Match Preview: City v Spurs (the battle of the undefeated)

Match Preview: City v Spurs (the battle of the undefeated)

With Woolwich falling to United last week, it leaves only Spurs and City undefeated… It will be then – hopefully, us – undefeated at the end of Saturday evening, if not, it will be a draw (with both holding on to their undefeated records). But I believe we can assert our authority over City and show that we are the true challengers to their Premier League aspirations by doing them over on their own turf.

Favourites at the beginning of the season to challenge City were Liverpool and Yankee-Chelski, but both have hit a rough patch. Yankee-Chelski's rough patch resulted in their manager Tommy Tickle-Tuchel being sacked (after three defeats, one of them coming in the Champions League). At the same time, some scousers have called for the head of Jugen Klipp-Klopp after their 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Napoli in the Champions league.  

Yes, two in-form teams seeking to build on their strong starts to the new season will lock horns at the Etihad Stadium this Saturday evening. Both sides have claimed 14 points from their opening six matches in the top flight, and victory for either team this weekend would see them move ahead of Woolwich in the League. Even a draw could see both teams leapfrog Woolwich.

Match preview

Manchester City

When he faces us, Erling Braut Haaland hopes to continue his goal-scoring bonanza. He has had two strikes in City's comfortable 4-0 Champions League victory against Sevilla on Tuesday.

Since arriving from Borussia Dortmund over the summer, Haaland has netted 12 times in eight games across all competitions, including 10 strikes in six Premier League matches.

Confidence is high among the City players, and will hope to continue their unbeaten run. On the other hand, we have different ideas, as we wish to show that we are the true challengers to City for the Premier League title by putting a nail in their coffin this weekend. We have become a bogey team for them in recent years, as they have lost four of their last five top-flight matches against us. The City only lost three times in the league last season. Two were at the hands of us, and one by Palace.

Man City were one of two English teams to win their opening Champions League group game in midweek, with the other being us. We eventually saw off Marseille to secure a 2-0 victory at our Tottenham Stadium.

We also beat newly-promoted Fulham 2-1 on home soil, with Harry Kane equalling Thierry Henry's London derby scoring record of 43 with a second-half strike. Kane will have fond memories of visiting the City on home soil last season; he scored twice, including a dramatic 95th-minute winner in an enthralling 3-2 victory in February.

We have enjoyed our best start to a Premier League season after six games since the 2016-17 campaign when they finished in second place – winning four times and drawing the other two. We are the only other Premier League side remaining unbeaten this season, along with City.

Manchester City Premier League form:

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Manchester City form (all competitions):

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Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

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Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

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Team News

Manchester City

Kyle Walker and John Stones both suffer from minor muscle injuries, and the pair are expected to miss out this weekend. Aymeric Laporte remains sidelined after undergoing knee surgery over the summer.

Manuel Akanji is set to retain his place at centre-back alongside Ruben Dias, with Joao Cancelo and Sergio Gomez to operate as full-backs.

Ilkay Gundogan could be recalled to start in centre-midfield with Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri.

Spurs

Our only injury concern is with Lucas Moura, who could be in contention to return to the matchday squad after missing the last three games with an inflamed tendon.

Richarlison will be hoping to retain his place in attack with Harry Kane, which could therefore see Son and Dejan Kulusevski battling for the final position in the front three.

My possible starting lineup:

Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Perisic; Richarlison, Kane, Son

Thoughts

We will be up against a formidable opponent on Saturday, but Conte's side have frustrated the champions before and will be confident of upsetting them once again at the Etihad.

My score prediction

It will be close, but I am again confident, even though I have been way off with the exact number of goals we would score in the previous game (but my prediction that we would win has been normally spot on), so I'll say, a 1-2 away victory for us at the City ground.

Prediction 1-2

The press will undoubtedly see this fixture as Haaland vs Kane showdown, with arguably the Premier League's best two strikers coming head to head. But it won't be as simple as that, as it will be a defensive/ midfield battle, with all vying for that goal to sink the other.

COYS!

Glenn