Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Manchester City: Premier League result as Erling Haaland strike seals all three points

Erling Haaland marked his return with a defining goal as Manchester City sealed a 1-0 win over Tottenham to move above Chelsea and back into the top four.

The Norwegian had been nursing a minor knee injury but was fit to start and wasted no time in showing just how valuable he is to Pep Guardiola’s side.

After having an earlier shot well saved by Guglielmo Vicario, Haaland made no mistake when Jeremy Doku put it on a plate for him in the 12th minute, casually finding the corner and wrong-footing the Spurs keeper.

The hosts rode their luck in the first half and were lucky to go in at the break trailing by just one goal, with Savinho and Haaland missing big opportunities to give City’s lead a more deserving look, but they came out revived for the second period.

The intensity that had been missing was back and the crowd responded in kind. City players who had looked so composed suddenly seemed shell-shocked and could barely string more than a few passes together.

Wilson Odobert had the best of the Spurs chances in the 56th minute after Pedro Porro’s pinpoint delivery, but he couldn’t direct his sliding first-time effort on target to trouble Ederson.

Changes helped City weather the storm and it looked for all the world like Haaland had made it two in the final minute of stoppage time, only for the referee to controversially chalk it off for handball.

After a lengthy VAR check, there was time for one final piece of drama. Brennan Johnson delivered a perfect cross into the box, but Pape Matar Sarr blazed his header over the bar with the goal at his mercy as City survived to secure the three points.

City host Plymouth Argyle next in the FA Cup fifth round before taking on Nottingham Forest, while Spurs will look to bounce back against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League ahead of the visit of Bournemouth.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Pep Guardiola said: "Happy for the victory, for the three points, because we need it. It is a business.

"The second half was open because we didn't close the game in the first. We had too many clear chances, and for the quality they have you have to convert. And unfortunately, it could not happen.

"We knew in the middle of the second half how we were going to suffer, but we did it. The guys fought a lot, and, yeah, really pleased, because always here is a difficult, difficult place to come."

On Haaland's disallowed goal, he added: "I didn't see it, but the referee was much, much quicker to disallow the goal than the VAR. So he was clever and quick, but yeah, like we won is fine, but at the end, they have another chance at the end, so it's difficult."

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Reflecting on the game, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou told TNT Sports: "First half was difficult. They obviously had the ascendancy and score. [They] had some good chances where we sort of hang in there, but yeah, full second half we kind of dominated and just missing a goal to get something out of the game."

On the VAR drama: "Yeah, I don't know what the VAR was about. I think if it takes that long to figure out something, I thought we were always going to refer to his decision anyway. I hate standing around. I'd rather watch football."

And on how Spurs managed to turn the game around, he added: "I don’t think anything changed. We knew that City would come out pretty strong, but we also knew that we would finish strong, so it was a matter of hanging in there.

"First half, I thought we just gave the ball away, were wasteful with the ball, and allowed them to get some control, which you don't want to do against City.

"But second half we were much better. We dominated the ball, dominated territory, sort of pinned them back. And what I said, just missing a goal."

Asked by TNT Sports about his disallowed goal, player of the match Erling Haaland said: "I think it's the wrong decision. Clearly, I think it's more of a penalty than a free-kick. But I think because he gave the decision on the pitch, I think that's a bit of the reason why he stood with the decision.

"I don't know, but I don't think that should ever be disallowed.

"That was a great goal so it’s sad. I think it's more of a penalty."

On his record-setting exploits, he added: "Of course, it's nice to hear you say that now, obviously, but again, when you’re in the moment, you don't really think of it.

"In my first season in City was all talk about getting the most goals in the season, but I couldn't think of that, because all I wanted was to win games, to win to win the league.

"So, of course, nice after but that's not my kind of focus. My focus is to try to help the team win. I know it's kind of boring to say, but that's true.

"It's nice to score goals, but we win and that's what really matters."

After a dramatic finish, the full-time whistle is blown. It's a huge three points for Man City, who move above Chelsea and back into fourth.

For Spurs, they will be ruing a raft of missed chances in the second half that could have changed the game in their favour.

We'll have all the reaction next.

The goal has been ruled out and Spurs go up the other end. It's a free header for Sarr but his header is over the bar from close range. What a finish that would have been.

The ball looks like it comes off the arm of Gray and then the top of Haaland’s arm. It’s more of a shoulder than a hand, so I think this one will stand.

Haaland links up with Foden, rides two challenges and then pokes it past Vicario. The fans aren’t happy and neither is Postecoglou, who believes there was a handball in the build-up.

It is going to be checked.

Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan are on for the final 60 second.

Johnson, Son and Kulusevski link up to launch a Spurs attack but City do well to recover. The visitors then try to break themselves before the ball goes out for a throw-in.

There will be four minutes of added time. City have control again and should see this one out.

James McAtee replaces Savinho to get a run out here.

Bergvall loses the ball and City pounce. Haaland finds Savinho on the right, who cuts in to shoot, but Danso just about does enough with his slide tackle to avert the danger.

Sarr shoves Foden, who makes the most of it to wind the clock down. The Spurs man receives the first yellow of the game for his trouble.

Bernardo Silva is dispossessed all too easily and Spurs break. Johnson gets the better of Kovacic and picks out Son, whose first-time shot is superbly saved by Ederson.

Another change for Spurs as Maddison makes way for Timo Werner. Boos can be heard – it’s clearly not a popular sub.

Guardiola’s changes appear to have given City a little more control. The Spaniard is cutting anything but a controlled figure on the touchline, screaming orders at his players.

Will City suffer another late collapse here? We’re into the final 10 minutes of normal time.

Here's a look at the chance missed by Wilson Odobert earlier in the half.

Johnson strides up the right and finds Kulusevski in the middle, but he can’t bring the ball under control and the chance is gone.

Maddison, behind him, was in bags of space and would have had a great chance to score had Kulusevski let it go.