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Premier League

Manchester City - Tottenham: Guardiola's side back to the top of the table

Man City vs Tottenham live stream online: follow all the action from the Etihad stadium (Manchester) as Pep Guardiola's side welcome Spurs with a 13:30 CEST kick-off.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 20:   Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on April 20, 2019 in Manches
Shaun BotterillGetty Images

Manchester City-Tottenham: as it happened

It was far from pretty at times and as the clock ticked down at the end of the 90 minutes it was a sheer backs to the wall effort from the home side as Spurs ended the game with three strikers (Llorente, Moura and Son) on the pitch.

Ultimately, City withheld and Pep Guardiola's men secured three valuable points that see the Manchester side leap back to the summit of the Premier League table a point ahead of Liverpool who travel to relegation threatened Cardiff City tomorrow. 

Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham
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Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and TottenhamShaun BotterillGetty Images

Any early tension at the Etihad soon evaporated as Phil Froden headed home in the fifth minute and for the first period City were the stronger side with Tottenham's chances coming through breakaways from Son. 

The match lacked the tension and passion so apparent on Wednesday's Champions League epic encounter and Spurs clearly had future appointments in mind with their UCL semi-final looming.         

Manchester City-Tottenham: preview

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said his players will not forget their painful Champions League loss to Tottenham Hotspur but expects them to show the same intensity as they face the north London club again today.

City's quadruple bid ended when they went out of Europe on the away goals rule on Wednesday, despite winning 4-3 win at the Etihad Stadium, after the two-legged quarter-final tie finished 4-4 on aggregate.

Guardiola's side thought a late goal from Raheem Sterling had earned them a place in the semi-finals but the effort was ruled out after a video assistant referee (VAR) review confirmed that Sergio Aguero was offside in the build-up.

"You believe it doesn't hurt or I've forgotten it? I would say no," Guardiola told reporters on Friday. "I don't want the players to forget what they live. I don't want to see my players saying it doesn't matter. I want to see them react to the hurt. What we lived last Wednesday in terms of emotion, or just simple life, was incredible. We are fortunate, lucky to live it. More than 65,000 people enjoying the most exciting moment, and then in one second everybody is devastated."

City are returning to domestic league action where they are two points behind leaders Liverpool, although Guardiola's men have a game in hand and can seal back-to-back titles if they win their remaining five matches.

"I think the game against Spurs will be just as intense as the other day," the Spanish coach added.

"We are going to attack in a more positional game but attacking against Spurs is not easy. They are an incredible, top team as you've seen in the last games, but we are going to try".

Guardiola also dismissed the suggestion that missing out on the European semi-final with Ajax Amsterdam will help City in their bid to become the first team in a decade to defend the Premier League title.

"I would prefer to be in the semi-final of the Champions League," Guardiola said. In November and December like Liverpool went out in the Carabao (League) Cup and FA Cup early that's an advantage for rest, not now."