This fixture should come with a health warning for viewers
Manchester City beat Wolves 4-0 last week but this matchweek brings a familiar disruptive foe. City have lost two of their last five Premier League matches against Spurs, and five of their last ten in all competitions.
This fixture last season saw Pep Guardiola’s side mercilessly hammered 4-0 at the Etihad. The last time they faced each other this early in the season was in 2021, when Tottenham also defeated City 1-0.
It’s a different Tottenham side now for sure, trying to recover some dignity under new manager Thomas Frank after an unbelievably bad campaign last season that saw them finish 17th, having lost 22 league games and shipped 65 goals.
They have started the season as brilliantly as possible. Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison shone as Spurs dispatched newly promoted Burnley 3-0, although a trip to Manchester should provide a sterner test of their mettle.
City have a spring in their steps after sharp, coruscating football against Wolves, new signing Tijjani Reijnders displaying impressive talent as Guardiola’s side claimed the top seat in the league table with a statement win.
Only one thing is clear, though: both sides faced likely relegation contenders last week. This week should give a clearer indication of their strength.
So make mine a cracking early kick-off fixture.
Team News
Rodri and Phil Foden are available and ready to play for City, after spending the past week getting the training time and rhythm that kept them out against Wolves. Ederson is also available and Guardiola has a choice to make, with James Trafford having impressed in goal last week.
However, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiola are still out, while Savinho is being kept out of the team due to uncertainty over his future.
As for the visiting team, Destiny Udogie, Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski are all sidelined. James Maddison, Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai are expected to be out for even longer. Otherwise, Spurs have every man available and getting on that bus to Manchester.
Predicted Line-Ups
Manchester City predicted lineup vs Tottenham (4-3-3): Trafford; Nunes, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Reijnders, Rodri, Silva; Foden, Haaland, Marmoush
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Manchester City (5-3-2): Vicario; Porro, Danso, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur, Sarr; Kudus, Richarlison
Kick-off Time: 12.30 p.m. BST / 7.30 a.m. ET
Manchester City vs Tottenham Prediction
Manchester City 1-0 Tottenham
