Riyad Mahrez sets new Pep Guardiola standard in Man City defeat

Manchester City's defenders will have had plenty of apologising to do for the way they wilted against Tottenham (although isn't it nice there weren't any lengthy social media apologies?)

Pep Guardiola's side were too slack at the back too often, meaning they ruined their hard work to get back into the match not once but twice to suffer a 3-2 defeat.

Not only did Harry Kane's injury-time winner cost City a point, it also meant that Riyad Mahrez's stonkingly good penalty was quickly forgotten.

It really isn't long ago that the Blues getting a spotkick would be anything but a guarantee of a goal, but Mahrez has changed that. Faced with the pressure of a 90th-minute spotkick to level things against Spurs, the Algerian blasted an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.

Having seen his winger smash the ball into different parts of the net, Guardiola sounded like a man that had finally found peace over his penalty takers after the 2-0 win over Brentford this month.

"I never push players to take responsibility, but you know, Riyad is a guarantee because he is so clever. He can shoot both sides and effectively strong to the corners.

"The penalties are about mentality and good speed of contact with the ball. Not one negative thought and Riyad has done it really well."

Mahrez's spotkick against Tottenham maybe quickly forgotten in the telling of the match itself, but it is significant for the season of the player and the manager.

According to Transfermarkt, that took the 31-year-old onto seven converted penalties for the campaign (out of seven, a 100 per cent record), which is more than anyone else has achieved during Guardiola's time at the Etihad. Sergio Aguero managed six (from nine) in the 2016/17 season but nobody