Twice reigning champions, Manchester City kick off their first home game of the new Premier League season with a tough test as they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad Stadium.
Team news
Joao Cancelo could make his Manchester City debut after sitting out last weekend’s league opener at West Ham, having only arrived three days beforehand.
Fernando could meanwhile return to the starting eleven after participation in this summer’s Copa America meant that he wasn’t fit enough to feature in East London.
Leroy Sane and Benjamin Mendy both remain out with knee injuries.
Tottenham could welcome Ben Davies back into the starting eleven after the left-back underwent groin surgery this summer, meaning that he missed last weekend’s opener to focus on regaining full match fitness.
Dele Alli and Ryan Sessegnon both remain sidelined with hamstring injuries whilst Son Heung-Min and Juan Foyth serve the last of a three match ban hanging over from the end of last season.
Form
Manchester City got their title defence off to the perfect start last weekend as they battered West Ham 5-0, in which Raheem Sterling netted a hat-trick whilst Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero also got on the scoresheet.
Tottenham meanwhile came from behind to see off Aston Villa as a Harry Kane brace and Tanguy Ndombele debut goal proved enough to cancel out John McGinn’s ninth minute strike for Villa.
Stat Attack
- Manchester City have lost just one of their last seven meetings with Tottenham in all competitions (W5, D1, L1).
- At home, the Citizens have lost just twice to Spurs this decade in ten league meetings (W7, D1, L2).
- City have opened the scoring in their last four clashes at the Etihad against Tottenham (W3, D1).
- Pep Guardiola could become the first manager since Tony Book August 1974 – September 1978) to guide Man City to four straight home wins over Tottenham in all competitions.
- Harry Kane registered eight shots last weekend, double the four shots that 12 different players managed to achieve.
Prediction
Both teams enter this match in positive moods for different reasons but Spurs cannot afford to repeat their slow start from last time out, otherwise this game will be done by half-time.
Man City meanwhile will be playing their usual attacking style and given their home form over Spurs, I can see them getting the win even if it’s a tight battle with both teams to score at least once.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Result: Manchester City 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur