Philippa Kaur

THIS was supposed to be the day Manchester City were celebrating.Celebrating the news that their all-conquering boss, Pep Guardiola was staying for another two seasons after agreeing to a new deal.James Maddison scored twice in seven minutes for TottenhamCredit: GettyHe broke the deadlock after getting on the end of a brilliant Dejan Kulusevski passCredit: APMaddison then lifted a superb finish over Ederson to double Spurs’ leadCredit: GettyMan City will be eight points adrift of Liverpool if Arne Slot’s men beat SouthamptonCredit: ReutersPep Guardiola had never previously lost five games in a row as a managerCredit: ReutersMaddison produced a superb display for Spurs at the EtihadMan City had a lot of the ball but created very few chancesKulusevski was everywhere as he continues his fine start to the seasonAnd celebrating Rodri being crowned the winner of the Ballon d’Or as the best player on the planet.A spectacular light show greeted him before kick-off, and his teammates gave him a guard of honour.The familiar refrain of ‘we’ve got Guardiola’ to the tune of Glad All Over’ went round the ground as the boss made his way from the dressing room.Then it was over to the Tottenham Hotspur fans as James Maddison enjoyed the biggest and best Birthday party he has ever had.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe turned 28 on this day and, with two goals inside the first 20 minutes, put Tottenham on their way to a famous victory.What a way too for Ange Postecoglou to celebrate his 50th game in charge of the club.Questions about the Aussie had started to be asked after three defeats in five league games.But this was a ‘g’day’ for him as Spurs bounced into the top six.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFor City, well Guardiola had joked as his new contract was announced that if results did not pick up in the next month he could be on his way anyway.How everyone chuckled, but this fifth defeat on the spin was no laughing matter.SunSport’s Man Utd reporter Neil Custis gives verdict on Ruben Amorim’s first press conference and says ‘he has something different’Their worst home defeat since moving to this ground 21 years ago.Man City has not been on a run like this since 2006, when then boss Stuart Pearce lost six in a row.If Liverpool were to win at Southampton on Sunday the gap will stretch to eight points with just shy of a third of the season gone.The two meet next weekend at Anfield.Lose that, and City’s quest for a fifth consecutive title will be over before Christmas.They just don’t look the same City right now.We were putting that down to the uncertainty over the boss and whether the players had taken their foot off the pedal.The midweek news was supposed to have given them a Pep up but despite having 23 shots they could not find the net.Pep Guardiola’s heaviest defeatsApril 2014: Bayern Munich 0 Real Madrid 4October 2016: Barcelona 4 Man City 0January 2017: Everton 4 Man City 0November 2024: Man City 0 Tottenham 4Porro, Maddison and Dominic Solanke celebrated by pretending to drive carsCredit: AFPPedro Porro scored Spurs’ third seven minutes into the second halfCredit: ReutersThey miss Rodri, who is out for the season.They miss a fully fit Kevin De Bruyne.Phil Foden has looked tired all season.There were chances before Spurs broke the deadlock.They fell to finisher supreme Erling Haaland, who also hit the bar in the second period.The game was just four minutes old when he was set up by Josko Gvardiol, who would go on to have a half to forget.The near bottom corner beckoned, but Haaland’s shot deflected off Ben Davis’ heel and went wide.Savinho was then the provider and this time Guglielmo Vicario’s outstretched leg denied him adding to his 15 goals this season.Then in the 13th minute against the run of play Spurs struck.Dejan Kulusevski likes it here. He has scored on his last three visits, including a last-minute equaliser last season.On this occasion, he was the provider and what a provider he is.Before this game he had created 30 chances, the most of any player in the Premier League this season and added another for the opener.He made mincemeat of Gvardiol down the right flank to give himself space to cross and then delivered a ball to the far post which Maddison volleyed home with his instep.A setback became a major problem for the home side when Spurs extended their lead on 20 minutes.Gvardiol’s loose pass was leapt on by Maddison, who fed Son and then did an overlapping run behind his teammate.The ball was fed back to him and he dinked it past Ederson.It could have been more before the break as Son’s curler to the far top corner was well saved by Ederson who also used his fingertips to deny Dominic Solanke’s shot.The last time City were two goals down at the break was in January of 2023 to, guess who, Tottenham.Brennan Johnson slide in to score Spurs’ fourth in stoppage timeCredit: ReutersIt was a famous day for Ange Postecoglou’s sideCredit: ReutersOn that occasion, they roared back to win 4-2.Not this time.Spurs were further ahead just seven minutes into the second-half with City all over the place again.Their attack broke down thanks to Spurs hounding the ball down.They do that at their best and break with great efficiency.Kulusevski was involved again, playing a deep ball to the far side of the boss for Solanke to pull back for Pedro Porro to side foot home with a powerful shot that curled away from the goalkeeper.Porro spent three years at City after an £11million move from Girona but bizarrely never got a game as he was farmed out on loan.So this will have been special for him.In injury time two subs combined as Timo Werner sent a ball to the far post for Brennan Johnson to slide home.For Guardiola this was a seventh defeat at the hands of Spurs in the Premier League more than any other opponent.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt is Feyenoord at home in the Champions League on Tuesday next then that trip to Liverpool.They have roared back before and they really need to find their voice now. More

AMERICAN pop star Jason Derulo lost a massive bet after placing £20,000 on Leicester to beat Chelsea today.The crooner backed the Foxes to triumph in Saturday’s early kick-off with a tasty fee.Pop star Jason Derulo lost a £20,000 bet on Leicester’s 2-1 defeat to ChelseaCredit: GettyDerulo backed the Foxes to win but they were well beaten by the BluesCredit: GettyBut it backfired as visitors Chelsea romped to a 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium.Derulo was in London this week after releasing fifth studio album ‘Nu King’ this year.And while in the capital, he decided to have a punt on the footy.The Florida-born singer, who shot to fame with 2009 hit ‘Watcha Say’, opted for the 12.30pm early kick-off between Leicester and Chelsea.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLYet despite the gulf between the two sides in the Premier League table, Derulo opted to back Leicester for the win.And he put his money where his mouth is by dropping a crisp £20k on Steve Cooper’s relegation-threatened side.A video posted online by Derulo saw him say: “Alright people I’m in the UK right now.“You know when I’m in the UK it’s all about football. So my team Leicester is playing against Chelsea.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“I got $25,000 (£20k) on my team Leicester. Who you got?”Unfortunately for Derulo, the act backfired as Leicester crumbled in a one-sided match. Chelsea player ratings: Enzo Fernandez silences his doubters but Robert Sanchez endures a few shaky moments vs LeicesterThe Foxes were second-best as their only shot on target came through a late penalty.And fans warned Derulo he made a mistake with his choice.One said: “Never back the early kick off.”Another declared: “Blud’s not getting that money back.”One noted: “Waste of money mate.”Another added: “He made the cardinal sin.” More

IT PAYS sometimes in football to stick with what you have and not make a drastic change.And how Wolves must be grateful, if not a bit smug, they persevered with Gary O’Neil even when the calls to axe him grew louder and louder.Gary O’Neil silenced the doubters as his Wolves side ran riot at FulhamCredit: PAThe visitors were a goal down before firing FOUR past their hostsCredit: RexMolineux supporters may have been divided about whether the Englishman should have carried on as results got worse.Issuing a P45 during the international break would have been an ideal opportunity for the hierarchy, especially as the side languished in the Premier League bottom three.But O’Neil has never lost the faith of the players and as this comeback romp over Fulham showed, they are fighting for him with every sinew.Matheus Cunha and Joao Gomes will get the plaudits and rightly so but overall all 15 Wolves stars put up a fight, amid difficult and testing circumstances, to register back-to-back Premier League victories.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt is also their first league success on the road since defeating Tottenham in February – how easier O’Neil would have felt on the coach home last night despite the ringing wet coat.It was a soggy, gusty, grey and generally miserable afternoon in West London and the wintry conditions were particularly testing given the slippery surface underfoot.Wolves debuted their third kit, a garish purple number, and their defensive problems worsened pre-game as Craig Dawson, a pillar of the team, was ruled out through sickness.It meant three of their four centre-halves were unavailable for the Craven Cottage trip and emergency measures had to be taken with midfielder Mario Lemina working in tandem alongside defender Toti Gomes.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe skipper had to take evasive action on 17 minutes when the lively Antonee Robinson crossed from the left.As he stretched to clear, the ball deflected off Lemina’s foot and then Fulham striker Raul Jimenez, a former Wolves player, saw his snapshot crash off the crossbar.The Premier League’s Top 10 sexiest managers according to AIThree minutes later, Lemina and the rest of his teammates at the back were culpable for not clearing their lines.Eventually possession fell to Kenny Tete and Alex Iwobi controlled the short pass and then curled a magnificent effort with his left that goalkeeper Jose Sa could not reach.It was a stunner, a contender for goal of the month, and took the Nigerian’s tally for the season to three goals.Fulham were deserving of their lead but Wolves got back into the contest thanks to a moment of magic.Alex Iwobi put Fulham ahead at Craven CottageCredit: PAMatheus Cunha levelled things up as Wolves fought backCredit: PAGabon international Lemina reminded us that he is a makeshift defender as he picked out Cunha with a superb 30-yard long pass just after the half an hour mark.The Brazilian showed off his samba skills, taking it with right and though the ball bounced off his groin, he delicately flicked it beyond Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.A decent Wolves following had made the trip and they were in full and fine voice on 53 minutes despite the driving rain.After some intricate passing involving Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Cunha on the edge of the Fulham box, the ball was fed to Joao Gomes.Joao Gomes put the visitors ahead in the second halfCredit: ReutersCunha scored a wonder strike to make it 3-1Credit: RexAnd the Brazilian showed terrific awareness and finishing, taking it with his right and shooting with his left, to guide his attempt past Leno. It was his second goal in three matches.Cunha thought he had a second when he latched on to a misplaced pass by Fulham’s Tom Cairney but despite dancing through the defence, his strike deflected wide.He had to be patient and wait until three minutes from normal time when his exceptional finish beat Leno and capped an important win for the visitors.The fourth goal came deep into stoppage time when substitute Goncalo Guedes benefited from a quick counter-attack and clinically beat Leno.Goncalo Guedes added Wolves’ fourth at the deathCredit: GettyO’Neil has shown why Wolves were right to stick with himCredit: GettyHarry Wilson is Fulham’s supersub and his three goals before the break had helped the Cottagers register 18 points – their highest top-flight tally after 11 games since 1960.The Welshman came on again as a sub – boss Marco Silva is clearly a hard man to impress – but there was no late intervention this time.READ MORE SUN STORIESHis biggest contribution was a shot from distance that hit the crossbar.But Fulham, apart from a brilliant opening 30 minutes, were very poor in the closing stages. More