Live Commentary: Manchester City 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.


Since their perfect early-season run, the wheels have come off for the Citizens and they are now in a battle to hold down a Champions League spot - forget the title.

It is Spurs who are now the side enjoying an upwards trajectory towards top spot, but they still trail leaders Chelsea by seven points despite a run of six wins on the bounce in the top flight.

Follow all of the action as it unfolds with our extensive updates below.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

MANCHESTER CITY: Bravo, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Kolarov. Clichy, Toure, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Kompany, Fernando, Nolito, Delph, Stones, Jesus





TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Wanyama, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Kane

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBS: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Carter-Vickers, Winks, Sissoko, Son

Referee Andre Marriner, who will likely make the headlines after his refusal to award Manchester City a penalty at a pivotal moment in the game, blows his whistle for full time. A shame it had to end, really, because the second half was incredibly open and could have gone either way once Tottenham Hotspur had levelled. In the end 2-2 will suit the visitors far more than their opponents, who were the better side overall. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!



90+4 min FULL TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

90+2 min A couple of crosses into the box for Lloris to collect, as City resign themselves to being held to a draw. A brilliant second half, and a half-decent opening 45 minutes, but it is looking as though the spoils will be shared.

90 min MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Delph is reportedly close to leaving Man City - well he has been brought on for these final stages, taking the place of Silva. Four minutes of added time to be played at the Etihad Stadium.

88 min Things have calmed down a little over the past few moments, but it is still City who are in the ascendancy. Get the impression that Spurs are more than happy with the point, having been far from their best for large parts.


86 min MANCHESTER CITY SUB! John Stones is on for Clichy for these final four minutes or so. This has been an enthralling second half at the Etihad Stadium, but unfortunately time is fast running out for a dramatic fifth goal.

84 min GOAL DISALLOWED! OH MY! Almost the dream debut moment for Jesus, who slid in at the back post to seemingly put City ahead. The youngster celebrated for a good 10 seconds before spotting to offside, which was correctly raised.

82 min MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Gabriel Jesus makes his long-awaited debut for City, taking over from Sterling. Almost an instant impact from him, as his silky footwork tees up a chance, before heading over when the ball came back in.

80 min Sissoko was brought on for Dembele in the aftermath of that Spurs goal. It is the Lilywhites who are attacking for what would surely be a winner, but Dier failed to find a way through when meeting a corner with his head. What a finale we are in for!


78 min Guardiola is fuming! Already unhappy about that huge penalty call - which replays show referee Andre Marriner got incorrect - Spurs were up the other end and levelling just 67 seconds later. Kane set up the goal with a brilliant little flick, allowing Son to sweep home the equaliser.

77 min GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (SON HEUNG-MIN)

75 min PENALTY APPEAL! Huge moment in the match as Sterling, clean through on goal, is matched for pace by Walker who appeared to shove him in the back. Referee Marriner felt otherwise, and the Englishman did still manage to get a tame shot away.

73 min De Bruyne charges down Rose's clearance and comes out on top in that battle, but once again he failed to pick out a teammate when getting the ball into the box. City have been the better side overall since Tottenham's goal.


71 min  Too many options for Man City in the end, as three players are all waiting for the ball. Aguero slips in De Bruyne down the right, who saw his cross headed clear to the fury of Guardiola - the Catalan knows his side must do better in those positions.

69 min Spurs looking far more dangerous in this second half compared to the first. Alli was so nearly played through on goal, with City now the side more vulnerable to being picked off at the back. This game surely has a fourth goal in it.

67 min TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! A real worry for Tottenham, as Alderweireld has just pulled up with a hamstring injury. Harry Winks is on in his place, with Pochettino opting not to go with the more obvious replacement in Ben Davies. Wanyama will perhaps shuffle into defence.

65 min PENALTY APPEAL! Superb piece of play from the hosts, starting in midfield as Silva picks out Toure, who in turn finds De Bruyne in the hole. The Belgian decided against the shot and instead picked out the run of Sterling in behind, but Rose produced a big challenge to thwart him. Good decision, ref!


63 min Son almost times his run to perfection, latching on to a through-ball but being flagged. Zabaleta stepped up just in time so that was the correct call from the linesman. Son should have been cautioned for taking on the shot long after the whistle went.

61 min A carbon-copy of the gap we witnessed at Anfield earlier, with the game bursting into life early in the second half. Three goals in the space of 13 minutes since the restart, and this one is certainly not over just yet with half-hour to go.

59 min One attempt on target from Tottenham, and now a breakthrough goal for them - time to update those Bravo stats that have been doing the rounds. It was a brilliantly worked goal for the visitors, as Alli timed his run to perfection to nod home Walker's cross.

58 min GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (DELE ALLI)

57 min Lloris has now conceded 13 goals in four Premier League appearances here; not always his fault, but both of today's goals certainly were. City certainly good value for their two-goal advantage against a below-par Spurs.

55 min It is turning into one of those days for Hugo Lloris. All eyes on Claudio Bravo pre-match, but the Frenchman has had a stinker in the opening 10 minutes of this half. After being at fault for the first, Lloris fumbled the ball and De Bruyne was the latest to pounce from close range - his first league goal since September.


54 min GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (KEVIN DE BRUYNE)

52 min Replays show that the ball hit Sane's hand before he rolled it into the net - a difficult one for the referee and his officials to spot. Alli is shown the game's fourth yellow card for shoving Otamendi off the ball, and the City defender also cautioned presumably for dissent.

50 min Manchester City take a deserved lead at the Etihad Stadium through a simple goal for Leroy Sane. Sweeper keeper Lloris rushed off his line in an attempt to head clear a ball over the top, but he could only head into the chest of Sane, who then had the task of rolling the ball into the net.

49 min GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (LEROY SANE)

48 min Spurs have attempted more shot on target than any other side in the Premier League this season, but they have yet to test Bravo so far today. Only twice have they failed to find the net in the top flight in 2016-17.

46 min RESTART! Manchester City get us back under way at the Etihad Stadium, looking to build on what was a decent first-half showing. Tottenham Hotspur have made a change at the break, bringing on Son for Wimmer - a change of system, too.


The visitors struggled to truly get going in the first half, constantly finding themselves open at the back for Man City's attacker to take advantage of. Pablo Zabaleta was the first home player to come close to a breakthrough, only for his shot to be brilliantly blocked by Toby Alderweireld in front of goal, while Sergio Aguero sent a shot over the bar from just inside the box.

45+2 min HALF TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 0-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

45 min Two minutes of added time shown by the fourth official, so still time for a side to find a breakthrough goal. Aleksandar Kolarov has just been shown a yellow card - the last piece of meaningful action of the half as the referee is about the blow.


43 min A small shout for a City penalty waved away by Andre Marriner. Lloris taking his time to distribute the ball, which says it all - Spurs will be delighted to hear that half-time whistle in a couple of minutes' time.


41 min Dele Alli attempts to slide the ball through for Kane - near enough the first time they have linked up today - but Clichy got across well to cover. Four minutes until half time and it is City who will be the more aggrieved not to be ahead.

39 min SHOT! The hosts well and truly dominating things now, as Lloris elects to punch clear a Sterling shot. The Lilywhites are incredibly open, with Pochettino no doubt hoping for that half-time whistle at this moment in time.

37 min SAVE! Plenty of gaps opening up at the back now for City to capitalise on, which is so unlike Spurs. Aguero is enjoying himself at the moment, with his shot from an angle being kept out by Lloris at his near post.

35 min SAVE! Lloris with his heart in his mouth for a moment, as his pass to Walker on the right-hand side was rather underhit. The Frenchman did well to keep out Sergio Aguero's header from eight yards out in the next attacking move.

33 min Danny Rose is currently receiving some treatment after a collision inside the box. Does not appear to be too serious, though, and he should be fine to continue after a short breather. Davies warming-up just in case.

31 minCHANCE! Spurs are hit on the counter but they are let off by City, who take the wrong option and see the move break down. From the next ball into the box, Sane directed the ball wide of the target when he really should have been testing Lloris.

29 min A nice piece of play from Wanyama to control the ball, yet his shot was rather poor and ended well over Bravo's goal. The under-fire City keeper has had very little to do all evening, which is a tad surprising because he is there to be targeted.

27 min Spurs yet to really get out of first gear as we approach the half-hour mark; the odd glimpse of quality in attack but certainly nothing sustained. City looking the better team overall, albeit having only tested Lloris on one occasion.

25 min A few challenges flying in over the past few minutes to break up play. Dier was caught in possession a few moments ago but De Bruyne could only drag his attempt wide of the target from a difficult angle.

23 min Both managers shouting out instructions on the touchline, aiming to get their message across. Seen plenty of action in the opening quarter of the match, with Silva's shot - pushed aside by Lloris down to his left - the closest we have come to a breakthrough.

21 min Alli slipped through on goal, only for the offside flag to go up on the far side. The midfielder had to leave that for Kane, who had timed his run far better and would have been onside. Still, that is better from Tottenham.

19 min CLOSE! Zabaleta inches away from a top-class opener, with his shot from the edge of the box - after being teed up from a corner - ending narrowly wide of the post. City coming closer and closer to finding a breakthrough.

17 min SAVE! The first shot on target of the match at the Etihad Stadium, as Silva sends a swerving effort towards the bottom corner. It was a top save from Lloris, who had to get down to his left to push it aside for a corner kick.

15 min Tottenham started brightly enough but it is the hosts who have been on top for the past 10 minutes. The best chance of the match so far fell the way of Zabaleta of all people, though he was thwarted by Alderweireld right in front of goal.

13 min YELLOW CARD! A second caution in quick succession for Spurs, as Dier joins Wimmer in the book for pulling back on his man. From the free kick Otamendi peeled away at the back post but failed to find a teammate with his first-time pass.


11 min SHOT! City the team on top now, as Aguero blasts the ball narrowly over the bar from 18 yards out. Good advantage played by Andre Marriner after Wimmer took out his opponent to earn himself an early yellow card.

9 min BLOCK! Alderweireld gets across well to clear the ball away for throw, preventing Aguero from potentially getting in behind. The Belgian then produced a superb challenge on Zabaleta, who was slipped through on goal.

7 min A decent start to the match from a neutral's perspective, which was always likely a match that pits together two teams targeting three points. Andre Marriner the referee today, incidentally - the same official who was in the middle for the reverse fixture in October.

5 min City carve Tottenham open at the back with a slick piece of passing play, but Sterling takes the ball wide and fails to even get a shot away in the end. Rose was desperate not to let him on his stronger foot and he succeeded in doing so.

3 min Rose sends in a teasing cross that was crying out for a touch, but none of his teammates could get on the end of it. That has proved to be the most threatening moment so far, with Tottenham making a bright start to the match.


1 min KICKOFF We are up and running at the Etihad Stadium, where the visitors have made a positive start in the opening stages. The Lilywhites have a good recent record in this fixture, but going further back they have lost five of the last six games here.