Manchester City marched to their 16th successive league win as they thumped Tottenham to extend their Premier League lead to 14 points.
City took the lead when Ilkay Gundogan headed in from Leroy’s Sane’s corner before Kevin de Bruyne smashed home the second after the break.
Raheem Sterling tapped in for 3-0 from Sane’s pass and added his second when he slotted under keeper Hugo Lloris.
Christian Eriksen fired in a consolation for Spurs in stoppage time.
READ: Southampton poor run continue as Marcos Alonso hand Chelsea three points
City could have had another but Gabriel Jesus missed a penalty with the score at 2-0.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola singled out De Bruyne for praise as he highlighted the Belgium international’s work without the ball, calling it “a good example for the young players, for our academy”.
“They know how good Kevin De Bruyne is and when they see how he runs and fights without the ball, that is the best example,” added Guardiola.
“He helps us to be a better club, a better institution for the future, because that is what we want to do. His performance, I have no words to describe what he has done with the ball.
“And overall, without the ball, he is able to make pressure from 40 metres to the goalkeeper. And when that happens, the people who are behind him think ‘if that guy runs like this, I have to run as well’.”
How can anyone stop Manchester City?
It is the question being asked on a weekly basis – and no-one is any nearer finding the answer after another imperious performance from a City side who are surely now too far ahead to be caught in the Premier League title race.
Jose Mourinho went for a cautious approach with Manchester United in Sunday’s derby at Old Trafford and was unpicked by the magic of David Silva as City won 2-1.
Silva was absent here and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham adopted a more positive outlook – but this time the brilliant De Bruyne was the inspiration as another method was tried and failed against Guardiola’s almost flawless side.
City swarmed all over Spurs, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris often put under pressure in possession and in the end it was quite simply all too much for Pochettino’s side, as it has been for pretty much everyone this season.
Only Everton have taken a point against City this season with a 1-1 draw in the second league game of the season at Etihad Stadium – and it is difficult to see how this winning run can be stopped as they play with such threat and variety.
Even when City are threatened, Guardiola has successfully solved a problem which dogged his first season at the club with the acquisition of an excellent goalkeeper in Brazilian Ederson.
When Spurs looked dangerous for a brief period at the start of the second half, Ederson made a superb flying save to his right from Harry Kane.
If there is a weakness in this City side no-one has yet found it.
