Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez (2nd left) celebrating after scoring the opening goal against Tottenham Hotspur during the English Premier League football match on Monday — AP LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters): Manchester City returned to the Premier League summit on goal difference as they dug out a 1-0 victory over fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur courtesy of an early goal by Riyad Mahrez at a subdued Wembley Stadium on Monday.
City held firm for a sixth consecutive Premier League clean sheet to knock Liverpool off top spot. They both have 26 points while Tottenham have 21.
It was not the free-flowing City of late and Tottenham will rue missing some good chances to salvage something from a disjointed affair on a patchwork pitch at a half-empty Wembley.
Mahrez caught Tottenham cold in the sixth minute after a defensive mistake but despite City's dominance they were missing their clinical edge on a surface that looked more suitable for American football after an NFL fixture a day earlier.
David Silva and Mahrez both could have put the game beyond Tottenham but the hosts, who were on a four-match winning run in the league and could have gone above City into second with a victory, always posed a threat.
Dele Alli returned from a hamstring injury for Tottenham and his arrival as a substitute sparked some late pressure in which Erik Lamela spurned a glorious chance to equalise.
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