with keeping both Grealish and Sterling quiet, the youngster did his job well. He would often go tight to the two wingers, making sure he was aggressive to stop them before they had a chance to turn towards goal.
  • Davinson Sanchez: 8 - With a lot of the threat coming down his side, Sanchez sweeped up behind Tanganga well and denied City on many occasions.
    Davinson Sanchez: 8 - With a lot of the threat coming down his side, Sanchez sweeped up behind Tanganga well and denied City on many occasions.
  • Eric Dier: 7 - Dier had a relatively comfortable game, leading well from the back and not having to make any last ditch efforts to keep his side from conceding.
    Eric Dier: 7 - Dier had a relatively comfortable game, leading well from the back and not having to make any last ditch efforts to keep his side from conceding.
  • Sergio Reguilon: 7 - The left-back had the job of denying Mahrez from cutting in on his cultured left foot and did so on most occasions. He kept the winger quiet throughout but had few chances to go on the attack with his side.
    Sergio Reguilon: 7 - The left-back had the job of denying Mahrez from cutting in on his cultured left foot and did so on most occasions. He kept the winger quiet throughout but had few chances to go on the attack with his side.
  • Oliver Skipp: 6 - Skipp had a shaky start to the game, much like his side on a whole. He made a few rash challenges to begin with but he grew into the game as it wore on.
    Oliver Skipp: 6 - Skipp had a shaky start to the game, much like his side on a whole. He made a few rash challenges to begin with but he grew into the game as it wore on.
  • Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: 7 - The Danish international continued his good form from last season, controlling the midfield well both on and off the ball.
    Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: 7 - The Danish international continued his good form from last season, controlling the midfield well both on and off the ball.
  • Steven Bergwijn: 6 - The winger was the quieter of a front three that caused problems for City on the counter but he still looked dangerous when given a chance to run into space.
    Steven Bergwijn: 6 - The winger was the quieter of a front three that caused problems for City on the counter but he still looked dangerous when given a chance to run into space.
  • Dele Alli: 7 - The midfielder had little impact earlt in the game but grew in influence, picking up the occasional pocket of space and launching counters.
    Dele Alli: 7 - The midfielder had little impact earlt in the game but grew in influence, picking up the occasional pocket of space and launching counters.
  • Lucas Moura: 7 - The 29-year-old was a big asset to Spurs on the counter. He would often drive his team forward after picking up the ball in the midfield to start an attack.
    Lucas Moura: 7 - The 29-year-old was a big asset to Spurs on the counter. He would often drive his team forward after picking up the ball in the midfield to start an attack.
  • Son Heung-Min: 8 - The forward started the game apprehensively, not taking on his man one-on-one. However, his influence grew in the game and he rounded it off with a great finish from the edge of the box.
    Son Heung-Min: 8 - The forward started the game apprehensively, not taking on his man one-on-one. However, his influence grew in the game and he rounded it off with a great finish from the edge of the box.
  • SUBS: Giovani Lo Celso (For Bergwijn 77’): N/A - The midfielder came on to bolster their bodies in the middle of the park as Tottenham looked to see out the game. He pressed well, being the fresher of the midfield trio.
    SUBS: Giovani Lo Celso (For Bergwijn 77’): N/A - The midfielder came on to bolster their bodies in the middle of the park as Tottenham looked to see out the game. He pressed well, being the fresher of the midfield trio.
  • Matt Doherty (For Tanganga 83’): N/A - Doherty slotted into right-back for the dying embers of the game. He didn’t put a foot wrong, ushering Grealish on his side well.
    Matt Doherty (For Tanganga 83’): N/A - Doherty slotted into right-back for the dying embers of the game. He didn’t put a foot wrong, ushering Grealish on his side well.
  • Cristian Romero (For Hojbjerg 89’): N/A - Romero made his debut from the bench for the injured Hojbjerg as he helped his side get over the line for the victory.
    Cristian Romero (For Hojbjerg 89’): N/A - Romero made his debut from the bench for the injured Hojbjerg as he helped his side get over the line for the victory.
  • MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson: 4 - The goalkeeper had little to do but could and should have done more to deny Son’s goal from the edge of the box. Instead, he didn’t move as the home side took the lead.
    MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson: 4 - The goalkeeper had little to do but could and should have done more to deny Son’s goal from the edge of the box. Instead, he didn’t move as the home side took the lead.
  • Benjamin Mendy: 4 - The left-back was often caught out defensively in transition when Spurs looked to counter. A lot of the space was on his side where he wasn’t tracking back. He also offered little in an attacking sense during the game.
    Benjamin Mendy: 4 - The left-back was often caught out defensively in transition when Spurs looked to counter. A lot of the space was on his side where he wasn’t tracking back. He also offered little in an attacking sense during the game.
  • Nathan Ake: 5 - With a lot of the threat down his side, Ake started well to deny Spurs on a few occasions but showed Son inside for his strike, allowing the forward to move the ball onto his left to score.
    Nathan Ake: 5 - With a lot of the threat down his side, Ake started well to deny Spurs on a few occasions but showed Son inside for his strike, allowing the forward to move the ball onto his left to score.
  • Ruben Dias: 6 - The centre-back mainly had to cover and sweep up when dealing with counter attacks, making a few clearances and blocks when called upon for his side.
    Ruben Dias: 6 - The centre-back mainly had to cover and sweep up when dealing with counter attacks, making a few clearances and blocks when called upon for his side.
  • Joao Cancelo: 7 - The right-back looked the most assured of the back line in defence and attack. He won the majority of his duels and looked threatening when bringing the ball forward.
    Joao Cancelo: 7 - The right-back looked the most assured of the back line in defence and attack. He won the majority of his duels and looked threatening when bringing the ball forward.
  • Ilkay Gundogan: 6 - Made a key block in the first half to deny Tottenham from taking the lead but his forays up the pitch often left his midfield partner stranded when hit on the counter.
    Ilkay Gundogan: 6 - Made a key block in the first half to deny Tottenham from taking the lead but his forays up the pitch often left his midfield partner stranded when hit on the counter.
  • Fernandinho: 7 - The ball-winning midfielder did what he did best to stop the Tottenham counter, making crucial interceptions on several occasions.
    Fernandinho: 7 - The ball-winning midfielder did what he did best to stop the Tottenham counter, making crucial interceptions on several occasions.
  • Jack Grealish: 6 - On his Premier League debut for Manchester City, Grealish showed glimpses of what he can do, bursting into the box with danger and intent. However, he struggled to find some end product.
    Jack Grealish: 6 - On his Premier League debut for Manchester City, Grealish showed glimpses of what he can do, bursting into the box with danger and intent. However, he struggled to find some end product.
  • Raheem Sterling: 5 - On the back of an impressive summer with England, Sterling wasn’t able to replicate the form he showed at the Euros. He got into a few dangerous positions but couldn’t drive his team forward when they needed it most.
    Raheem Sterling: 5 - On the back of an impressive summer with England, Sterling wasn’t able to replicate the form he showed at the Euros. He got into a few dangerous positions but couldn’t drive his team forward when they needed it most.
  • Ferran Torres: 5 -The makeshift striker looked proactive in his approach, covering a lot of space, but unable to make chances count when he got a good opportunity to score.
    Ferran Torres: 5 -The makeshift striker looked proactive in his approach, covering a lot of space, but unable to make chances count when he got a good opportunity to score.
  • Riyad Mahrez: 6 - Had a quiet game for his club with a lot of the play going down the opposite flank. He tried to cut in on a few occasions to no avail but he still looked a threat before being subbed off.
    Riyad Mahrez: 6 - Had a quiet game for his club with a lot of the play going down the opposite flank. He tried to cut in on a few occasions to no avail but he still looked a threat before being subbed off.
  • SUBS: Gabriel Jesus (For Sterling 70‘): 5 - Had little service after coming on in an attempt to change the game for Pep Guardiola. He wasn’t able to have a direct impact in the final third.
    SUBS: Gabriel Jesus (For Sterling 70‘): 5 - Had little service after coming on in an attempt to change the game for Pep Guardiola. He wasn’t able to have a direct impact in the final third.
  • Kevin De Bruyne (For Mahrez 80’): N/A - Following a summer of international football with Belgium, De Bruyne wasn’t fully fit to start but was hoping to make an impact when called off the bench. He had little time to do so.
    Kevin De Bruyne (For Mahrez 80’): N/A - Following a summer of international football with Belgium, De Bruyne wasn’t fully fit to start but was hoping to make an impact when called off the bench. He had little time to do so.
  • Oleksandr Zinchenko (For Mendy 80’): N/R - Replaced Mendy as they looked to come back. He couldn’t have the desired impact, crossing from poor positions.
    Oleksandr Zinchenko (For Mendy 80’): N/R - Replaced Mendy as they looked to come back. He couldn’t have the desired impact, crossing from poor positions.

Sport

Football

Tottenham v Manchester City player ratings: Tanganga 9, Son 8; Grealish 6, Sterling 5

South Korean striker Heung-min secures 1-0 victory

Luke Thrower

August 16, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Son Heung-min more than made up for the absence of Harry Kane as Tottenham Hotspur secured a surprise 1-0 win over Premier League champions Manchester City.

Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo had left Kane out his squad, having only just returned to training, with the England captain linked with a move to City.

But Kane's regular strike partner Son gave Nuno a perfect start to his reign in front of a capacity crowd.

City had their new £100 million ($139m) signing Jack Grealish on the pitch but it was Tottenham who proved a constant threat. A raid from deep in the 55th minute saw Son beat goalkeeper Ederson with a clinical finish to set up victory.

Manager Nuno said Tottenham rode their luck early on as City started brightly, but were made to pay for missing chances in the opening 15 minutes.

"I think we were lucky because they had clear chances, but the boys held on," said Nuno. "We knew it would be tough and after 15 minutes we adjusted better.

"The atmosphere and especially the hard work of the boys makes any manager proud."

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above.

Updated: August 16, 2021, 2:56 AM
Manchester CityTottenham HotspurPremier League