Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur - BBC Sport
Pep Guardiola says Kevin de Bruyne is helping Manchester City become "a better institution" after his display in the win over Spurs.
Last updated on .From the section Premier League

Pep Guardiola said Kevin de Bruyne is helping Manchester City become "a better institution" after the playmaker put in an inspired performance to help his side outclass Tottenham for a 16th successive Premier League victory that stretched their lead to 14 points.

Ilkay Gundogan, in for the absent David Silva, headed City in front from a corner after 14 minutes and the only surprise was that it took until 20 minutes before time until man-of-the-match De Bruyne's powerful shot extended their advantage.

Gabriel Jesus struck the post with a penalty after Jan Vertonghen fouled De Bruyne but Raheem Sterling crowned a sweeping move with a simple finish to put the game well and truly out of Spurs' reach.

Sterling then took advantage of Eric Dier's mistake to walk in the fourth for his 15th goal of the season before Spurs - for whom Harry Kane and Dele Alli were lucky not to get red cards from referee Craig Pawson for challenges on Sterling and De Bruyne respectively - pulled one back in stoppage time through Christian Eriksen.

Boss Guardiola singled out De Bruyne for praise as he highlighted the Belgium international's work without the ball, calling it "a good example for the young players, for our academy".

"They know how good Kevin De Bruyne is and when they see how he runs and fights without the ball, that is the best example," added Guardiola.

"He helps us to be a better club, a better institution for the future, because that is what we want to do. His performance, I have no words to describe what he has done with the ball.

"And overall, without the ball, he is able to make pressure from 40 metres to the goalkeeper. And when that happens, the people who are behind him think 'if that guy runs like this, I have to run as well'."

How can anyone stop Manchester City?

It is the question being asked on a weekly basis - and no-one is any nearer finding the answer after another imperious performance from a City side who are surely now too far ahead to be caught in the Premier League title race.

Jose Mourinho went for a cautious approach with Manchester United in Sunday's derby at Old Trafford and was unpicked by the magic of David Silva as City won 2-1.

Silva was absent here and Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham adopted a more positive outlook - but this time the brilliant De Bruyne was the inspiration as another method was tried and failed against Guardiola's almost flawless side.

City swarmed all over Spurs, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris often put under pressure in possession and in the end it was quite simply all too much for Pochettino's side, as it has been for pretty much everyone this season.

Only Everton have taken a point against City this season with a 1-1 draw in the second league game of the season at Etihad Stadium - and it is difficult to see how this winning run can be stopped as they play with such threat and variety.

Even when City are threatened, Guardiola has successfully solved a problem which dogged his first season at the club with the acquisition of an excellent goalkeeper in Brazilian Ederson.

When Spurs looked dangerous for a brief period at the start of the second half, Ederson made a superb flying save to his right from Harry Kane.

If there is a weakness in this City side no-one has yet found it.

Silva may have been missing but this Manchester City side has more than enough brilliance to rely on one player - and it was De Bruyne who orchestrated the destruction of Spurs.

The Belgian had simply too much in his armoury, even shrugging off Dele Alli's crude challenge which left the England midfielder fortunate only to get a yellow card from referee Pawson.

Indeed, De Bruyne turned his anger on Spurs, scoring City's second shortly after with a shot that was too fierce for keeper Lloris, drawing a foul from countryman Jan Vertonghen to earn the penalty that Jesus missed and playing a part in setting up the third for Sterling.

Spurs, like many before them, found that if they closed down one option, Manchester City found another.

And at the heart of it all was De Bruyne, now a world-class talent in a truly outstanding team.

Guardiola added: "The performance of Kevin de Bruyne, you cannot imagine how good he plays with the ball, but he runs like a player in the Conference league - it is easier for the manager and the club."

'His feet are like paintbrushes'

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown on Match of the Day:

Kevin de Bruyne's feet are like paintbrushes, he's an artist. He's a thinking footballer, so creative, he creates chances for everyone and he'll take his own when he gets them.

He'll work hard for you as well. Young kids watching this, he's not admiring passes. He wants to get after things, there's an energy and desire in his football.

He wants to work hard, he's giving his manager everything, he's on fire - the world is his oyster at the moment. He's taking people out of their seats. The calibre of football he's playing is outstanding.

Spurs disappoint again - Alli most of all

Spurs were yet again found wanting on their travels against a team they had hoped to be challenging for the Premier League title.

As at Manchester United and Arsenal this season, Spurs never looked like securing the sort of statement victory that suggests they could bridge the gap from Premier League runners-up last season to champions this term.

Since they won 2-1 here in February 2016, they have not won in 10 away games against other teams in the so-called "big six", losing six and drawing four.

It is a telling statistic - although Pochettino is unlikely to believe it is because his players are struggling to climb a psychological barrier.

One of the most disappointing aspects of this defeat was the lack of impact from Alli, whose main contribution was that spiteful tackle on De Bruyne.

He was a peripheral figure and was roundly booed by City's fans when he was unsurprisingly substituted late on.

'Thanks to the club for these amazing players'

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: "They have good quality, but we played really good to beat one of the strongest teams in the Premier League.

"Without the ball we are a humble team."

On City's record winning run: "Since August we are so happy and I admire the most the way we play without the ball - thank you to the club to provide me with these amazing players.

"We are on a good streak, but in three days we have another one."

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: "I think it was a good experience for the team, when you win and play well you maybe don't learn, so you must learn this type of game. We have a lot of positive things, because we played a team in very good form with very good momentum.

"It wasn't bad at the start, but the way we conceded from a corner was a big mistake and a massive present for them. When you play a team in very good form, you cannot give away these gifts.

"When you're playing a team with good quality, if we take risks, we give them the possibility of making chances. We tried to play, but they were better, we have to congratulate them. So far, they are the best team in England."

City prove again to be Lloris' bogey side
• None Guardiola is still three victories away from his best-ever winning streak in league football as a manager - 19 consecutive wins with Bayern Munich between October 2013 and March 2014.
• None Since taking over at White Hart Lane in August 2014, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has enjoyed just one victory in his 18 Premier League games away to the 'big six' (W1 D6 L11).
• None Tottenham's first shot on target came in the 55th minute, the longest they've had to wait in a Premier League game this season.
• None Tottenham directed just two shots on target in the game, compared to Manchester City's 11, the biggest negative difference for the Lilywhites in a Premier League game since December 2013 against Liverpool (-10).
• None Sane has been directly involved in 11 goals in eight Premier League home games this season (five goals, six assists), more than any other player.
• None De Bruyne has been directly involved in 14 goals in his 15 Premier League appearances since the start of September (six goals, eight assists).
• None Gundogan's opener was the 200th Premier League goal Lloris has conceded (203 in total now); 25 of them have come against Manchester City.

City are at Leicester on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup quarter-final (19:45 GMT) and then host Bournemouth in the league next Saturday at 15:00. Tottenham are at Burnley next Saturday (17:30).
• None Relive the action from the Etihad Stadium
• None Goal! Manchester City 4, Tottenham Hotspur 1. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
• None Goal! Manchester City 4, Tottenham Hotspur 0. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
• None Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
• None Attempt saved. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
• None Goal! Manchester City 3, Tottenham Hotspur 0. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Leroy Sané. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page