Johnny Nicholson: For once, City match Liverpool in the thriller stakes, while United show grit 

Weekend talking points from the Premier League

Manchester United's Harry Maguire celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire 

Spurs get their Spursiness on 

The game of the week, of the month, of the year so far. You couldn’t say Manchester City didn’t deserve to win this mad game, they did, but they couldn’t. Spurs are their bogey team — City having won only one in the last five against them. So it didn’t matter that Spurs tried to gift them the game with a goalkeeping error and a penalty. It didn’t matter that at one point City had 90% possession for 10 minutes. It didn’t matter that Tottenham looked quite aimless much of the time. It didn’t matter that they largely relied on Harry Kane to just do something. Because this time, he absolutely did. Kane, maybe keen to prove what City are missing, was especially terrific all game, somehow playing as defensive organiser, midfield playmaker and ruthless striker all rolled into one. He scored two and had a third VAR-ed out. They would not, could not, be beaten and so, maybe inevitably, scored the winner in the 95th minute. Ironically, Kane was exactly the sort of player who can play anywhere and do anything that the City boss so loves. If only all City’s games were as good as this. If only all Spurs games were as good as this.