Spurs player ratings from Tottenham’s fantastic win versus Manchester City
By Aaron Coe
Rating Spurs Midfield
The Tottenham Hotspur midfield was the game’s story, with the four-man unit all putting in incredible shifts across the entire pitch, putting Spurs in the position to win.
Ivan Perisic – 7
The Croatian winger put in his typical Tottenham shift. Ivan Perisic did his part on defense and produced several crosses but missed his best chance of the game. Perisic played the right ball but too far in front of Kane during a second-half counterattack, and the opportunity was lost.
Rodrigo Bentancur – 8
Outside of a yellow card that was pillow soft, costing him some of his defensive aggression, Rodrigo Bentancur was brilliant in the midfield. Whether it was tackling the ball or pulling off some of the niftiest touches to create space you have ever seen, Bentancur was the perfect balance between defense and attack, making the midfield his.
Pierre Hojbjerg – 8.5
One of the reasons Bentancur was able to find some space in the midfield was the success of his partner, Pierre Hojbjerg. The Danish destroyer produced the most critical moment of the match, stepping up in the attacking third to intercept the ball, then drawing two defenders before pushing a pass across to Kane for the game’s only goal. Hojbjerg also produced a beautiful chip goal after the whistle when he was called offside. Regardless, it will give Ederson and other goalkeepers something to think about moving forward.
Emerson Royal – 8
With Matt Doherty gone and the new threat of Pedro Porro real, Emerson Royal produced perhaps his best, most complete game as a Tottenham player. Royal was all over the right flank, being as likely to defend on his end-line as he was to have the ball trying to do something on City’s. Royal and Grealish were in a real gambit all day. Despite all Grealish did, the Brazilian got the best of the battle.