91Èȱ¬

Manchester City are playing the best football in the world, according to Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood.

City climbed above Arsenal to the top of the Premier League on Wednesday as they thrashed Spurs, who had Danny Rose sent off, 5-1 at White Hart Lane.

The 2011-12 champions remain in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple.

"They are the best team on the planet, certainly the best team in the Premier League. We've played the champions today," Sherwood told 91Èȱ¬ Sport.

"It was difficult with level numbers, but once we were down to 10 it was over as a spectacle."

Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen agreed with Sherwood's assessment, describing Manuel Pellegrini's team as "mesmeric".

The former Liverpool defender said: "Tottenham were playing against possibly the best team in the world, with some of the greatest players in the world.

"They have gone away from home against a team who have taken 16 points from 18, and are going for the top four, and dismissed them with consummate ease.

"In the first half-hour they could have had five - their fluency, passing and movement was just mesmeric."

City have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time and are still in contention for four trophies.

Next Monday they host third-placed Chelsea in the league before a fifth-round FA Cup tie against Jose Mourinho's side, with a two-legged European tie against Barcelona to follow.

City have already reached the Capital One Cup final, with Sunderland their opponents in the Wembley showpiece in March.

Wednesday's victory was their second of the season against Tottenham after a 6-0 demolition of the Londoners at Etihad Stadium in November.

Top scorer Sergio Aguero scored the opener, his 26th goal of the season, but was replaced after injuring his hamstring.

Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and Vincent Kompany also netted as City moved to 115 goals in all competitions this season. With 68 in the top flight alone, they are on target to break Chelsea's record of 103 during a Premier League season.

Pellegrini said: "It's not easy to score five goals against any team in the Premier League. We are trying always to be a creative team. We have top players, so the chances we have, they score."