Harry Kane scores twice as Spurs beat Man City to blow title race open

Manchester City's failed pursuit of Harry Kane came back to haunt them as the England captain scored twice to secure Tottenham a stunning 3-2 win at the Etihad which blew the Premier League title race back open.

Kane's header deep into stoppage time seconds after the hosts had levelled through Riyad Mahrez's penalty inflicted City's first league defeat in 16 games.

Liverpool can now close to within three points of the leaders should they win their game in hand at home to Leeds on Wednesday.

The contrast in form between the sides could not have been starker as Tottenham had lost their previous three league games.

But Antonio Conte avoided losing four on the bounce for the first time in his managerial career thanks to a dogged defensive display enlightened by flashes of brilliance by Kane and Son Heung-min on the break.

Had Kane had his way last summer, he would have been lining up in blue rather than Tottenham white.

He was City's prime target to replace club record goalscorer Sergio Aguero, but it was Kane's playmaking ability that caught the eye in the first half.

Conte claimed Tottenham had been weakened in the January transfer window in his latest withering take on the ability of his squad to Italian media this week.

Both of Spurs' January signings Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski started and it was the Swede who gave the visitors a dream start.

Kane's sumptuous through ball broke City's offside trap and Son unselfishly squared for Kulusevski to slot into an unguarded net after just four minutes.

City boss Pep Guardiola was also critical of his side's performance despite what he described as "a dream" 5-0 win away to Sporting Lisbon in the last 16 of the Champions League in midweek.

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