Manchester City will look to keep the pressure on league leaders Arsenal on Super Sunday as they travel to North London to take on inconsistent Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Manchester City put a halt to their four-game winless run in the Premier League last weekend, defeating rock-botttom Wolves 2-0 at the Etihad, on an afternoon I landed a 7/5 winner.
That result moves the Cityzens back within four points of Premier League leaders Arsenal following the Gunners’ 2-3 loss at home to Manchester City’s rivals, Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola’s men also squeezed into the top eight in the league phase and advanced to the last-16 of the Champions League in midweek, as they recorded a 2-0 victory over reigning Turkish champions Galatasaray.
Another side that finished inside the top eight of the league phase table and advanced to the last-16 of the Champions League are Tottenham, as they also won by a 0-2 scoreline in midweek, defeating managerless Eintracht Frankfurt in their own backyard.
However, Spurs come into this fixture having won just two of their previous 14 Premier League encounters (W2-D5-L7), and they required a stoppage-time equaliser at Turf Moor last weekend to draw 2-2 at relegation-threatened Burnley.
That result leaves Thomas Frank’s men in a lowly 14th position in the Premier League table, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
How the bookies view it: City favourites
Manchester City are favourites to make it three wins in the space of eight days, with bet365 pricing an away success at 8/11.
Spurs are 10/3 to claim just their third win across their past 15 Premier League outings, whilst the draw is 3/1.
Head to head: Spurs City’s bogey team
Tottenham have become a bit of a bogey team for Pep Guardiola, with the North London club winning three of the last four (W3-D1-L0) and six of the past 11 (W6-D1-L4) meetings between the two sides, including a 0-2 victory in the reverse fixture at the Etihad back in August.
Players to watch: Semenyo to star again against Spurs?
Antoine Semenyo has made an immediate impact since joining Manchester City in this window, with the ex-Bournemouth man scoring three goals and providing one assist across his opening four appearances for the Cityzens, including the second against Wolves last weekend.
The Ghanaian attacker also scored a dramatic late winner against Spurs on his final appearance for Bournemouth just over three weeks ago, and the 10/11 on offer at bet365 for him to Score or Assist appeals to me here.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Spurs will be without Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Ben Davies, Pedro Porro, Lucas Bergvall Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus through injury, but Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, Mathys Tel and new signing Connor Gallagher are available after missing midweek.
Manchester City will be without the injured Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku and Savinho, but Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and Rodri return after being unavailable in the Champions League in midweek.
Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Gray, Palhinha, Tel, Simons, Odobert, Richarlison
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly, Rodri, Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Semenyo, Haaland
Anything else catch the eye?
As mentioned above, Spurs have been a bit of a bogey side for Pep Guardiola – and despite their impressive form in the Champions League – it’s hard to envisage them completing the double over their visitors.
Thomas Frank’s men have a shocking record at home in the Premier League, with the Lilywhites winning just one and losing six of their past 10 league fixtures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (W1-D3-L6).
Manchester City haven’t exactly been at their fluent best over the past few weeks, but I’m backing them at 8/11 at bet365 to get three points and keep the pressure on Arsenal at the top.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City Betting Tips & Predictions
Further Reading