Cherki fires Manchester City 1-0 up at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Manchester City lead Tottenham 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Rayan Cherki scored in the 11th minute of the 4.30pm (GMT) kick-off, the live coverage reports. The live blog describes a simple move: Bissouma was robbed in midfield, Erling Haaland moved the ball to Cherki on the right and the Frenchman picked his spot; the shot took a slight nick and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was not close to saving it.

The report called the goal “so so easy”. Tottenham set up in a three-at-the-back shape with Palhinha deployed as a third centre-back and Archie Gray as a wing-back, while City started with Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, Aït-Nouri; Rodri, O’Reilly, Bernardo Silva; Cherki, Haaland and Semenyo.

The live pre-match coverage lists numerous Spurs absentees, including Maddison, Kulusevski, Kudus, van de Ven, Bentancur, Bergvall, Porro and Davies, and quotes Thomas Frank: “We are hit pretty hard by injuries… but it’s part of the game, we have to find solutions.” Earlier in the game Antoine Semenyo had a shot saved by Vicario, and the live commentary says Tottenham’s pressing has been inconsistent while City play a high line.

The report notes it was “deafeningly quiet” at the stadium after the goal and suggests City could get a second if they want to, attributing that assessment to the live coverage.

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