Raheem Sterling 9, Ilkay Gundogan 8; Hugo Lloris 4, Harry Kane 6: Manchester City v Tottenham player ratings

Pep Guardiola's City open seven-point gap at top of Premier League

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 7 – A clean sheet and an assist represents a good night for the Brazilian. He didn’t have the busiest of evenings, but he did all that was asked of him, blocking Bale late on, and displayed confidence on the ball. Getty

Joao Cancelo 7 – The Portuguese defender was excellent going forward but also – in comparison to recent weeks – better with his defensive work. He was a solid outlet for City, his passing in particular as consistent as ever. AP

John Stones 7 – His amazing run of form continues. He wasn’t overly busy, but he successfully kept Kane and Son quiet. His passing out from the back was superb, too. AFP

Aymeric Laporte 7 – Spurs targeted him at times and he was guilty of giving away a free-kick in a dangerous area, and struggling with long balls over the City defence, but other than that he was solid. Reuters

Oleksandr Zinchenko 7 – Had little to do defensively and so looked to get forward whenever he could, offering support to City’s attacking players. Reuters

Bernardo Silva 7 – Diligent when trying to retain possession and dangerous when running at the Spurs defence, the visitors weren’t able to control him. He kept possession well and was a vital cog in City’s forward play. EPA

Rodri 8 – Superb in front of City’s defence. He closed down the spaces well and didn’t allow the runners to find any pockets. A dominant performance topped off with a goal from the spot. PA

Ilkay Gundogan 8 – More goals for the in-form German, who scored two and was brought down for the other. His second goal in particular was impressive; a neat first tough, swivel and clinical finish. Reuters

Phil Foden 7 – The in-form youngster was all over the pitch and while not as clinical as recent weeks, he played his part with his runs and probing passes. Gave Ben Davies a torrid time. AFP

Gabriel Jesus 7 – Will probably feel frustrated he didn’t find the score sheet but his movement caused the Tottenham defence all kinds of problems. Also put the Spurs back line under pressure when he didn’t have the ball. Getty

Raheem Sterling 9 – Back to his best. He looked extremely dangerous when running at the Spurs defence and attacking the box. Claimed one assist but set up many more chances. Swapped wings and, like Foden, gave Davies a tricky 45 minutes. AP

SUBS: Ferran Torres (Gundogan, 69) 6 – Came on to the left hand side with the game already won, and was isolated to the extent that he found it hard to get into the game. PA

Riyadh Mahrez (Jesus, 79) N/A – Got into some good positions when he came on had a good 10-minute cameo. AP

TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris 4 – Will be disappointed with the penalty, which crept under his right arm, and the second goal, which slid underneath his right hand. Could do little about the third goal, but this was a poor night for the Frenchman. PA

Japhet Tanganga 6 – Tottenham’s defence looked disjointed but Tanganga at right back was tough in the tackle and enjoyed a good battle with Raheem Sterling in the first half. PA

Davinson Sanchez 6 –Got turned too easily for City’s third but earlier made two crucial blocks, first to deny Gabriel Jesus and then again to prevent Gundogan. Reuters

Eric Dier 5 – Returned to the side for the first time since the game against Chelsea but had a poor evening. He did well to stop Jesus early on but struggled to keep up with City’s movement. PA

Ben Davies 4 – Struggled first against Phil Foden and then, when they swapped wings, Raheem Sterling. A torrid evening. PA

Tanguy Ndombele 6 – The Frenchman was isolated in the middle when attempting to get forward. He had a shot blocked and was moved forward before being subbed. EPA

Pierre Emile Hojbjerg 5 – Like Ndombele, he could do little to stop City’s midfield running riot. It was his challenge on Gundogan that gave City the chance to take the lead from the spot. PA

Erik Lamela 5 –A poor performance. He started the game brightly but did little to help those in front of him. Couldn’t be faulted for effort, but was just lacking in quality. Getty

Lucas Moura 5 – Played in the no.10 position but didn’t influence the play in City’s half. He was substituted at the break. PA

Son Heung-Min 5 – A rare quiet game in which he struggled to have an impact at all in and around the City box. Was cut off on the left. AFP

Harry Kane 6 – Struck the post with a free-kick inside the first 13 minutes and continued to work hard to make things happen despite being isolated. His hold-up play was surprisingly disappointing. EPA

Moussa Sissoko (Moura, 46) 5 – Came on at the break to allow Ndombele to move further forward, and then had his hands full as City dominated. AFP

Dele Alli (Ndombele, 64) 5 – Came on for the last 26 minutes in the hole behind Kane and Son, but couldn’t influence the match or support the front two. Reuters

Gareth Bale (Lamela, 72) N/A – Came close to a late goal after a mazy run and shot that forced Ederson into a save. In fact, he had more shots (2) than any other Spurs player. AP

Manchester City's relentless march towards reclaiming the Premier League title continued with a 3-0 romp over Tottenham.

In-form Ilkay Gundogan scored twice for City, who have won 11 Premier League games in a row.

The German took his tally to 11 league goals this season as he struck twice in the second half after Rodri's first-half penalty, following a foul on Gundogan by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, had given Pep Guardiola's side the lead.

Victory put City on 53 points, seven clear of second-placed Leicester, and with a game in hand.

The only slight worry for Guardiola, whose side have won 16 times in a row in all competitions, was that Gundogan was substituted in the 69th because of a tight groin.

Although with striker Sergio Aguero among the City substitutes after an 11-game absence due to Covid-19 it left Guardiola a happy man.

"It was well deserved, they hit the post and that can turn the game but the way we wanted to play was there," Guardiola, said. "Tottenham have special quality, we have played well against them in the past and lost 2-0."

That 2-0 defeat at Tottenham in November put Jose Mourinho's side top of the league but the north London club's form has disappeared and they were outplayed despite Harry Kane hitting the post with a free kick when it was 0-0.

Tottenham are ninth after losing four of their last five league games and Mourinho was left grasping at straws.

"We were punished by what I call the modern penalty," Mourinho said. "The penalty you cannot deny there was a contact but now in modern football every contact is a penalty."