Haaland keeps revamped Man City perfect as blunt Spurs are held

Manchester City’s rebuilt side remains perfect, although it needed a single Erling Haaland header to overcome a spirited Coventry challenge. The result gave City three wins from three Premier League matches before next week’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Enzo Fernández played a central role in the winning move. The former Chelsea midfielder fed Antoine Semenyo, whose cross found Haaland for his third goal of the season. Fernández had arrived on transfer deadline day in a £125 million ($170 million) move that equalled the British transfer record.

New manager Enzo Maresca handed Fernández a start after Nico O’Reilly suffered an injury during the warm-up. Another new arrival, Iliman Ndiaye, made his debut, while Elliot Anderson and teenage Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi also appeared. City have reshaped their squad after the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, and are seeking to reclaim the title after finishing behind Liverpool and Arsenal in the past two seasons.

Coventry took the lead in the 26th minute but could not extend it, leaving Frank Lampard’s team to rue missed chances. Tottenham, meanwhile, remain without a Premier League goal after a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest. Forest had a second-half goal from Neco Williams ruled out by VAR after poor defending, while Tottenham substitute Mykhailo Mudryk made his first competitive appearance since November 2024 following a doping ban. Brentford drew 1-1 with Sunderland after Enzo Le Fée converted a late penalty to cancel out Vitaly Janelt’s opener.