Southampton affirmed themselves as a genuine top-class side on the eighth weekend of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season.
Ronald Koeman's Saints produced their biggest ever win in England's top flight by hammering Sunderland 8-0 at St Mary's Stadium to remain third on the table with their fifth victory of the campaign.
November's Premier League Player of the Month, Graziano Pelle, continued his brilliant start to life on the south coast by scoring a double to take his season tally to six while fellow summer signing Dusan Tadic provided four assist and was also on the scoresheet.
Jack Cork contributed with a goal, which was his second of the league season, while Victor Wanyama notched again and Sadio Mane opened his account following his move from Red Bull Salzburg in September.
Santiago Vergini and Liam Bridcutt had own goals against their names as the 17th-placed Black Cats sunk to an enormous low.
History was also made in Manchester as Sergio Aguero netted four goals to become Manchester City's highest goalscorer in the Premier League.
The Argentine striker netted in the 13th, 20th, 68th and 75th minutes - two of which were penalties - to take his tally to 61 in the league which overtakes Carlos Tevez's previous record of 58.
Aguero also had a penalty saved by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris while City's Joe Hart denied Roberto Soldado from the spot just after the hour-mark, prior to Federico Fazio's sending off for bringing down the dangerous Aguero.
City stayed second on the table after moving to 17 points but they remain five behind runaway leaders Chelsea who overcame Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park.
Oscar's early free-kick and Cesc Fabregas' goal in the 51st minute was enough for Jose Mourinho's men to edge the Eagles who had a late consolation from Fraizer Campbell.
The Blues had Cesar Azpilicueta sent off in the 40th minute while Damien Delaney was also shown a red card as Palace dropped to 16th with their fourth defeat of the campaign.
In other Premier League fixtures on Saturday, Arsenal required an injury-time equaliser from Danny Welbeck to force a 2-2 draw with Hull City at the Emirates Stadium after Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring prior to Mo Diame and Abel Hernandez putting the Tigers ahead.
Summer signings Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia scored as West Ham United beat Burnley 3-1 at Turf Moor to move up to fourth, Everton cruised past Aston Villa 3-0 at Goodison Park as Newcastle United secured their first win of the season with a 1-0 result over Leicester City courtesy of Gabriel Obertan's 71st-minute effort.
2014/15 Barclays Premier League season scores
Manchester City: 4 (Sergio Aguero 13'/(p) 20'/(p) 68'/75') Tottenham: 1 (Christian Eriksen 15', red card: Federico Fazio 67') Etihad Stadium, Manchester - 45,549
Arsenal: 2 (Alexis Sanchez 13', Danny Welbeck 90+1') Hull City: 2 (Mohamed Diame 17', Abel Hernandez 46') Emirates Stadium, London - 60,004
Burnley: 1 (George Boyd 60') West Ham United: 3 (Diafra Sakho 49', Enner Valencia 54', Carlton Cole 70') Turf Moor, Burnley - 18,936
Crystal Palace: 1 (Fraizer Campbell 90', red card: Damien Delaney 43') Chelsea: 2 (Oscar 6', Cesc Fabregas 51', red card: Cesar Azpilicueta 40') Selhurst Park, London - 24,451
Everton: 3 (Phil Jagielka 18', Romelu Lukaku 48', Seamus Coleman 76') Aston Villa: 0 Goodison Park, Liverpool - 39,505
Newcastle United:1 (Gabriel Obertan 71') Leicester City: 0 St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 51,886
Southampton: 8 (Santiago Vergini (og) 12', Graziano Pelleo 18'/69', Jack Cork 37', Liam Bridcutt (og) 63', Dusan Tadic 78', Victor Wanyama 79', Sadio Mane 86') Sunderland: 0 St Mary's Stadium, Southampton - 29,615
