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Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City were in trouble after they suffered further injuries in a 2-1 loss at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup to leave them with only 13 first-team players available.

Already without Kyle Walker, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish for the fourth-round tie, Manuel Akanji was withdrawn ahead of kick-off before Savinho left on a stretcher in the second half.

Guardiola was measured after first-half goals by Timo Werner - his first in 18 matches - and Pape Sarr inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on City, but he acknowledged problems are mounting before Saturday's trip to Bournemouth, which is followed by a Champions League fixture at Sporting Lisbon.

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"We have 13 players (available) so we are in real difficulty," Guardiola said.

"The guys that play, they finish most of them with problems and we'll see how they recover.

"Tomorrow we have two keepers and Erling Haaland for the training session, the rest, so we don't have anything else.

"I think when we are in trouble, like we are because in nine years it has never happened this situation with many, many injuries for many, many reasons, in these situations, the players they make a step forward and they are more together than ever and they will try to do this week in this short time to recover.

"It's only that how many players we have able. But we have the Academy and if the seniors cannot be there, we'll do it. And we're going to Bournemouth to compete.

He added: "It's tough. Akanji yesterday, I didn't know it, in the last action felt something in the muscular part of his body and today in the warm-up he didn't feel good. He said he could take a risk and I said no, no risk.

"Ruben (Dias) is struggling sometimes as well in some moments. It's been getting more difficult game by game, but maybe one day we will arrive altogether.

"That's why the guys who are here and making an effort to be with us, fighting to be with us and playing with pain and focus for us, these guys I will not forget it."

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Savinho went down just before the hour mark and after treatment a stretcher was required to take him off.

Guardiola hoped it was only a "knock" and revealed Erling Haaland was always set to stay on the bench despite Matheus Nunes' effort in first-half stoppage time giving City the opportunity to come back from two goals down.

The visitors did create late chances and Tottenham substitute Yves Bissouma cleared an effort by Nico O'Reilly off the line in the 89th minute.

"He (Savinho) has a knock in 18-yard box, a potential penalty and we will see tomorrow what happen," Guardiola added.

"Hopefully he is not in danger but we will see. The plan was before, (Haaland) didn't play and the game against Southampton was so demanding.

"I didn't want to take risk with him today in this competition. I don't like to lose, but this competition is a bit different. I like to see the team how we behave, the courage and solidarity of how we play."

Haaland a risk not worth taking for threadbare City

Sky Sports' Oliver Yew at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

"Tomorrow we have two keepers and Erling Haaland for the training session."

Pep Guardiola was clear in his post-match press conference about the scale of Man City's injury crisis with just 13 players available, and it showed in their Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday.

With just under 20 minutes remaining and searching for an equaliser, all eyes were on the Man City bench. There was only one man you'd turn to for a goal but was Guardiola going to turn to goal machine Haaland?

The answer was no and as Jahmai Simpson-Pusey came on as City's final substitute, you knew Haaland was a risk Guardiola was not willing to take.

Three away games on the trot against Bournemouth, Sporting and Brighton wouldn't normally be of too much concern for City, but how Guardiola navigates his threadbare squad through this period will be a huge test for the manager regarded as the best in the world.

Analysis: Carabao Cup hits and misses

WATCH: All the goals as Spurs send City crashing out...

What's coming up for Spurs and Man City?

Manchester City's unbeaten start to the season came to an end as Tottenham secured a 2-1 victory to set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United.

Spurs flew out of the traps, and they were ahead as early as the fifth minute when Timo Werner latched onto Dejan Kulusevski's pass before emphatically finishing past Stefan Ortega for his first goal since March 10.

There was a blow for the hosts as a distraught Micky van de Ven left the pitch with a suspected hamstring injury, but it never halted Spurs' momentum.

Pep Guardiola said after the last round that he did not want to "waste energy" on the Carabao Cup and his player were playing like they believed their manager's words. A lacklustre Man City had no answer and Pape Sarr's long-range strike beat Ortega to double the lead in the 25th minute.

City eventually started to grow into the contest and began dominating the ball as Spurs looked to get in at the break with their two-goal advantage. However, Savinho - often the bright spark for City in the opening 45 minutes - delivered a cross to the far post where Matheus Nunes converted to give the visitors a huge lifeline just before the break.

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Injuries plagued the second half with Savinho stretchered off - he was replaced by Jacob Wright with Erling Haaland remaining on the bench - while Spurs had to replace Cristian Romero and Werner as the rhythm of the game was disrupted.

Spurs were a threat on the counter as City pushed for an equaliser, and the visitors had goalkeeper Ortega to thank for two excellent stops to deny Brennan Johnson and Kulusevski.

Spurs' big chance to win the game fell to substitute Richarlison, who was sent through on goal by a wayward Josko Gvardiol throw, but the striker wasted the golden chance by sending a weak effort straight at Ortega.

It was a chance he was almost left to rue but for team-mate Yves Bissouma. The midfielder came up up with a superb block right on the goal line to keep out Nico O'Reilly's last-gasp effort as Spurs kept alive their hopes of a first trophy since 2008.

'A big result for Spurs'

Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:

"The game could have gone either way when you think of Bissouma's clearance of the line which was a big moment.

"Man City do punish you because they keep the ball and sometimes you press and it's not on, and they can pop the ball around you and then they are in on your back four.

"Then you lose Van de Ven and then Romero, so Spurs had to suffer, but it was a big result for them.

"No disrespect to Spurs winning, but you could see who wanted it more. When Guardiola isn't brining on Haaland with 15 minutes to go, that tells you were Man City were.

"They already had a couple of injuries and didn't want anymore. With the players City had on the pitch you still felt they could do a job and they did have their chances.

"But for Tottenham, it's a big result. They are in the draw, and they want that trophy."

WATCH: All the goals as Spurs send City crashing out...

'Wins like this can accelerate growth of team'

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou:

"My last win is always my best win. I continue to see growth in this group of players and this team.

"I want them to have these moments because I know how important it is to accelerate the growth of what we're doing.

"But for me, personally, nothing really changes. It's about trying to continually push this group to become the team we want to be.

"We're not there yet, fair to say. I'm really optimistic and bullish about this group of players. I just think they've got a really high ceiling and we've just got to keep focusing on that."

'We have to keep going and win every game'

Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski to Sky Sports:

"It is important to win and go through in the cup. When you play a great team like City you always want to win - I am proud of the boys.

"I always love this game, playing the best teams in the world, I want to be one of the best players in the world.

"We have to keep going and win every game. We have to keep focused."

Guardiola: We are in a difficult position

Man City boss Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports:

"Exceptional. The young players did well.

"An incredible top side they are so fast and I am really pleased. We play so good. If you play a game that quick they attack quicker, we played really good. Of course, in the second half there was transitions they could have finished the game - I know perfectly how good we played.

"Football sometimes, we are in a difficult position with the amount of players."

On injuries, Guardiola added: "It is what it is. It is normal. The limit of the players is there.

"We will see tomorrow [on Savinho's injury].

"Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker, no chance to play the next games."

What's coming up for Spurs and Man City?

Manchester City's unbeaten start to the season came to an end as Tottenham secured a 2-1 victory to set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United.

Spurs flew out of the traps, and they were ahead as early as the fifth minute when Timo Werner latched onto Dejan Kulusevski's pass before emphatically finishing past Stefan Ortega for his first goal since March 10.

There was a blow for the hosts as a distraught Micky van de Ven left the pitch with a suspected hamstring injury, but it never halted Spurs' momentum.

Pep Guardiola said after the last round that he did not want to "waste energy" on the Carabao Cup and his player were playing like they believed their manager's words. A lacklustre Man City had no answer and Pape Sarr's long-range strike beat Ortega to double the lead in the 25th minute.

City eventually started to grow into the contest and began dominating the ball as Spurs looked to get in at the break with their two-goal advantage. However, Savinho - often the bright spark for City in the opening 45 minutes - delivered a cross to the far post where Matheus Nunes converted to give the visitors a huge lifeline just before the break.

Carabao Cup results | Fixtures | Teams | Stats

All you need to know - Streaming Sky Sports with NOW

Download the Sky Sports App to watch every Sky Sports + game

How to watch any Carabao Cup game live on Sky Sports+

Injuries plagued the second half with Savinho stretchered off - he was replaced by Jacob Wright with Erling Haaland remaining on the bench - while Spurs had to replace Cristian Romero and Werner as the rhythm of the game was disrupted.

Spurs were a threat on the counter as City pushed for an equaliser, and the visitors had goalkeeper Ortega to thank for two excellent stops to deny Brennan Johnson and Kulusevski.

Spurs' big chance to win the game fell to substitute Richarlison, who was sent through on goal by a wayward Josko Gvardiol throw, but the striker wasted the golden chance by sending a weak effort straight at Ortega.

It was a chance he was almost left to rue but for team-mate Yves Bissouma. The midfielder came up up with a superb block right on the goal line to keep out Nico O'Reilly's last-gasp effort as Spurs kept alive their hopes of a first trophy since 2008.

'A big result for Spurs'

Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:

"The game could have gone either way when you think of Bissouma's clearance of the line which was a big moment.

"Man City do punish you because they keep the ball and sometimes you press and it's not on, and they can pop the ball around you and then they are in on your back four.

"Then you lose Van de Ven and then Romero, so Spurs had to suffer, but it was a big result for them.

"No disrespect to Spurs winning, but you could see who wanted it more. When Guardiola isn't brining on Haaland with 15 minutes to go, that tells you were Man City were.

"They already had a couple of injuries and didn't want anymore. With the players City had on the pitch you still felt they could do a job and they did have their chances.

"But for Tottenham, it's a big result. They are in the draw, and they want that trophy."

WATCH: All the goals as Spurs send City crashing out...

'Wins like this can accelerate growth of team'

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou:

"My last win is always my best win. I continue to see growth in this group of players and this team.

"I want them to have these moments because I know how important it is to accelerate the growth of what we're doing.

"But for me, personally, nothing really changes. It's about trying to continually push this group to become the team we want to be.

"We're not there yet, fair to say. I'm really optimistic and bullish about this group of players. I just think they've got a really high ceiling and we've just got to keep focusing on that."

'We have to keep going and win every game'

Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski to Sky Sports:

"It is important to win and go through in the cup. When you play a great team like City you always want to win - I am proud of the boys.

"I always love this game, playing the best teams in the world, I want to be one of the best players in the world.

"We have to keep going and win every game. We have to keep focused."

Guardiola: We are in a difficult position

Man City boss Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports:

"Exceptional. The young players did well.

"An incredible top side they are so fast and I am really pleased. We play so good. If you play a game that quick they attack quicker, we played really good. Of course, in the second half there was transitions they could have finished the game - I know perfectly how good we played.

"Football sometimes, we are in a difficult position with the amount of players."

On injuries, Guardiola added: "It is what it is. It is normal. The limit of the players is there.

"We will see tomorrow [on Savinho's injury].

"Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker, no chance to play the next games."

What's coming up for Spurs and Man City?

Tottenham's reward for beating Manchester City is a quarter-final tie with Manchester United, while holders Liverpool go to Southampton.

Spurs upset Pep Guardiola's Premier League champions 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night and will now take on Manchester United, who thrashed Leicester City 5-2.

Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy was in the dugout at Old Trafford for that win but Ruben Amorim could well be in charge by the time the quarter-final ties are played in the week commencing December 16.

Arsenal beat Preston 3-0 in their fourth-round tie to set up a last-eight date with Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, while Newcastle knocked out last season's runners-up Chelsea at St James' Park and will be at home again when they play Brentford for a spot in the semis.

Carabao Cup results | Fixtures | Teams | Stats

All you need to know - Streaming Sky Sports with NOW

The fixtures will be played in the week commencing December 16 and you can watch every single game live on Sky Sports.

Quarter-final draw in full

Tottenham vs Man Utd

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Newcastle vs Brentford

Southampton vs Liverpool

Free match highlights from 'Wicked Wednesday'

Key dates for rest of the competition

Semi-final: w/c January 6 2025 (first leg) and w/c February 3 2025 (second leg)

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This time last year Tottenham were top of the Premier League unbeaten.

A year later, Spurs are eighth, five points adrift of the top four and 10 behind the league leaders ahead of a week of football that could prove pivotal to their season. Ange Postecoglou's team are troubled by a case of consistent inconsistency.

The Spurs boss cut a defeated figure when he faced the press following his side's 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace on Sunday. His demeanour was a far cry from the jolly, room-capturing man that wowed the league with a refreshing charm last campaign. His side's display at Selhurst Park was a reflection of that.

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Struggles away from home

Very much second best at Selhurst Park, Postecoglou alluded to Spurs being outfought in a "battle" against Palace, unable to deal with the intensity of a side that, before their meeting, had yet to record a league victory. Unfortunately for Postecoglou, the loss also represents a worrying trend for Spurs when playing away from home.

When the final whistle blew in south London, the result meant that Tottenham had failed to win any of their last four London derby matches.

With three losses and a draw, the north London side have only managed a single goal during those defeats, failing to find the back of the net in three of those games.

It's a problem that stretched beyond the capital, with Spurs having just one win in their last five league matches away from home. That victory came against 10-player Manchester United. Their only other point on the road came in their opening weekend draw at newly-promoted Leicester.

This season, based on home form alone, Spurs are fourth in the Premier League, scoring the third most goals and conceding the joint-second fewest. On away form, Spurs have scored the third fewest goals and conceded the fourth most, putting them in 13th.

This calendar year hasn't been kind to Spurs on their travels either with just three total away wins in 2024.

An inability to win duels

In the weekend prior to the Palace defeat, Spurs seemingly put right the wrongs of their collapse at the Amex stadium where they led 2-0 against Brighton before suffering defeat. Goals from Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Heung-Min Son and an Alphonse Areola own goal saw a rampant Spurs dismantle West Ham.

In the jubilation of the win was a reality of the performance that saw the Hammers cause Spurs real issues in transition. Their inability to deal with West Ham's midfield in the first half saw James Maddison withdrawn at half-time for Pape Sarr in an alteration that had the desired effect as Spurs took greater control.

An inability to win duels means that Spurs are prone to losing control of games, especially against some of the league's higher-octane sides away from home comforts.

Postecoglou's principles, while risky, are what he wants his side to stick to. Playing out from the back cost them against Palace as the Eagles won the ball high up the pitch after Micky van de Ven failed to trap a pass from Pedro Porro in his own box. Palace took full advantage and Jean-Phillipe Mateta punished them with the winning goal.

A return to home comforts

On Sunday, Tottenham face Aston Villa at home, live on Sky Sports.

Villa represent a team that has found a replicable formula this season. The last time the sides faced at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs succumbed to a 2-1 defeat but were able to turn that around with a 4-0 victory in the reverse fixture at Villa Park. Postecoglou will be hoping for something similar to climb up the table.

The reality of Spurs' expectations is something that has been discussed by previous managers, but Postecoglou has been adamant he will yield positive results come the end of the season.

The trouble for Spurs though, is that there is an inherent unpredictability week to week in their performances, reflected in their results that is stifling any kind of progression.

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