Manchester City returned to the Premier League summit on goal difference with a 1-0 victory over fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur courtesy of an early goal by Riyad Mahrez at a subdued Wembley Stadium on Monday.

It was not the free-rolling City of late and Tottenham will rue missing some good opportunities to salvage something from a rather disjoined affair on a patchwork pitch.

Mahrez caught Tottenham cold in the sixth minute after a defensive mistake but despite City's dominance they were missing their usual clinical edge on a poor surface scarred by an NFL fixture a day earlier.

David Silva and Mahrez both could have put the game beyond Tottenham but the hosts, who were on a four-match winning run in the league and could have gone above City into second with a win, always looked a threat.

Dele Alli returned from a hamstring injury for Tottenham and his arrival as a substitute sparked some late pressure in which Erik Lamela spurned a glorious late chance to equalise.

City held form for a sixth consecutive Premier League clean sheet to knock Liverpool off top spot. They both have 26 points while Tottenham have 21.