Pep Guardiola has criticised Manchester City's poor defending but praised Harry Kane and Tottenham Hotspur, who claimed all three points in a thrilling 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium.
Dejan Kulusevski's fourth-minute opener was cancelled out by Ilkay Gundogan midway through the first half, before Kane put Spurs back in front with a close-range volley just before the hour mark.
City then thought they had claimed a point in stoppage time when substitute Riyad Mahrez converted from the penalty spot, but it was man-of-the-match Kane who headed home a dramatic 95th-minute winner, boosting Spurs' top-four hopes and opening the title race wide open between Guardiola's men and Liverpool.
The Citizens have seen their lead at the top of the table cut to six points, following Liverpool's 3-1 win over Norwich City, but the Reds have a game in hand and are still to play at the Etihad Stadium in April.
Speaking to the press after the game, Guardiola said: "We knew after three defeats [Spurs] would be back. There was practically no space. They defend so, so deep, so narrow and of course when they were on the ball they have a lot of quality.
"After that they could keep the ball and with Kane it gave time to [Son Heung-min] who could run. In general we were there all the time. We tried many things, they made two or three good counter-attacks... they are really good up front and we lost again.
"Every goal is different. It's difficult to defend the second one, especially coming from five to 10 yards behind. It's not easy. The third one, we defended badly at the far post."
When asked about the title race, Guardiola added: "I am not superstitious. I said a few weeks ago we need to win many games.
"Every game will be a big, big battle. We knew it and it will be good to understand how difficult it is. Since October we didn't lose one game in the Premier League."
Guardiola also reiterated Man City's interest in signing Kane last summer and responded to another question about the England international, stating: "Everyone knows we were interested in Harry Kane but it was not an option. Forget it, it's the past.
"It's not necessary to show the goals he scored tonight to show his quality, all the UK knows it."
City will now turn their attention to next weekend's trip to Goodison Park where they will face Frank Lampard's Everton.
Oliver Thomas
