Tottenham 1-0 Man City: Player ratings as Son strike downs champions

Son Heung-min was the hero for Tottenham
Son Heung-min was the hero for Tottenham / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
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Tottenham enjoyed the perfect start to their Premier League season, with Son Heung-min's second half strike giving them a 1-0 win over reigning champions Manchester City.

In Nuno Espirito Santo's first game in charge of Spurs, City started the game brightly with Fernandinho and Joao Cancelo both going close to opening the scoring.

After that, though, the home side grew into the game limiting their opponents to half-chances as well as carving out a few opportunities of their own.

10 minutes after the restart the hosts took the lead with Son tying Nathan Ake in knots before bending an effort into the far-left corner. City tried to rally after this but struggled to carve out many clear-cut openings. In the end they did not have enough to equalise, meaning Jack Grealish's Premier League debut ended in defeat.

Here are your player ratings for both teams from north London...


Tottenham player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Japhet Tanganga, Benjamin Mendy
Tanganga committed four fouls in the first foul alone / Michael Regan/Getty Images

Hugo Lloris (GK) - 6/10 - Misjudged a cross horribly early on which could have easily resulted in a goal. Fine other than that, making a few good saves.

Japhet Tanganga (RB) - 8/10 - Embraced the battle with Grealish and Sterling. Was extremely lucky not to get booked before the break. At times, his sole purpose was to foul people but it got the job done.

Davinson Sanchez (CB) - 7/10 - Put in a few heavy challenges on City's frontline. A good response to the arrival of Cristian Romero.

Eric Dier (CB) - 8/10 - Solid stuff from the much-maligned Dier. Putting in performances like this consistently is the challenge this season.

Sergio Reguilon (LB) - 7/10 - Read things very well, registering three interceptions. Attacking involvement was minimal but he was tidy in possession.


2. Midfielders

Oliver Skipp, Ilkay Guendogan
Skipp started after impressing on loan last season / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Oliver Skipp (CM) - 7/10 - Always busy off the ball and spotless in possession. It was a tough test today but against weaker sides he could be important in dictating things.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM) - 7/10 - Industrious as ever. Passing was sometimes loose when City got their press right. Positional discipline was excellent.

Dele Alli (AM) - 7/10 - Stuck to his defensive duties diligently, retreating into the midfield three as soon as Spurs lost the ball. Not a great deal to report in possession.


3. Forwards

Heung-Min Son
Son scored a fine goal / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Steven Bergwijn (RW) - 6/10 - His pace was a threat in transition but he did not always make the most of his opportunities. Needs to improve his output this season and this was not the best start.

Son Heung-min (ST) - 8/10 - Slowed his side's counter attacks down unnecessarily early on. Much improved thereafter and scored a fine goal just after the break. Could have had another as well.

Lucas Moura (LW) - 7/10 - A busy display. He carved out a decent amount of chances, finishing the game with three key passes.


4. Substitutes

Giovani Lo Celso
Lo Celso came on for Spurs / Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images

Giovani Lo Celso - 6/10 - Kept his shape after coming on.

Matt Doherty - 6/10 - Did all that was required of him.

Cristian Romero - N/A


Manchester City player ratings

5. Goalkeeper & defenders

Lucas Moura, Benjamin Mendy
Mendy was poor / Michael Regan/Getty Images

Ederson (GK) - 5/10 - Almost punished for failing to deal with a corner in the first half. Dias stitched him up for the goal but he might have done better.

Joao Cancelo (RB) - 7/10 - Went very close to scoring in the first half. Defended well, barely giving Bergwijn a sniff.

Ruben Dias (CB) - 5/10 - Got himself in a real mess for the goal, obscuring the view of his goalkeeper and failing to make a routine block.

Nathan Ake (CB) - 5/10 - Dominated the air but was exposed for Son's strike. He will likely come straight out of the team when John Stones returns.

Benjamin Mendy (LB) - 4/10 - Made several sloppy defensive errors and his passing was poor. He is the weak link in this City side and teams will be able to exploit him this season.


6. Midfielders

Jack Grealish
Grealish was making his City debut / Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Jack Grealish (CM) - 5/10 - Well shackled in the first half after an early flash of magic. Struggled to get into the game after the restart too. He did draw a lot of fouls, though.

Fernandinho (CM) - 7/10 - A well-rounded display. He kept the ball moving and also broke the lines with a string of probing through balls.

Ilkay Gundogan (CM) - 6/10 - Made one vital block from a Lucas Moura effort in the first half. Carried the ball nicely in midfield but passing was often not direct enough.


7. Forwards

Sergio Reguilon, Riyad Mahrez
Mahrez was poor / Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Riyad Mahrez (RW) - 5/10 - Did not offer enough. Slowed things down too much and delivery was ropey.

Ferran Torres (ST) - 6/10 - Played the false nine role effectively. Made several intelligent runs from deep and led the press. Might have done better with one chance after the break.

Raheem Sterling (LW) - 5/10 - Linked up well with Grealish in the early exchanges. After that they seemed to get in each other's way. Their understanding will come in time.


8. Substitutes

Gabriel Jesus
Jesus will be hoping for more minutes this season / Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Gabriel Jesus - 6/10 - Played one excellent through ball to Grealish. Always involved.

Kevin De Bruyne - 6/10 - Increased City's tempo and they instantly looked more dangerous. Needed more time to have a telling impact.

Oleksandr Zinchenko - 6/10 - Solid.