ERLING HAALAND'S lethal early strike ended Tottenham's three-game winning run as Manchester City returned to the top four. Jeremy Doku regularly tormented Spurs, who remain 13th. Tottenham chief Ange Postecoglou sprung a surprise with his team selection, benching Dejan Kulusevski, captain Son Heung-min and the in-form Djed Spence.
![[Erling Haaland and Manchester City teammates celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/erling-haaland-manchester-city-fc-975390811.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
But it was City who started the stronger, with Haaland a meance. However, Doku was the main menace, consistently running at Pedro Porro. And in the 12th minute the Spanish right-back gave the winger too much room, with Doku threading a pass for Haaland to finish neatly.
![[Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur manager, looking dejected.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-tottenham-hotspur-manager-ange-975386410.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Belgian wideman then forced Guglielmo Vicario into a fine low save. And City could have been out of sight by the interval. Kevin Danso finally forced Ederson into a fine tip-over after the break. But City immediately swept the length of the pitch, with Haaland going close again.
![[Erling Haaland scoring a goal for Manchester City.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/erling-haaland-manchester-city-scores-975387464.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Spurs fans were unhappy to see James Maddison hauled off in favour of Timo Werner, who's been out for a month following a thigh injury. Haaland then wriggled through to slide the ball home four minutes into stoppage time, with the on-field decision to rule it out for handball backed by VAR.
![[Mathys Tel of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mathys-tel-tottenham-hotspur-reacts-975402819.jpg?strip=all&w=686)
