Manchester City v Tottenham – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Man City host Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. The hosts are in superb form and are threatening to run away with the league title. Tottenham are struggling right now and their 2-0 home win against City in November looks a distant memory. If the current form of the two sides continues then this could be one of the less competitive Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho match ups in recent memory.

Man City Form

City are in sublime form. They have won 15 marches in a row and are 22 games unbeaten. With 16 clean sheets in that run, they have controlled games and allowed very few opportunities to their opponents.

Their most recent Premier League victories have been 5-0 away to West Brom, 1-0 at home to Sheffield United, 2-0 at Burnley and a fine 4-1 win at Liverpool. They travelled to Swansea in the FA Cup in midweek and won 3-1 with Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus on target.

Man City Team News

City remain without three players due to longer term injuries in Kevin De Bruyne, Nathan Ake and Sergio Aguero. Ruben Dias has been sick this week and is a doubt but Aymeric Laporte is a very able deputy if needed.

Both Rodri and Fernandinho are doubts for this match in the defensive midfield role. If both can’t play, then usually Ilkay Gundogan drops deeper but he has eight goals in his last 13 matches and Pep Guardiola may be reluctant to take him away from goalscoring areas. Therefore, perhaps John Stones or Joao Cancelo will cover in that role if needed.

Man City Motivation

City will expect to dominate possession in this match and will guard themselves against Spurs’ counter attack, likely by using an inverted left-back and Kyle Walker at right-back for his pace. Guardiola will go all out to win this match knowing the poor form and low confidence of Tottenham.

Spurs Form

Tottenham have been in poor form of late with five losses in their last ten Premier League matches as well as a 5-4 FA Cup defeat to Everton in their last match.

They won their last Premier League match, 2-0 at home to West Brom, but had lost three matches in a row before that as Liverpool beat them 3-1 in London before a 1-0 loss at Brighton and 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea.
Including the Everton defeat in the FA Cup, it’s four defeats in the last five matches in all competitions.

Spurs Team News

Spurs left Harry Kane on the bench against Everton but he entered the action after 53 minutes and played 67 minutes in the end including extra time. He should be fit and fresh to play this match but there is a chance that Mourinho does not risk him from the start.

Serge Aurier missed the last match and is doubtful so Matt Doherty may cover at right-back. Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso remain out injured. Eric Dier could be set for a recall after Spurs leaked five in their last match and don’t rule out a 3-5-2 formation with Moussa Sissoko as the right wingback.

Spurs Motivation

Plainly put, Spurs are going to park the bus and would take a draw in a heartbeat from this match. Expect Tottenham to have very little of the ball initially but if City score first, they may allow Mourinho’s side to keep it and see what they have to offer in terms of guile.

Mourinho could play a back five with Kane and Son up front just waiting for counter attacks. If Kane does not start, then the onus falls on Son with an underwhelming supporting cast.

Key Stats

City have won 15 matches in a row (22 unbeaten – W18, D3)

City have kept 16 clean sheets in their last 22 matches

Man City have won 10 PL matches in a row, 8 of them to zero

Spurs have won 3 of their last 11 PL matches

Tottenham have won 1 of their last 6 away PL matches

Spurs have lost 4 of their last 5 matches in all competitions

Spurs coach Mourinho has lost 10 times to Pep Guardiola, more than any other coach

Ilkay Gundogan has scored 8 goals in his last 13 matches

Prediction

This looks like a City win. Mourinho can always pull a backs-to-the-wall victory out of the bag in these big matches or even a 0-0 draw though. However, their form is so poor that going for City to win to nil looks like the best bet even if Ruben Dias may not play. The odds are poor for that so this may be a match to get creative.