Manchester City’s struggles deepened on Saturday as they suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. James Maddison was the star of the show, marking his 28th birthday with two goals, while Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson added to the misery for Pep Guardiola's side, who have now lost five consecutive matches in all competitions.

The loss marked City’s third straight Premier League defeat and ended their remarkable 52-game unbeaten home streak, casting doubt over their ability to keep pace with title rivals Liverpool, who could move eight points clear with a win on Sunday.

First Half: Maddison Sparks a Birthday Party

City started brightly, buoyed by the pre-match celebration of Rodri's Ballon d'Or win. But without the Spanish midfielder on the pitch to anchor their play, the hosts quickly unraveled.

Yves Bissouma’s early booking for a rash tackle on Phil Foden hinted at Tottenham's aggressive intent, but it was Maddison who turned the game on its head. The former Leicester star capitalized on defensive errors, scoring his first with a sharp finish after a clever exchange with Son Heung-min.

Spurs' second goal came shortly after, as Maddison punished Josko Gvardiol's loose pass with a smart one-two with Son before chipping over Ederson to double the lead.

Second Half: Porro and Johnson Seal the Rout

City emerged from the break determined but wasteful. Erling Haaland hit the crossbar, and substitute Kevin De Bruyne tried to spark a comeback, but Spurs remained clinical.

Pedro Porro redeemed an earlier defensive error with a thunderous strike in the 52nd minute, set up by Dominic Solanke after an incisive pass from Dejan Kulusevski. By then, the atmosphere in the Etihad had turned sour, with fans trickling out as City’s disjointed attack failed to break down Spurs’ resolute defense.

The humiliation was complete in stoppage time when Johnson latched onto Timo Werner’s low cross to slide in Spurs' fourth, capping off a masterclass performance by Ange Postecoglou's team.