Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Match preview, betting tips and predictions

Red hot Phil Foden celebrates after firing an emphatic curler past Alison in the Liverpool goal last weekend at Anfield. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Manchester City vs Spurs
Etihad Stadium
6:30pm

Manchester City have won fifteen straight games in all competitions, no team in English football has achieved this to date, but if there’s anyone that can puncture such streak, it’s their opponent of the day.

Manchester City went to Anfield, saw how bad Liverpool are, and conquered them without even having to use the fifth gear, four solid goals and even had to miss a penalty when it was even to keep it even, generous? Maybe!

Tottenham Hotspur welcomed Harry Kane back to their fold and he’s been doing what he knows how to do best, score goals; he was on song when Spurs hosted the Baggies last weekend and also got on the score sheet in the thrilling 5-4 loss in midweek at Goodison Park, he will come handy this weekend.

The Citizens have the pool of players to play with, Ilkay Gundogan has stepped in to fill the boots of the absent Kevin De Bruyne and he has done amazingly well deputizing, is there any stopping Phil Foden? The kid sensation is giving everyone goosebumps and it’s only the beginning.

How can Tottenham Hotspur stop Manchester City?

Jose Mourinho is known to be a negative manager, no disrespect but he won’t go to the Etihad to attack.

Hp.e doesn’t even set up to attack weaker teams, it can be frustrating watching the avalanche of talents available to him struggling to defend but it is what it is.

Elsewhere in this context, it is noteworthy that Jose Mourinho certainly knows how to ruin beautiful scripts.

He was United’s manager when they delayed City’s title confirmation at the Etihad in their centurion season and he was there to slow them down to Liverpool’s advantage last season, he can do it again.

Pep Guardiola can also be erratic, he knows how to rile FPL managers up by sitting out some particular players on important days but he hardly regrets his decisions.

It’s a golden opportunity for him to steer clear of Manchester United, after all, to be the best, you have to beat the best.

If Mourinho somehow comes out of this fixture with a result, he would be making a statement that he can still win titles.

The loss to Everton in the FA Cup on Wednesday meant the Portuguese manager will only rely on the Carabao Cup for a piece of domestic silverware, howbeit again, against Guardiola.

Spurs will set up to defend, a low block of Sissoko and Piere Emile Hoijberg, Tanguy Ndombele isn’t available so he will have to consider Harry Winks or push Eric Dier further up.

Bergwijn and Heung Min Son will be more of wingbacks and Harry Kane will see more of the center circle than the City box.

For Guardiola, he will never come out negative, John Stones and Ruben Dias will continue to shine in defense and Gundogan will certainly keep his place in the middle.

Gabriel Jesus was the star of the midweek cup game but Ferran Torres might push for a start, Raheem Sterling is a much improved player under Guardiola, he will have another opportunity to continue his strides.

Back-to-back 2-0 wins is what Spurs have over City going into this game, will that spur Spurs to victory? Or will the form of the champions elect come to play on Saturday under the lights at the Etihad? Time will tell.