Manchester City overcame Tottenham 1-0 at Etihad to exact revenge for their Champions League exit as Phil Foden’s goal move them back the top of the table on Saturday.
City surged one point ahead of title contenders Liverpool once more with four games of a titanic title race left for both sides.
For their Champions League semi-final success, Tottenham still have much to do to qualify for the competition next season as they could easily end the Easter weekend outside the top four should Arsenal and Chelsea beat Crystal Palace and Burnley at home respectively.
City’s quest for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies was ended by defeat on away goals to Spurs on Wednesday, despite winning a thrilling quarter-final, second leg 4-3.
However, they remain on course for a first-ever treble of domestic trophies in England as they survived a nervy finale thanks to another blistering start.
Foden was making just his second Premier League start and immediately justified Guardiola’s faith in him by heading home Sergio Aguero’s headed pass across goal from Bernardo Silva’s cross.
Before Pep Guadiola men went ahead through Foden, Spurs had squandered an opportunity when Son Heung-min forced Ederson in a smart save from a narrow-angle.
The Brazilian goalkeeper had to rush from his goal once more to deny Christian Eriksen an equaliser on 15 minutes.
Two minutes later the Dane played provider with a glorious ball to free Son in behind the City defence.
However, the South Korean, who scored twice in midweek to end City’s European dreams for another season, was caught up just in time by Aymeric Laporte, who made a perfectly timed last-ditch tackle.
Despite Tottenham’s chances on the break, it was the hosts who were still dominating territory and possession with Bernardo Silva a constant threat.
Spurs were without captain Hugo Lloris through injury and his understudy Paulo Gazzaniga looked nervous early on, but the Argentine goalkeeper got down to save Silva’s next effort.
Guardiola’s decision to leave Kevin de Bruyne out for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between the sides was doubly questioned after the Belgian bagged a brilliant hat-trick of assists in midweek.
However, Guardiola’s reasoning for being cautious with his play-maker after an injury-plagued season was understandable as De Bruyne limped off again just before the break and could miss the rest of the campaign.
Liverpool will take on Cardiff on Sunday knowing well that a win will return them to the top of the table as the rat race continue between the two teams.
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