Phil Foden scored his first Premier League goal as Manchester City battled to a 1-0 win over their Champions League conquerors Tottenham to return to the top of the table
Four days on from their dramatic quarter-final exit at the hands of Spurs, Foden's fifth-minute header sealed a priceless victory for Pep Guardiola's side on an incredibly tense afternoon at the Etihad Stadium
Heung-Min Son spurned four first-half chances as Spurs threatened to haunt City again, while a handball in his own penalty area from Kyle Walker went unpunished midway through the second half
But City held their nerve, securing a 10th successive league victory that moves them a point clear of title rivals Liverpool
 Spurs remain third, a point clear of Arsenal having played a game more
Just as they did in Wednesday's Champions League clash, City made a flying start as Bernardo Silva's in-swinging cross from the right was selflessly headed across goal by Sergio Aguero, and Foden had the simple task of nodding the hosts ahead inside five minutes
The City youngster, making only his second Premier League start, celebrated passionately in front of the travelling Spurs fans, the outpouring of emotion a visible sign of the anguish still present among Guardiola's side after their European exit
But that emotion looked set to undermine City as Spurs wasted a host of chances to draw level before the break
 Christian Eriksen was thwarted by the feet of Ederson on 14 minutes before the Denmark international turned provider, releasing Son, who was denied by a brilliant Aymeric Laporte challenge
Bernardo Silva had appeals for a penalty turned down on 20 minutes after tangling with Jan Vertonghen, but referee Michael Oliver was unmoved
 Spurs looked to capitalise on the heightened levels of anxiety inside the Etihad following De Bruyne's departure, but Ederson ensured the champions reached half-time ahead, racing off his line to deny Son after the South Korean charged from his own half into the City area
City had two further penalty appeals waved away early in the second half as referee Oliver chose not to penalise Toby Alderweireld's handball and Juan Foyth's barge on Foden
But Spurs had the stronger claims as Walker's handball, which prevented a long ball from releasing Dele Alli through on goal, and Son's flick, which appeared to strike John Stones' arm, went unpunished
Raheem Sterling looked to set to exorcise some demons after his midweek VAR heartache with City's second goal on 71 minutes, but his sweeping shot from Leroy Sane's cutback was turned behind by the outstretched leg of Paulo Gazzaniga on 71 minutes
Ederson then prevented Lucas Moura from hauling Spurs level after he latched onto Alderweireld's long pass, generating unbearable levels of anxiety among the home faithful, but the champions stood firm to return to the summit
"It's an important win in the race for the Premier League
 If we drop point, we cannot fight until the end
 It was tight, Spurs had more chances than the previous two games, but the effort the players had after a tough day on Wednesday was incredible
""I'm not frustrated with the result - that's football
 It was an even game and we deserved more, at least a draw
 I'm so happy with the performance in very difficult circumstances
 We competed really well, and we had the clearer opportunities
 Just because you deserve it, doesn't mean you always get it
"Bernardo Silva was brilliant from first minute to last, setting the tone as City ensured their title challenge did not suffer the same fate as their Champions League hopes
 The Portuguese had a hand in Foden's winning goal and was at the heart of everything City did well, more than vindicating his PFA Young Player of the Year nomination
City face United in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Wednesday (8pm) - live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7pm
Before that, Spurs host Brighton on Tuesday (7
45pm) - live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7
30pm
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