MANCHESTER City had a late goal from Gabriel Jesus ruled out by VAR video review as the side drew 2-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday — its first league home game without victory in nearly eight months.

On the eve of the weekend’s marquee Premier League clash between two-time defending champion City and the Spurs — the club that shocked City in the Champions League last season — Sky Blues manager Pep Guardiola said that Spurs were “the second-best team in Europe.”

Saturday’s 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium did little to dispel that notion.

Guardiola made four changes to the lineup that dismantled West Ham 5-0 in the opener. While City still dominated against what Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino called his strongest possible team, they had to settle for a point.

Jesus’ apparent game-winner in stoppage time was ruled out by video assistant referee after Aymeric Laporte handled the ball right before Jesus scored.

As it stood, Lucas Moura was the hero for the visitors, scoring the goal that stole two points for Spurs just 14 seconds after Pochettino summoned him from the bench.

Raheem Sterling scored the first goal 20 minutes in off a pinpoint Kevin De Bruyne cross, but Erik Lamela canceled it out almost immediately with a well-taken equalizer. De Bruyne set up a second when he found Sergio Aguero shortly before halftime, but in the end — and because of VAR — it wasn’t enough.

Sterling already has four goals this season after last week’s hat trick against the Hammers. Saturday’s opener represented another quality finish from the English national team standout, who sent this one home with a rare header.

Sterling scored 24 goals in 2018-19 and is on pace to smash his career-best. His improving scoring touch is good news for Guardiola in light of the manager’s testy exchange with Aguero when the Argentine was subbed off in the second half.

Meanwhile, Liverpool rallied to beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s on Saturday in a wild encounter on the South Coast.

Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino scored for Liverpool, while Danny Ings scored a crazy goal late on for Saints after an Adrian howler as they set up a pulsating finish.

At the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, Arsenal beat Burnley 2-1 to make it two wins from two to start the new season.

(SD-Agencies)