PLAYER RATINGS: Manchester City 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur

It was four. It should have been eight. We were humiliated. Granted, this was the best team the Prem has ever seen. But it was also evidence we have been going backwards in recent weeks, getting increasingly laborious and not even pressing as we once did. It was an embarrassing object lesson in how to play the way we thought we could play ourselves.

There’s a difficulty with giving player ratings when your team is thoroughly outclassed. Is it really their fault when they struggle to make an impact on the game? Isn’t it just the superiority of better players imposing themselves and our team doing everything they can considering the gulf in class?

City pressed our players ferociously all over the pitch and drove our possession back to within twenty yards of our own goal. When they won the ball they transitioned so rapidly into attack we struggled to keep up. The speed of thought on the part of the man with the ball and fluidity of movement by his team mates fully exposed everything we’ve been concerned about in recent weeks with how ponderous and static Spurs have been.

Lloris – 6

A couple of players looked like they might grace a better team. Lloris made some spectacular saves. A member of the party who kept playing keep ball in their own box but he showed he had some class in shot stopping.

Trippier – 2

Particularly in the first half but he was shocking. OK he was trying to face up Sané but out of position, dribbled past as if he wasn’t there, couldn’t control the ball. A shocker.

Rose – 6

Rose was a bright spark on an otherwise deeply depressing day. He could have given away two pens but he looked more like the old Rose, throwing his body in front of driven balls and getting up the pitch in ways Trippier never looked like doing.

Dier – 4

Maybe his clown-like contribution for the final goal was down to tired legs but too often he appeared an observer when Vertonghen was putting his body on the line for the cause.

Vertonghen – 5

Gave away an unconverted pen but put himself on the line time and time again. Not well enough supported.

Winks – 5

Never stopped trying. Was too honest to get us a pen. Honesty runs through him like the theme through a stick of rock.

Dembele – 4

I’m getting tired of his petulant handballs, arms round the throats of opposition players. (I think back to his role in the chaos at Chelsea.) He is the senior pro; he should set the tone.

Eriksen – 5

Largely, a peripheral figure. Did create chances and scored a sweet goal. Am I wrong to expect more from him?

Dele – 4

Looked a forlorn, petulant figure. Overrun. Unable to impose himself at all.

Son – 5

Tried hard. Didn’t look threatening.

Kane – 6

Also looked like he might grace a better side. Got some shots away.

Subs.

To be honest, I can’t be bothered to appraise their contributions. All right: Lamela got about the pitch and Sissoko got a yellow card. I’m too depressed to carry on….