Outlook India

A clinical Spurs ran out 4-0 winners over City at the Etihad Stadium in November, having also knocked them out of the EFL Cup the month before.

That result in the top-flight was followed up by a tough spell for Spurs which saw them drop down the table, but having won their last three in the league, they are now up in 12th on 33 points.

"We've enjoyed our games against them, whether that was this year or last year. They're going to try and win; they're going to try and play expansively, and we are going to try and do the same. It's going to be a good test for us."

City endured a disappointing week after a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid saw them exit the Champions League in the play-offs on Wednesday (6-3 on aggregate) before they were soundly beaten 2-0 by Liverpool on Sunday.

Guardiola says he has not been surprised by Spurs' recent winning run, which has coincided with a raft of players returning from injury, noting the individual talent Postecoglou has in his side.

"The rhythm they play and intensity they do, incredible runners in the transitions, but I think lately they have a few more extra passes.

Son Heung-min has provided nine assists for Tottenham in the Premier League this season, including two for Brennan Johnson in their 4-1 win against Ipswich last time out.

Only in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2023-24 has he provided more in a single campaign in the competition (10 each time).

Guardiola "hopes" Erling Haaland will be fit to face Spurs, and his involvement would be vital. He has scored six goals in five Premier League games in London this season.

The Norwegian is also one away goal away from scoring 10+ home goals and 10+ away goals in three different Premier League campaigns (also 2022-23 and 2023-24). The only player to have ever done so in three consecutive seasons is Harry Kane (2015-16 to 2017-18).

While City are tipped to get back to winning ways on Wednesday, Spurs have already beaten them twice this season (4-0 in the Premier League and 2-1 in the EFL Cup). The last time Tottenham beat the reigning English champions three times in a single campaign was 1984-85 (v Liverpool).

Following their 4-0 win in the reverse fixture, Spurs are also looking to do the league double over City for the first time since 2021-22. They last did so without conceding in 2009-10.

City have failed to win any of their last three Premier League away games against London sides (D2 L1), having won six in a row beforehand. Their last trip to the capital saw them beaten 5-1 by Arsenal.

A buoyed Tottenham Hotspur side are set to host a beleaguered Manchester City side in match week 27 of the Premier League 2024-25 season. Spurs, who found themselves fighting a relegation battle, are now slowly finding themselves up the table. They are in 12th spot from 26 matches played. (Premier League Table | More Football News)

As compared to Man City, Pep Guardiola's side are still in fourth place, having won 13 games in the same number of games.

Spurs will confident to face City on their home turf after the former had defeated the current Premier League champions albeit in the Carabao Cup earlier on this season. Ange Postecoglou, who had draw a lot of flak, will know a win against City could boost his side up the PL table.

As for City, their title hopes have vanished and are now playing for Champions League qualification. Their 0-2 defeat against Liverpool left them in fourth place and level on points with Newcastle United with the former just ahead on goal difference.

The Wales international, whose father David played for the Tractor Boys between 1997 and 2001, bagged a first-half double, while Djed Spence and Dejan Kulusevski were on target later on to seal all three points at Portman Road.

Johnson was in the right place at the right time twice in the space of eight minutes to convert a pair of Son Heung-min assists, though Omari Hutchinson halved the deficit before the break with an impressive first-time strike for the hosts.

The result remained in the balance until the closing stages, when a deflected Spence effort and Kulusevski's fine individual goal ultimately condemned Ipswich to a seventh defeat in eight home league matches.

Kieran McKenna's side remain 18th in the league table, but they are now five points from safety following Wolves' surprise win at high-flying Bournemouth.

Spurs, meanwhile, stay 12th and are six points adrift of the top 10.

Around this time 25 years ago, David Johnson's goals were instrumental towards Ipswich sealing their return to the Premier League. But a quarter of a century later, his son’s goals have dented their hopes of remaining in the top flight.

Johnson's first Premier League brace for Tottenham took his tally for the season to nine, his highest during a single campaign.

Both were set up by Son, who has been directly involved in eight goals (two goals, six assists) in his last eight away league games.

Kevin Danso, Son Heung-min and Rodrigo Bentancur are all among the doubtful players ahead of their trip to Ipswich Town, while Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin and Micky van de Ven are all out.

"Everyone likes an impeding car crash, I am sure we had a lot of people willing that scenario on. I know how hard these players have worked," he said.

"Our training was better and I was confident that we would put in a good shift. The focus is still on trying to win games. In the background we are doing it our own way. We are looking into ways we can do things better, but we're not going to be the only ones.

"There will be a few that come to my world in the next period and people will see it's not just a reflection of people involved, but the circumstances you have been dealt with.

When questioned as to whether he thought the problems with injuries and poor form might soon ease, he was unwilling to give a definitive answer.

"Who knows? We feel, and I certainly feel there's a massive opportunity in the back half of the year," he said.

"You look at him and he’s a monster. He’s a young lad that’s got the enthusiasm and energy and also the talent," said Palmer.

“So for us to have him and him be playing as well as he is at the moment, he’s going to have a big part to play the rest of the season.

“He’s a proper striker, and I think for us as well he’s an outlet. He’s a big physical boy. He’s not huge but he’s got that raw strength.

Delap is Ipswich’s top scorer, with all of his 10 goals coming in the Premier League. He comes into this game having scored in back-to-back league games.

Only Chris Wood (43.9%) has scored a higher share of his team’s goals in the Premier League this season than Delap (43.5% - 10/23). Delap’s 10 goals this season is the joint second most by an Ipswich player in a single Premier League campaign, behind only Marcus Stewart in 2000-01 (19).

Tel scored in his first start for Tottenham, away to Aston Villa in the FA Cup earlier in the month, which was also Spurs’ last away game.

While, at home to Manchester United last time out, he became the seventh different teenager to feature for Tottenham in the Premier League this season. It’s the joint-most different teens they have fielded in a single campaign in the competition (also seven in both 1992-93 and 1993-94).

After a run of one win in 11 Premier League games (D2 L8) that saw them concede 24 goals, Tottenham have won their last two (2-0 v Brentford, 1-0 v Man Utd). They last won three in a row in December 2023, while they last did so without conceding in May 2022.

Ipswich remain the only side without a win in the Premier League so far in 2025, drawing two and losing four of their six games. They last had a longer run without a league victory from the start of a calendar year in 1990 (eight games).

No side has won fewer games (one) or scored fewer goals (nine) at home in the Premier League this season than Ipswich Town. Since beating Chelsea in December, they have lost their last three at Portman Road by an aggregate score of 10-1.

Tottenham Hotspur welcome fellow Premier League strugglers Manchester United on Sunday, February 16 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with pressure building on both managers - Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim. (More Football News)

Spurs, who are fifteenth in the PL standings, were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Liverpool whereas Red Devils are placed a spot above in fourteenth.

Spurs have a host of injuries but could be boosted by the return of Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison and Brennan Johnson in a fortnight.

Reports suggest that angry Spurs fans will be taking to the streets ahead of the game to protest against club owner Daniel Levy and his ownership.

As for the Red Devils, they are still without key players and the form in the league has not been good under new boss Ruben Amorim.

The Tottenham Vs Manchester United, Premier League 2024-25 match will be played on Sunday, February 16 at 10pm IST. The match will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, having won just one of their last eight matches in the competition, while they were also knocked out of the EFL Cup and the FA Cup last week by Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively.

They have struggled with injuries over the last few months, with 11 senior players missing from their FA Cup squad last time out alone.

Son has been one of the players regularly available to Spurs, making 21 appearances in the Premier League with 19 of those starts.

He has netted six goals in the top-flight this term, the third-best return in the team, but has not scored since the north London derby on January 15.

Son does lead the way for assists among Spurs players, registering seven. After his assist for Pape Sarr's goal against Brentford, he became Tottenham's outright leading assister in the Premier League (69), overtaking Darren Anderton (68).

And only Dejan Kuluesevki (59) has created more chances for Spurs than him in the competition this season (37).

However, Son has been the subject of criticism for his performances during Spurs' low spell, though Postecoglou was adamant that the South Korean is the perfect player to lead the group.

"I've said a million times; we are in a world now where people are constantly wanting someone to blame. That is the world we live in," Postecoglou said.

"The reason for our poor results and consistency is not because of Sonny or my tactics.

"It is just that we have had 11 injuries for the last two months that means we have had tired players, but that doesn't suffice.

"That doesn't provide a head on a plate. That's how we live our lives these days. If someone makes a mistake, they want to tear them down. There is no leniency anymore, understanding or contextualising of why this happened.

"They are looking for someone. If people think Sonny hasn't done everything in his power to help us through this. So, what if he is a nice guy? What is wrong with being a nice person?

"Sonny is Sonny. I have no complaints about his leadership, he's handled it his way.

Sports

Arsenal Vs Spurs: Gunners Beat Local Rivals To Claim Derby Honours

Arsenal closed the gap on Premier League leader Liverpool to four points after a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Wednesday. Mikel Arteta’s team took advantage of Liverpool’s draw with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, with Leandro Trossard firing the winner in the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal was runner-up to Manchester City in the last two seasons and is in contention for the title again this year. But it was given a fright by Spurs when Son Heung-min opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute. A Dominic Solanke own goal when trying to defend a corner leveled the game in the 40th and Trossard struck low from just inside the box four minutes later to put Arsenal ahead.

Tottenham endured the humiliation of being taken to extra time by Tamworth, an opponent nearly 100 places lower in English soccer's pyramid, before winning 3-0 and avoiding one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history on Sunday. A massive surprise was on when fifth-tier Tamworth forced extra time with the score 0-0, only for the hosts to concede an own-goal in the 101st minute and then strikes by Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson to disappoint the majority of the 3,700 fans inside the tiny stadium called The Lamb.

The South Korean signed for Spurs in August 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen, with his previous deal due to expire at the end of this season.

Reports had suggested that Barcelona were one of the clubs interested in Son's signature at the end of the season, but he will now stay at Spurs for an 11th year.

Son has scored 169 goals in 431 appearances for Spurs in all competitions and is fifth on the club's all-time top scorer list, five behind Martin Chivers.

The 32-year-old has netted 125 goals in the Premier League, making him the most prolific Asian player in the competition's history. He has also reached double figures in each of the last eight seasons and shared the Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah in 2021-22.

However, Spurs have struggled this season, currently sitting 12th in the Premier League, with Son scoring just five goals despite having 35 shots (14.29% shot conversion).

He also has six assists in the top-flight, the most of anyone in the team, while he has created the second-most chances (33, behind Dejan Kulusevski).

Tottenham Hotspur will look to put their Premier League woes aside when they welcome red-hot Liverpool to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in the 1st leg of the EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) second semi-final on Thursday, January 9 at 1:30 am IST. (More Football News)

Ange Postecoglou, who had famously reiterated that he wins silverware in his second season, will be surely under pressure to deliver success to a club that has been ravaged by form and bad history. Spurs, who are on a miserable run, will look to the Carabao Cup, to renew their form and bring home some silverware.

As for the Reds, Arne Slot's side are one of the top-most clubs in Europe this season. Liverpool, who drew 2-2 to Manchester United in the league, could make some wholesale changes to their playing XI. Slot could start some fringe players including summer signing, Federico Chiesa.