Man City vs. Tottenham confirmed lineups: Cherki, Ederson, Marmoush, Bentancur, Palhinha decisions made for Premier League clash

Rayan Cherki will make his full Premier League debut for Manchester City in this afternoon’s Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.

The 21-year-old summer signing from Lyon announced himself to English football with a goal in City’s statement 4-0 opening win at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend less than 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Cherki has been rewarded this afternoon with his first league start for the Citizens in their first home match of the new season, while Omar Marmoush also starts as manager Pep Guardiola makes just two changes to his first XI.

Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku make way for attacking duo Cherki and Marmoush, who will link up with Oscar Bobb in behind central striker Erling Haaland, who scored a brace against Wolves last weekend and is eyeing up a couple of PL goalscoring records.

Tijjani Reijnders grabbed the headlines with his goal and assist in a man-of-them-match debut display against Wolves and he continues in midfield, though the introduction of Cherki in the No.10 role may see the Dutchman operate slightly deeper against Spurs alongside Nico Gonzalez.

Fresh from signing a new long-term contract at Man City, Ruben Dias will wear the captain’s armband in an unchanged back four including John Stones, Rico Lewis and Rayan Ait-Nouri, while James Trafford retains his spot in goal despite the return of Ederson from illness, with the Galatasaray-linked shot-stopper beginning as a substitute.

Meanwhile, Rodri and Phil Foden have been included in City’s matchday squad and will also begin this match on the bench after making progress in their recoveries from injury.

Palhinha handed first Spurs start, Bentancur also returns

As for Tottenham, new head coach Thomas Frank has also made two changes to his starting lineup following last weekend’s 3-0 home victory over newly-promoted Burnley.

Rodrigo Bentancur returns to play alongside summer signing Joao Palhinha who is handed his first start for Spurs in midfield, with Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall dropping down to the substitutes’ bench.

Frank has opted to stick with a back four instead of switching to a five-man defence, so Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence all retain their starting spots in the backline, protecting Guglielmo Vicario between the sticks.

In the absence of injured playmaker James Maddison, who scored twice for Spurs in a 4-0 win at the Etihad last season, Pape Sarr looks set to continue operating in an advanced midfield position in front of Bentancur and Palhinha, while Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson start out wide.

After scoring a brace against Burnley last weekend, Richarlison will start again as Frank’s central striker, with Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel having to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench.

Manchester City starting lineup: Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez, Reijnders; Bobb, Cherki, Marmoush; Haaland

Subs: Ederson, Ake, Doku, Rodri, Bernardo, Nunes, O'Reilly, Khusanov, Foden

Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kudus, Sarr, Johnson; Richarlison

Subs: Kinsky, Danso, Tel, Gray, Bergvall, Vuskovic, Solanke, Odobert, Davies

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