Premier League Logbook: Tottenham Hotspur storm

With just two weeks until the summer transfer window closes in the Premier League , clubs are in full swing spending record amounts on new players. Transfer-rich Liverpool, last season's champions, spent €339.68 million on new players and earned €219.50 million from their disposals. Based on the quality of their squad, they are the favorites to win the title in the 2025-26 season. Chelsea follows in transfer spending with €279.6 million, while Manchester City remains fifth on the list with €179.6 million. The £18 million Leeds United spent on AC Milan striker Noah Okafor recently set a record for summer transfer spending by Premier League clubs. According to FootballTransfers.com, clubs have spent £2.37 billion on players since the transfer window opened at the beginning of June. This figure represents a 12.7% increase compared to the £1.97 billion spent in the summer of 2024. It's worth noting that the previous record summer transfer window spending, at £2.36 billion, was set in 2023. It's noteworthy that Premier League clubs' transfer spending is greater than that of Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and La Liga teams combined.

Manchester City and Tottenham, two teams that have started the season with distinct wins, face off at the Etihad Stadium in a match that kicks off at noon on Saturday. Tottenham have won two of their last four league games at the Etihad (D1, L1) and, following a 4-0 victory last season, are looking for back-to-back wins away to Manchester City for the first time since May 2010. A total of 21 goals have been scored in the last four league matches between the two teams at the Etihad (City 9, Tottenham 12), with the away team scoring at least two goals in each of those four. Erling Haaland, the Blues' striker, has scored 48 goals in 48 home league appearances for Manchester City. The only player to score 50 goals in fewer than 50 home league appearances is Alan Shearer, who scored his 50th goal in his 47th match. Let's take this opportunity to salute him.

The hosts, Manchester City, are in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Trafford in goal, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri in defense, Reijnders, Gonzalez in midfield, Bobb, Cherki, and Marmoush at the front, and their striker, Haaland, in front of them. The visitors, Tottenham, are in a 4-3-3 formation, with Vicario in goal, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, and Spence in defense, Sarr, Palhinha, and Bentancur in midfield, and Kudus, Richarlison, and Johnson at the front. In the 35th minute, Tottenham received their first yellow card of the match, but the card was unnecessary. They then scored. Tottenham broke away from their defense quickly, Richarlison carried the ball into the opponent's right half and cut it into the far corner. Johnson, however, made a mistake in the position, as the City defense pushed forward and was caught in a line. In the extra time of the half, Tottenham doubled their lead with a goal that would only be seen in amateur pitches. Richarlison intercepted a pass from City's Trafford in his own penalty area, and the ball fell to Palhinha, whose number 6 missed from close range.

At the start of the second half, the teams are back on the pitch with the same lineups. City are ramping up the pressure in the final stretch, but their lack of shots on target after the 28th minute epitomizes their team's sterility. Tottenham, having tested the net 12 times, deservedly won 2-0 and remain top of the table with two matches unbeaten. Man of the match: Richarlison.