Premier League leaders Manchester City suffered a shock 3-2 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, leaving the title race wide open. However, City manager Pep Guardiola downplayed his side’s loss and its implications, saying, “it happens.”

Spurs’ January signing Dejan Kulusevski scored the opening goal for Spurs in the 4th minute, but Ilkay Gundogan equalised for City in the 33rd minute.

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The first half ended 1-1, but City began the second half stronger. Despite City’s dominance in the first few minutes of the second half, it was Spurs who found a goal, thanks to brilliant Harry Kane finish in the 59th minute.

While the match looked like it would end 2-1 in Spurs’ favour, there was plenty of drama in store for the dying minutes.

City were awarded a penalty minutes into stoppage time, courtesy of a Cristian Romero handball, and substitute Riyad Mahrez levelled the game for the home team with minutes to spare.

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However, Kulusevski marauded down the right in the dying minutes of the game to float a cross in for Kane, who converted sublimely through a downward header to grant Spurs a crucial 3-2 lead.

The game ended 3-2 in favour of the visitors, leaving the title race wide open.

Speaking after the match, City manager Pep Guardiola said that it was a “difficult” game, but praised the quality of the match.

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“It was a good game. It was difficult, they defend so deep and so narrow, and they have a lot of quality. We tried many things. They had good counter attacks. They are really good up front. We always had the feeling they were dangerous, we knew their style,” Guardiola told the media in his post-match press conference.

“The problem was they had five at the back, six at the back, and with the quality they have, it is not easy. It’s always difficult. Brentford was like this. It is difficult. But we had the chances. Unfortunately we could not score them,” Guardiola added, highlighting the difficulty of the Premier League.

“They were clinical, and the crosses we could not defend. We had the momentum, but Joao loses the ball, Kyle lost the ball when he was alone, they had a few passes, they arrived at the byline and we defended badly at the back post. People say it cannot happen, but football can happen! It happens. I don’t need to lose a game to know it is difficult to win the Premier League,” the City manager further said.

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“There are many, many games to play and people will drop points. We have a long week, we’re going to enjoy the Champions League at home and train for our next game,” Guardiola concluded.

The result left Liverpool within touching distance of City: while City have 63 points from 26 games, Liverpool have 57 points from 25 games. If Liverpool win their game in hand, they come within 3 points of the league leaders, making the title race a tough one to call.