Football news - Early Riyad Mahrez goal gives City win over Tottenham at Wembley

A sixth-minute goal from Riyad Mahrez was enough for Manchester City to claim a very valuable 1-0 win over Tottenham in their Premier League clash at Wembley.

Mauricio Pochettino, amid mounting speculation that he could succeed the sacked Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid, watched his side make a slow start - and for that they would ultimately pay the price.

City flew out if the traps and were in front almost immediately through Riyad Mahrez. Kieran Trippier missed his header, Raheem Sterling galloped onto the loose ball, sashayed past Trippier as he tried to recover, pulled it back for Mahrez, who slotted home. That is three goals in three games against Spurs for Mahrez.

City pressed high, kept plenty of possession, but were susceptible on the breaks themselves, with individual errors putting them under pressure. Harry Kane had the best first-half chance to level proceedings, capitalising on an error from Aymeric Laporte, but he overran the ball when played in by Erik Lamela, allowing Ederson to race from his line to block at the feet of Kane.

The second half was a much more scrappy affair, but City really should have extended their lead in the 55th minute, only to see David Silva and then Sterling fail to convert from close range. Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen were both introduced as second-half substitutes, but neither could inspire a late equaliser as Pep Guardiola's side closed out an important three points.

Erik Lamela had the chance of the game late on, but blazed over the bar with the goal at his mercy meaning City have now gone almost 10 hours without conceding a Premier League goal. The victory sees City move back above Liverpool on goal difference at the top of the table, while Tottenham remain below rivals Arsenal in fifth.

Missed chance for Spurs to lift mood. City’s defence has proven almost impenetrable this season, but a sixth clean sheet in a row does not tell the full story of the match, as Tottenham had plenty of promising openings, and wasted some glorious chances to score. Even a draw, with all the negativity over the new stadium and Spurs’ Champions League woes, would have alleviate the dark mood, but profligacy proved their undoing.

Moussa Sissoko. The Tottenham midfielder was like a man possessed. Not often a player on the losing side gets the award, but having been backed by his manager pre-match and handed a starting berth, with Eriksen on the bench, Sissoko did not stop running, driving at the City backline on every given opportunity. He was unlucky, on his work ethic and determination to drag his side back into it alone, to be on the losing side.

Tottenham: Lloris 7, Trippier 5, Alderweireld 6, Sanchez 6, Davies 5, Sissoko 8, Dier 5, Dembele 6, Lamela 6, Lucas 6, Kane 5… Subs: Alli 6, Eriksen 6, Winks 6.

Manchester City: Ederson 7, Walker 6, Stones 8, Laporte 8, Mendy 4, Fernandinho 7, B Silva 6, D Silva 8, Mahrez 7 , Sterling 6, Aguero 7. Subs: De Bruyne 6, Jesus N/A, Kompany N/A.

6’ - GOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!! Tottenham 0-1 Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez with the early strike to give City the advantage. Ruthless from City. Ederson launches the ball forward, Kieran Tripper is underneath it, but gets his header all wrong, heading the ball back towards his own goal. Raheem Sterling is on to it like a flash, he then skips past Trippier brilliantly, pulls it back for Mahrez, who side-foots home.

9’ - CLOSE! Almost an immediate leveller from Kane. Lamela fed the ball into Kane's feet, he then shifted it into space, before firing a ferocious strike towards goal, but the ball flew just over.

29’ - SAVE! Super stop from Lloris to deny Mahrez from a tight angle. Lovely, patient build-up play from City, David Silva lays it off for Mahrez, who gets it out of his feet, fires for goal, but Lloris gets a strong hand onto the post.

34’ - CHAAAAAANCE!!!!! Aymeric Laporte makes the mistake, Lamela feeds Kane, he is through on goal, but takes a really heavy touch, which allows Ederson to make the sliding block at the feet of Kane.

55’ - WHAT. A. CHANCE! Mahrez threads the ball through for Bernardo Silva, he squares for David Silva, who looks certain to score, but elects to lay the ball off for Sterling, who cuts onto his right foot, six yards out, but his strike is blocked. City trying to walk it in.

65’ - MISS! Great pass from Bernardo Silva into David Silva, he then threads an intricate pass into Aguero, who takes a great first touch to get him away from the defender, but his shot is pretty much straight at Lloris with the goal at his mercy.

79’ - WHAT. A. MISS! Silly error from Mahrez, Alli nips in, he squares it for Lamela, who has the freedom of north London to pick his spot, but blazes over the top.

City became the first non-London side to win five consecutive Premier League games in the capital, with all wins coming in 2018 (against Arsenal twice, Spurs twice and West Ham).

Two of Tottenham's four Premier League defeats at Wembley have been at the hands of Manchester City.

City have conceded just three goals in their first 10 Premier League games this season – in top-flight history, only one team have conceded fewer in their first 10 games of a season (Chelsea in 2004-05, two conceded).

Spurs have lost two home Premier League matches in a calendar year against a single opponent for the first time since 2005, when they lost twice against Chelsea at White Hart Lane.