Premier League Round-Up: Spurs and Kane stun City to shake up the betting

“Despite the loss, City remain title favourites. Guardiola’s side can be backed at 1.292/7 on the Betfair Exchange in the Premier League Winner market. But their lead at the top is down to six points, which could be halved if second-placed Liverpool win their game in hand versus Leeds United on Wednesday.”

Last summer, Manchester City earmarked Harry Kane as the man who could make them an even-more-dominant force in the Premier League, only to fail in their attempts to land the Tottenham striker. On Saturday evening, the England captain showed Pep Guardiola exactly what he is missing by dealing the reigning champions a dramatic, concussive blow to their title defence.

Spurs struck early, when Kane’s stunning, swept left-footed pass from the middle of the pitch sent Son Heung-min racing through on Ederson’s goal. The South Korean forward unselfishly fed Dejan Kulusevski, making his first start since sealing a January loan move from Juventus, who slid the ball into the gaping net in just the fourth minute.

City levelled half an hour later. Hugo Lloris spilled Raheem Sterling‘s dipping centre at the feet of Ilkay Gundogan, and the German midfielder tucked away the loose ball.

Although City dominated possession throughout – with a 70 per cent share of the ball – Antonio Conte‘s side were a continual threat on the counter. Their lead was restored when, in the 59th minute, Kane expertly half-volleyed a Son cross into the top corner.

And City’s top transfer target from last summer could have put the Londoners out of sight but for a fine Ederson save from a clear, one-on-one chance, before having third goal scratched off when VAR found Kulusevski to have been offside in the build-up.

It looked like heartbreak for Spurs a minute into stoppage time, when VAR again intervened to their detriment, finding Christian Romero guilty of a handball in the box. Riyad Mahrez slammed what appeared to be a point-saving penalty into the top corner.

But there was drama left on this Etihad evening, as Kane rose above Kyle Walker to power a header beyond Ederson in the fourth additional minute, giving Spurs a first league win in four games and handing City their first defeat in the Premier League since October.

Despite the loss, City remain title favourites. Guardiola’s side can be backed at 1.292/7 on the Betfair Exchange in the Premier League Winner market. But their lead at the top is down to six points, which could be halved if second-placed Liverpool win their game in hand versus Leeds United on Wednesday.

The Reds won earlier in the day on Saturday to keep up the pressure on City. Struggling Norwich took an unlikely lead at Anfield through a heavily deflected Milot Rashica effort. But goals from Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz ensured a comfortable victory for the home side.

Liverpool can be backed at 4.57/2 on the Exchange to claim a 20th top-flight title this term.

Chelsea, meanwhile, remain a distant third, despite beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, with Hakim Ziyech scoring the game’s only goal in the 89th minute.

The Blues also hold a game in hand over City, but they currently sit 13 points off top spot. Chelsea can be backed on the Exchange at 120119/1 for the title this season.

Top-four tussle

That much-needed victory has not only reignited the title race but also Tottenham‘s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Spurs are seven points outside fourth spot at present, but they hold three games in hand of the current occupants of the final Champions League-qualifying berth, Manchester United. Tottenham can be backed at 3.412/5 on the Exchange in the Top 4 Finish market.

United earned some breathing space from the chasing pack on Sunday, beating Leeds 4-2 in an exhilarating encounter at Elland Road.

Ralf Rangnick’s Red Devils assumed a 2-0 first-half lead – through headers from Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes – before being pegged back by a pair of strikes early in the second period, first a looping Rodrigo cross/shot that flummoxed David de Gea, then an equaliser from substitute Raphinha.

The away side regained their lead through a rasping Fred effort on 70 minutes and then made sure of three points thanks to young winger Anthony Elanga‘s low finish after a sublime Fernandes turn on the edge of the box.

United now sit four points clear of fifth-placed West Ham. They can be backed at 2.727/4 on the Betfair Exchange in the Top 4 Finish market.

Arsenal are sitting pretty to emerge as United’s prime rivals for fourth. Although they are still four points behind the Red Devils after a 2-1 win over Brentford at the Emirates on Monday, they have played three games fewer.

The Gunners are 2.265/4 on the Exchange to finish inside the top four this season.

And surprise package Wolves – whose 2-1 Sunday win at home to Leicester means they’ve now won five of their last six Premier League matches – could pull level with United if they win their two games in hand.

Wolves can be backed at 1413/1 on the Exchange for what would be a thoroughly unexpected top-four finish.