Only a few short weeks ago, Manchester City were being touted as the runaway Premier League champions, and it appeared that they would be unstoppable having demolished every opposition put in front of them in their opening matches.
However, in the last two weeks, things have come apart at the seams for Manuel Pellegrini's side. As they looked to bounce back from a 3-1 loss at home to West Ham last week, they headed to White Hart Lane in search of a win to get back on track.
Instead, they were handed a 4-1 drubbing in a game that saw Manchester City concede four goals for the first time since they were beaten 4-2 by local rivals Manchester United back in April.
Before last week's game against West Ham, their defence had been impenetrable, but now having conceded seven in two, things are looking very shaky at the back, despite the fact that they were clearly able to outmuscle Spurs' front line. The absence of Joe Hart was exposed by a Spurs side that got lucky at times but made no mistakes.
Image: Matt Dunham / AP/Press Association Images
City started well and took the lead through a Kevin de Bruyne goal on the counter attack. There was little doubt that there was an offside call missed by the referee's assistant, but De Bruyne's finish was calm and collected, showing no signs of jitters as he settles back into life in the Premier League.
Although City got away with one on their end, Spurs were also lucky that Walker was not called offside as they scored an equaliser through Eric Dier. Walker's cross was only partially cleared and Dier struck a sweet shot that rattled in off the post from distance. Swings and roundabouts, as they say.
Image: Matt Dunham / AP/Press Association Images
The second half belonged to Spurs, however, and Willy Caballero had a 45 minutes that he will want to forget about as he was caught out by the flight of the cross which allowed Toby Alderweireld to find the back of the net.
Harry Kane got in on the action too as he finally got off the mark this season. Christian Eriksen's free kick struck the post, leaving Caballero nowhere to be found as Kane pounced to stroke the ball into the far corner. It wasn't the most confident of finishes, but it will help to relieve the pressure on the young striker.
Finally, Erik Lamela also left Caballero on the floor and feeling a little bit silly as he slotted in his side's fourth and final goal of the afternoon, emphasising their superiority in the second half, rubbing salt into the wound.
Image: Matt Dunham / AP/Press Association Images
Manchester City more or less presented no challenge from the moment they went behind for the first time, something that will surely worry Pellegrini as they look to recover from their biggest defeat of the season.
While there was plenty of accurate passing, they looked to lack any real penetration, although they saw plenty of the ball. They did manage to create 22 chances to Tottenham's 14, but there was no doubt who made more of their opportunities, as City looked to be moving the ball rather aimlessly at times.
Pellegrini came into the season with the tag of "dead man walking" hanging above his head, and while two defeats is hardly the end of the world, the nature of the losses as well as the scorelines won't help to dismiss the idea that he might have done all he can for this expensively assembled side.
He's unlikely to get the sack any time soon, given their start to the season, but if fellow manager Brendan Rodgers can find himself under such pressure already, the Chilean will equally be feeling the heat at the moment.
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