Emotional Mahrez scores for Man City in Tottenham

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 MANCHESTER CITY 1

Oct. 29 (Reuters) – Manchester City are back at the top of the Premier League with a 0-1 goal difference to Tottenham Hotspur, fifth, thanks to a quick goal from Riyad Mahrez in Wembley Stadium on Monday.

It was not the fluid city of today and Tottenham will surely miss some good chances of saving something from a disjointed affair on a mosaic ground in a half empty Wembley.

Mahrez was cold in Tottenham's eyes in the sixth minute after a defensive error, but despite City's dominance, he missed his clinical advantage on a surface that seemed more appropriate for American football after an NFL match a day earlier.

Both David Silva and Mahrez could have placed the game beyond Tottenham, but the hosts, who have won four games in the league and could have outstripped City by a win, have always been a threat.

Dele Alli came back from a hamstring injury for Tottenham and his arrival as a substitute triggered a late pressure during which Erik Lamela missed a glorious opportunity to tie up.

City held on for the sixth time without fault of his opponent in the Premier League. They both have 26 points while Tottenham has 21 points.

After the tragic events of Saturday, in which Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, died alongside four others in a helicopter crash in front of King Power Stadium, it made sense that Mahrez, a hero of the 2016 season, wins the match.

The match only had six minutes when City goalkeeper, Ederson, threw the ball forward and that Spurs' right-back, Kieran Trippier, lost his head. This left Raheem Sterling, who prepared Mahrez to send Hugo Lloris home.

The Algerian celebrated poignantly by raising both arms to the sky.

"I am very very sad. That's why, when I scored, I put my hands in the sky for him, "said Mahrez, voted PFA Player of the Year after the superb Leicester title in 2016, about the death of Vichai.

"He did a lot for me and Leicester and it's hard to talk about that. It's very sad. "

City coach Pep Guardiola said there would be no chance of leaving Mahrez out.

"Sometimes playing in a big game helps," he said. "He did really well, he was focused and did a great job."

The Spurs seemed to lack confidence in opening and City threatened every time.

Mahrez got another Lloris shot on the post, while Silva shot directly at the French goalkeeper.

However, City's defense was sometimes sloppy and Tottenham striker Harry Kane missed a shot, but his shot dropped after Lamela had countered after a mistake by Aymeric Laporte.

At half-time, a message was sent to Spurs' maestro Glenn Hoddle, who had suffered a heart attack, and Mauricio Pochettino's team could have used Hoddle's flair.

City should have buried the hosts in the 55th minute when Bernardo Silva played in the same name as David, but the Spanish inexplicably chose not to shoot with the gaping goal, leaving Guardiola angry.

Sterling was also guilty of a miss, but Tottenham grew in conviction and when Alli rolled the ball across the surface for an unmarked Lamela, the Argentinian seemed ready to tie but lifted his shot from the left foot on the crossbar.