Tottenham v Manchester City Premier League Preview
Tottenham may be in serious trouble in the Champions League but will need to turn attention swiftly to the Premier League when they face table toppers Manchester City and the wit of Pep Guardiola in the Premier League standout fixture of the weekend. As we head into week 10 of the Premier League, the top 5 are only separated by two points. Tottenham in 5th are on 21 points while Pep’s City are on 23 points. If Mauricio Pochettino ever needed a huge game to rouse his boys back into last season’s form, he’s got the kind of match up required to initialise that this weekend. The prize for winning this game for Spurs is overtaking City in the table and if there is any flame left in Spurs, it should fan it into a fire. As much as their European form has been poor, they have been doing well in the Premier league points wise with 12 points from the last 4 games, same as City who are on a 4-match winning run.
Champions Manchester City are going about their business in a fluent and efficient manner. They are one of the 3 teams yet to lose a game in the Premier League this season and have won five of their last six. They put Burnley to the sword in their last Premier league game 5-0 with five different scorers. The Citizens imperious passing game went up another level with the return of midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne in the midweek Champions League routing of Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday. The Belgian has admitted beating the lily whites on their home turf is going to be a different kettle of fish. De Bruyne also aired his frustration on the expected state of the Wembley pitch due to the NFL game between Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles slated to be played a day before the clash with Spurs.
There have been 155 competitive meetings between these two sides. Both sides have 60 victories with 35 draws. Spurs are a team Sergio Aguero loves playing against. He has nine goals against Spurs since his arrival in 2011 including 4 goals in a single match against them in 2014. Raheem Sterling also has 3 goals in his last two against Spurs.
Ilkay Gundogan limped off in the Champions League win over Hoffenheim earlier in the month and is doubtful for this game as well is Fabian Delph who has a knee injury. Danilo is suffering from a knock he sustained on international duty while goalkeeper Bravo is a long-term absentee. Pep has been trialling Stones at RB in recent games and may continue the experiment while Otamendi and Laporte take central positions in the defence. Aguero who was rested in midweek should return to the starting XI.
Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama and Dele Alli all face fitness tests before the game while Vertonghen and Vincent Janssen are ruled out till December. Pochettino will have to make a call on Hugo Lloris who continues to let Spurs down since his return to the side. 26-year old Argentine Paolo Gazzaniga may face his first real test in Spurs colours.
Verdict
I cannot see Spurs winning this and it will be a tough game for both sides, so I am going with a slender 1-0 win to Manchester City but this really is a tough game to call.
Another great preview mate... I like the line about this being a game that might rouse Spurs back to top form, that can often be the way, certainly they were pretty decent and a bit unlucky against Barcelona a few games back.
I am really interested to see City here... as I mention in my own post, 6 of City's 7 wins have come versus teams in the bottom half while the two draws were against Liverpool and Wolves, both established in the top 10.
Something will have to give here... can't see City rolling Spurs over so totally agree with you there. I have gone for my favourite 2-1, 1-1, 1-2 bet.
Nice prediction I do agree with you that Pep has the Spurs number but I see a few goals coming. I'm going to say 2-1 City!
It's going to be an exiting game for sure, but i think it will end in a draw. Man City will drop points i don't think they'll win the league this season.
I honestly can see this EPL season ending in crazy fashion...Coming down to the last week or two of football. The past few seasons have had a clear winners weeks before. Don't see it happening this year.
Its time for Spurs to Win or Draw and Both Teams to score
That rhymes!
Your analysis of both sides is very correct. This game is quite difficult to predict even though we we all know that man. City has more chance to win the game. But since both sides have sharp strikers, I'll predict draw.
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Your analysis of both sides is very correct. This game is quite difficult to predict even though we we all know that man. City has more chance to win the game. But since both sides have sharp strikers, I'll predict draw.
Posted using Partiko Android