Ange's Spurs stun City to pile pressure on Guardiola

What started as an evening of celebration for Manchester City ended with the four-time defending Premier League champions conceding four goals and falling to a fifth-straight loss in all competitions. A 4-0 defeat to Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham on Saturday has left City five points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a game more. Two goals from James Maddison inside 20 minutes at the Etihad Stadium stunned the home crowd, who had been treated to a light show before kick-off to mark midfielder Rodri winning the Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world. With manager Pep Guardiola also having signed a two-year contract extension this week, there was double reason to celebrate. But Saturday's latest loss highlighted City's on-field problems which Guardiola is struggling to stop. Pedro Porro scored a third for Tottenham after half-time and Brennan Johnson added a fourth in the third minute of stoppage time. "We are playing a little bit in our thoughts, a little bit of negativity but this is normal," Guardiola said. "Football is a sense of mood and when you win a lot it gives you self-awareness you can do it and when you lose three games in a row in the Premier League that situation is there. "We have to do everything to change, especially for the next one, but the exceptionality we lived in eight years is not eternal. Sometimes you drop a little bit." The result was a huge boost to former Socceroos boss Postecoglou, the Australian also having been under pressure after some inconsistent results. "Today was about sort of doubling down on our football principles and we did that, and it is significant because obviously they've got an unbelievable record here at home," said Postecoglou. "So I don't think it's something that you can be blase about. It is significant. "But I think it's significant for the whole group that we've reached these standards before, it's about now not dropping as we have in certain games." City's defeat handed Liverpool a perfect opportunity to tighten their grip on the title race when they play bottom side Southampton on Sunday. Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton all won to sit six points behind Liverpool. Third-place Chelsea beat Leicester 2-1 in the early kick-off, Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez putting them on course for victory with Jordan Ayew replying for Leicester with a stoppage-time penalty. Fifth-place Brighton won 2-1 at Bournemouth to maintain their outstanding start to the season under new coach Fabian Hurzeler. Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma put the Seagulls 2-0 up at the Vitality Stadium, with David Brooks pulling a goal back for Bournemouth in stoppage time. Meanwhile, boss Mikel Arteta celebrated his 250th game in charge of Arsenal with victory against Forest. It was the Spaniard's 147th win in all competitions ? more than any Gunners manager after the same number of games. Club great Arsene Wenger won 136 of his first 250 games. Bukayo Saka put Arsenal ahead in the 15th at the Emirates Stadium and Thomas Partey added a second seven minutes into the second half. Ethan Nwaneri (17) scored his first Premier League goal for the club in the 86th minute. Aston Villa's winless run was extended to six games after a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Palace twice led in the first half through Ismaila Sarr and Justin Devenny but Ollie Watkins and Ross Barkley levelled for Villa who have lost four of their last six games in all competitions to sit seventh in the standings. Trailing 1-0 at Fulham, Wolves powered back to win 4-1 at Craven Cottage and climb out of the relegation zone. Alex Iwobi put Fulham ahead, but two goals from Matheus Cunha and strikes from Joao Gomes and Goncalo Guedes saw Wolves secure back-to-back EPL wins. Everton drew 0-0 with Brentford.