GIVEMESPORT

‘Optimistic’ Update on Tottenham Appeal for Bentancur Ban Emerges

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is set to be suspended for a further six games after missing their 4-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday evening over racist remarks towards teammate Son Heung-min. However, Ben Jacobs has told GIVEMESPORT that whilst the club are confident they can get his ban appealed, they will only be able to reduce his suspension by one game thanks to the Premier League's rules.

Bentancur was banned for seven domestic games earlier this month, missing the win over City - and whilst he is set to return in the midst of the Christmas fixture list, Spurs are set to launch an appeal to reduce his ban. Bentancur has started seven of Tottenham's 12 games in the Premier League, and that will impact them somewhat - though there is hope the ban can be reduced, even if only for one game.

The Uruguayan has been reprimanded for his actions

Bentancur was filmed on Uruguayan television programme 'Por La Camiseta' making a remark about Son, with the Football Association charging him in September - despite Son later that month stating that there was no ill relationship between the players.

Bentancur apologised to Son in June after the clip went viral, with the midfielder stating that it was a 'very bad joke' - however, the FA stated that the former Juventus star had acted improperly, with a statement reading:

"[Bentancur] acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute”.

“It was further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach” … as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin."

Jacobs: Tottenham 'Optimistic' Over Bentancur Reduction

The Uruguayan is currently out until December

Speaking to exclusively to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs stated that whilst Tottenham will be hoping that Bentancur's suspension can be reduced, the most they can ask for is simply one game due to the Premier League's rules. He said:

"The minimum suspension for aggravated misconduct is six matches, so even if Spurs are successful, Rodrigo Bentancur will only have one-match from his seven-game ban taken off.

"Spurs are optimistic, and know several other clubs sympathise with the severity of the punishment. Spurs will argue Bentancur did not mean any offence in making the remarks, and instead that he was actually being sarcastic, replying in such a manner because he was offended himself and taken aback by the interviewer simply referring to Son as 'the Korean'."

Bentancur Will Miss Key Premier League Clashes

The Tottenham midfielder will be out for a crunch part of the campaign

Missing further clashes in the Premier League, Bentancur will be unavailable for home top-flight games against fellow London sides Fulham and Chelsea, alongside away ties to the south coast against Bournemouth and Southampton - before a League Cup home clash against Manchester United and a further game in N17 against Liverpool.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Rodrigo Bentancur has 82 appearances for Tottenham, scoring eight goals.

They are some huge games which will take Tottenham to the halfway mark in the Premier League - and returning against dark horses Nottingham Forest, Ange Postecoglou will be hoping that his players will have remained in the Champions League race by that point before they embark on the second half of their season, having not finished in the top four for the past two Premier League campaigns.

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Man City 0-4 Tottenham: Player Ratings and Match Highlights

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Tottenham Hotspur handed a deafening blow to Manchester City's title chances after a brace from James Maddison, a blasting strike from Pedro Porro, and a stoppage-time tap in from Brennan Johnson gave the visitors a 4-0 victory in their Premier League clash at the Etihad.

Entering the blockbuster contest, City were trailing league leaders Liverpool by five points, and needed to ensure that they weren't susceptible to trailing by as many as eight points with their title rivals playing on Sunday. On the other hand, Spurs were desperate to come away from Manchester with at least a point, having handed Ipswich Town their first win of the season, being defeated 2-1 at home in their final league game before the international break.

City started the contest the brighter of the two sides, with a glorious opportunity falling to Erling Haaland inside five minutes, but he couldn't get the shot off quickly enough, allowing Davies to get across. The Norwegian had a second effort to put his side ahead early, but his shot was saved by Guglielmo Vicario's outstretched legs.

Despite struggling to get on the ball, and amassing just 32 percent possession at that stage of the match, it was Spurs midfielder Maddison - who was celebrating his 28th birthday - who opened the scoring in the 13th minute, after a delicious looping cross over the defender played in by Dejan Kulusevski in what was their first phase of play inside City's half.

After conceding, City looked dejected, and a mistake from Josko Gvardiol saw Spurs advancing forward again, with some neat one-two play between Son Heung-Min and Maddison, with the latter able to clip the ball over a grounded Ederson to double the visitors' lead inside 20 minutes.

City did begin to ramp up the pressure, but they were unable to claw one back before the half-time whistle.

It didn't take long in the second-half for Spurs to net their third, with Dominic Solanke - who found himself on the touchline after the cross into the box from Kulusevski dragged him wide - cutting it back for Pedro Porro to blast home and make it three to the visitors, leaving those in attendance at the Etihad shell-shocked about what was unfolding before them.

Haaland thought he had clawed one back on the hour mark, but his effort on goal skidded off the top of the bar, adding to the frustrations of both the players and the crowd.

Spurs rubbed salt in the wounds of City after Timo Werner - who had just come on the pitch - blazed past Kyle Walker to put in a cross for Brennan Johnson to latch onto and tap home into an empty net, sealing a 4-0 victory for the Lilywhites.

With their fifth defeat in a row in all competitions, City could trail main title challengers Liverpool by eight points by the time the weekend comes to a close. For Spurs, three deserved points sees them rise from 11th to sixth in the table.

Match Highlights

Man City Player Ratings

GK - Ederson - 6/10

Didn't look too comfortable when Spurs went on the attack, preferring to punch the ball out on occasions. There was little he could do about the first goal, though an argument could be made that he went to ground too early for Spurs' second.

RB - Kyle Walker - 5/10

The first-half frustrations were visible on his face, and while he was commanding both aerially, and in ground duels, he struggled to contain Udogie and Son's one-two punch down the left flank.

CB - John Stones - 6/10

Looked relatively stout in his defending, having made a few interceptions and clearances, though it wasn't enough to keep Spurs from scoring. Was subbed off at half-time.

CB - Manuel Akanji - 6/10

Saw a lot of the ball, particularly in the first half, and was commanding aerially against Solanke. But his performance didn't stand out as anything more than average.

LB - Josko Gvardiol - 4/10

Having been one of City's bright sparks since his arrival, he looked lost having to defend up against Kulusevski, with the Spurs winger looking unstoppable for much of the contest. One of his poorest performances in City blue.

CM - Rico Lewis - 6/10

Completed 98 percent of his passes, and wasn't afraid to drive forward in a midfield role, while also willing to track back when necessary.

CM - Ilkay Gundogan - 6/10

Gundogan wasn't bad at all. It was just that Spurs' midfield was just that good. A fairly quiet performance.

CM - Bernardo Silva - 7/10

One of City's best players on the night, completing over 95 percent of his passes, playing in a handful of key passes, and always looking to put his teammates in where he found success with his crosses and long balls.

RW - Savinho - 5/10

Very quiet on the left-hand side of City's attack, struggling to control balls in the Manchester rain. Did create a big chance, though it didn't amount to a goal for the side.

ST - Erling Haaland - 5/10

Had a plethora of chances, but just couldn't find the back of the net, with his closest chance coming in the second half when his effort clipped and sailed over the crossbar. Another poor performance against a 'Big Six' side.

LW - Phil Foden - 7/10

If City were going to score, Foden was somehow going to be involved. Looked lively at times, and had a few chances on goal, though fell short of hitting the target.

Sub - Nathan Ake - 6/10

Came on at the half to replace John Stones in central defence. Dealt with Solanke well, but wasn't exactly an upgrade on Stones.

Sub - Kevin De Bruyne - 6/10

So often, the Belgian has been City's saviour, but even he couldn't rally his side back into the contest. He did pick up a booking after he tried to pull Sarr up after fouling him.

Sub - Jack Grealish - 7/10

Looked a threat in the 15 minutes that he was on the pitch, making two key passes, and taking on his defenders. Could have been a different scoreline had he seen more game time.

Tottenham Player Ratings

GK - Guglielmo Vicario - 8/10

Made some excellent stops to keep City out in the first half, despite them laying it on thick in the first 10 minutes of the game when it was 0-0. Dealt with the City pressure excellently in the second-half, and didn't look troubled on set-pieces.

RB - Pedro Porro - 7/10

Put his keeper in a bit of bother after his header back towards goal was short, but fortunately, nothing materialised from it. Made quite a few clearances and defended very well, particularly in the second half, to keep City out. Scored Spurs' third with an emphatic whip on goal.

CB - Radu Dragusin - 8/10

One of his better performances in a Spurs shirt, and a good way to answer the criticism he received leading into the international break.

CB - Ben Davies - 8/10

Filling in for the injured Cristian Romero was a huge ask, but the Welshman slotted in well and looked the most commanding of Spurs' two central defenders. Set the tone early by recovering to block Haaland's first strike on goal, and made some good clearances.

LB - Destiny Udogie - 7/10

Not short of energy, bursting forward down the left flank. His link-up play with Son kept the City defenders on their toes. Did struggle with losing possession at times.

CM - Pape Matar Sarr - 8/10

Very commanding in midfield, completing passes through City's lines with ease, whilst also offering defensive support to those behind him. A very convincing performance from the Senegalese international, who continues to look more confident when he steps out onto the pitch.

CM - Yves Bissouma - 7/10

Was booked inside 15 seconds after a challenge from behind on Foden, but didn't let that dictate how he would play the game. Accurate in his passing, and was given more freedom to roam forward with Sarr alongside him taking over the defensive duties vacated by the suspended Rodrigo Bentancur.

CM - James Maddison - 9/10

Scored the opener with a neat finish after the pass was put on a plate for him, but it was his effort to make the run forward that gave Kulusevski an outlet to put the ball in. His second goal was even better, with a nice dink over the keeper. A brace for the birthday boy.

RW - Heung-Min Son - 8/10

Had a curling effort saved by Ederson's fingertips, but always looked threatening going forward. His reverse pass into the path of Maddison for his second of the game was sublime. Had a chance to hit a ball first time, but took too long to make up his mind, and the opportunity vanished in a flash.

ST - Dominic Solanke - 7/10

With so much attacking play around him, the centre-forward struggled to get as involved in the game as he perhaps would have wanted. But he did offer bodies going forward and made the right runs into good areas to give the team striking options.

LW - Dejan Kulusevski - 8/10

Looked unplayable at times as he glided past the City defenders as if he had a magnet in his boots to stick with the ball. His delivery into Maddison to create the opener was world-class. There's just something about playing at the Etihad for the Swede. Top performance from a top player.

Sub - Brennan Johnson - 6/10

Received 30 minutes of game time, but it was a very quiet night in Manchester for the Welsh winger, barely getting involved in the play - that was until he rubbed salt in the wounds of City, scoring a tap-in in stoppage time.

Sub - Timo Werner - 6/10

Was a second-half stoppage-time substitution, but that didn't stop him from beating Kyle Walker for pace and putting a peach of a ball across the face of the goal for Johnson to tap in.

Sub - Djed Spence - N/A

Second-half stoppage-time substitution.

Sub - Lucas Bergvall - N/A

Second-half stoppage-time substitution.

Man of the Match

James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur)

The birthday boy received two gifts in the form of assists from Kulusevski and Son. His play on the ball was sublime, orchestrating those around him to go forward, while he led by example. Off the ball, he was tenacious in his work rate, showing a desire to win the ball back at any given opportunity.

He ran the Man City defence ragged, and his brace, with his first goal coming completely against the run of play, changed the tone of the entire contest, which ultimately led to Guardiola suffering a third successive Premier League defeat for the first time, and the first time ever that a Guardiola-managed side has lost five straight matches in all competitions.

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Man City v Tottenham Predicted Starting Lineups for Premier League Match Amid Romero Update

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Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur will go head-to-head in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening as both sides return to domestic action following the international break.

City are in their worst form since Pep Guardiola became manager nine years ago after suffering four consecutive defeats in all competitions, conceding their lead to lose against Brighton last time out. Spurs on the other hand come into this game on the back of a surprise home defeat to Ipswich before the break, with Ange Postecoglou under pressure to start finding results more consistently.

Both teams are battling with injury issues to key players too ahead of this big game, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expect both sides to line up.

Man City Team News

Kovacic out injured

City have been dealing with a host of injury problems this season and Guardiola has confirmed things haven't changed, with Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic joining their injury list during the break and set to miss the next 3-4 weeks.

Ruben Dias is still out injured but John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake have returned to training, while Rodri is expected to be out for the remainder of the season.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Guardiola shared an update on the fitness of his squad.

"Kovacic is injured. It will be a while, a few weeks or one month. John [Stones] trained good, Manu [Akanji] trained good. Nathan [Ake] is coming back to training so we didn't have any centre-backs, and now we have three. Ruben [Dias] is out but hopefully back soon."

Man City Predicted XI

Kevin De Bruyne to start

Man City Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Stones, Gvardiol; Gundogan, De Bruyne, B. Silva; Savinho, Haaland, Foden.

Man City Predicted Substitutes: Ortega (GK), Ake (DEF), Simpson-Pusey (DEF), Wilson-Esbrand (DEF), Nunes (MID), McAtee (MID), O'Reilly (MID), Grealish (FWD).

Guardiola will be delighted to have several first-team defenders back available to him, but with Rodri and Kovacic out he now has a shortage in midfield that will see some shuffling needed. Ilkay Gundogan should start as the deepest midfielder, while Phil Foden can start alongside Erling Haaland and Savinho in attack. Kevin De Bruyne is fit again and should get the nod from the start too.

£153m duo Nunes and Grealish should start on the bench

Tottenham Team News

Romero and Van de Ven to miss out

Spurs have got a defensive crisis of their own currently as first-choice central defensive partnership Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven look set to miss out on the game through injury. Van de Ven is still recovering from a hamstring injury and is believed to be a few weeks away, while Romero withdrew from international duty due to a foot issue after featuring in their first game.

Richarlison and Wilson Odobert are long-term absentees with hamstring problems, while Rodrigo Bentancur begins his seven-game suspension for using a racial slur.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Postecoglou dropped an update on the fitness of his squad following the international break.

"We’re really happy for Cristian and his wife on the birth of their baby girl. He’s still not 100%, so he’s a doubt for the weekend. Everyone else on internationals got through well.

"For the most part, they are still coming back into the building (from their respective international duties), but it looks like most of them came through it okay... it didn't look like there were too many issues.

"The only one with a little bit of an issue is (Cristian) Romero, so we'll just see how he is over the next couple of days."

Tottenham Predicted XI

Maddison battling to start

Tottenham Predicted XI: Vicario, Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson, Kulusevski, Son; Solanke

Tottenham Predicted Substitutes: Forster (GK), Gray (DEF), Spence (DEF), Maddison (MID), Bergvall (MID), Werner (FWD), Moore (FWD), Lankshear (FWD).

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Tottenham ‘Serious’ About Shock Move to Sign ‘Special’ Star

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly emerged as 'serious' suitors for Chelsea star Jadon Sancho amid a 'new twist' over his future at Stamford Bridge, according to Fichajes.

The Spanish outlet claims that Spurs are a potential destination for Sancho in 2025, amid his struggles to establish himself in Enzo Maresca’s squad since joining the Blues last summer.

The 24-year-old has played just 308 minutes of Premier League football for Chelsea this term and has dropped down Maresca’s pecking order after four straight starts.

The Blues rescued Sancho from his underwhelming Manchester United spell on a season-long loan, which includes an obligation to buy next summer.

The England international cost the Red Devils a hefty £73m in July 2021, but he never managed to convince manager Erik ten Hag, eventually falling out with the Dutchman last autumn.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Sancho made 83 appearances for Man United in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and registering six assists.

Sancho has not played for Chelsea since the defeat away to Liverpool last month. The winger has been contending with an illness and a knock but has returned to first-team training this week.

It remains to be seen how much Tottenham’s interest in Sancho is genuine, as Postecoglou is well-equipped on the flanks at the moment, with the likes of Heung-min Son and Brennan Johnson in optimal form, and Timo Werner, as well as youngster Mikey Moore, serving as backup.

Spurs have invested considerably over the summer, breaking their transfer record to sign ex-Bournemouth star Dominic Solanke and adding promising youngsters Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Wilson Odobert.

The latter, however, has struggled to kick-start his career in North London and has recently undergone surgery, which will keep him out of action for some time.

After falling to their fifth defeat of the Premier League season against Ipswich Town just before the international break, Spurs will be hoping to return to winning ways when visiting champions Manchester City this Saturday.

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Exclusive: Tottenham 'Plotting to Beat Amorim' to £150,000-a-Week Star

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Tottenham Hotspur are considering making a January offer for Angel Gomes as boss Ange Postecoglou and members of the Hotspur Way hierarchy are desperate to beat the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United to the Lille star's signature, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Although Spurs showed plenty of ambition during the summer transfer window as they made Dominic Solanke the most expensive acquisition in the north Londoners' history by striking a £65million deal with Premier League rivals Bournemouth, they are poised to re-enter the market for further reinforcements at the turn of the year.

Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray also strengthened Postecoglou's options in the middle of the park before the season got underway, with the latter completing a £30million switch from Leeds United, but the Greek-Australian tactician is working with technical director Johan Lange and chairman Daniel Levy to win the race for Gomes.

Spurs Aiming to Acquire Gomes for Small Fee

Postecoglou wants to see off domestic rivals in battle for midfielder

Tottenham have been making inroads in a bid to discover whether it would be possible to snap up Gomes for a small fee when the transfer window reopens in January, according to GMS sources, and they are mulling over whether to launch an offer in an attempt to see off competition from Manchester United and Newcastle.

Spurs and their Premier League counterparts have been put on red alert thanks to the midfielder preparing to enter the final six months of his deal at Lille, where he pockets less than £11,500-per-week, and there will be a chance to tie him down to a pre-contract agreement during the early stages of 2025.

But GMS sources have been informed that Tottenham are contemplating whether to hand the Ligue 1 outfit a last-minute opportunity to secure some cash for Gomes instead of seeing him leave as a free agent because there is an awareness that it could see them leap to the front of the queue for his services.

Manchester United have entered a new era during the international break as Ruben Amorim has taken over as their head coach and, having taken charge of his first training sessions in his new surroundings earlier this week, is working alongside sporting director Dan Ashworth in identifying areas of the squad which need improving.

The Red Devils are only likely to pounce when Gomes becomes a free agent in the summer, GMS sources have learned, which has given Tottenham a chance to plot an early move even though the capital club are only willing to do business midway through the campaign if Lille are open to agreeing a deal at good value.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Angel Gomes has been averaging 1.5 ball recoveries per Ligue 1 outing this season

Gomes Open to Sealing Premier League Move

North Londoners are long-term admirers of England international

GMS sources have been told that Tottenham have been tracking Gomes for a prolonged period and, despite Lille's hopes of convincing him to pen a long-term contract which would keep him at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, he is believed to be open to moving back to the Premier League after spells in France and Portugal.

Although the England international came through Manchester United's ranks, he was limited to just 10 appearances in the Red Devils' first-team before departing as a free agent, and he has gone on to enjoy a productive stint with his current employers and a loan spell at Primeira Liga outfit Boavista.

Tottenham are eager to bulk up their midfield options and sign homegrown players, meaning that Gomes fits the bill, and GMS sources understand that Postecoglou is seeing January as an ideal opportunity to get ahead of rival suitors as Newcastle do not seem likely to make a move until the summer even though they have also been scouting him.

But Spurs will have to be willing to make the 24-year-old one of their highest earners as GMS sources recently revealed that he may demand in the region of £150,000-per-week when his suitors head to the negotiating table as he will look to use the widespread interest to his advantage.

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Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview with Prediction, Odds and Best Bets

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Returning to Premier League action following the final international break of the year, Manchester City host Tottenham Hotspur in a blockbuster affair on Saturday evening at 17:30 (BST).

A win is vital for City, heading into this affair off the back of four consecutive defeats in all competitions. In their last match, Pep Guardiola's side fell apart in a second-half collapse against Brighton & Hove Albion, throwing away a 1-0 lead that they earned in the first half, losing 2-1 at the AMEX Stadium.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have been having their own issues of late, as the pressure begins to ramp up on Ange Postecoglou after their flat performance against Ipswich Town saw them defeated 2-1 at home, earning the Tractor Boys their first win of the season.

Man City vs Spurs Odds

Home Win - 8/15 | Away Win - 9/2 | Draw - 15/4

As Manchester City have been one of the most dominant forces to be reckoned with in the history of English football, winning the last four Premier League titles in a row, it comes with very little surprise that they lead the bookie's odds to win this matchup, considered as overwhelming favourites.

However, before the international break, City experienced their worst patch of form ever witnessed under Guardiola, losing four times in a row across three competitions against Tottenham, Bournemouth, Sporting, and Brighton. This shocking spell of form has led to them crashing out of the League Cup and falling five points behind Liverpool in the title race, meaning that this weekend's matchup is a must-win.

The most shocking part is that the Citizens have looked wide open through the midfield, conceding a staggering 26 big chances across the four losses, averaging six and a half big chances conceded per game. There are varying factors affecting this, including the injury to Ballon d'Or winning holding midfielder, Rodri, who Guardiola has struggled to replace, injuries to a number of key defenders across the backline, and a lack of intensity at times in transitions.

Though, as previously mentioned, Postecoglou is also dealing with his own set of issues, languishing in 10th position in the table having dropped six points to Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace, whose only wins this season have come against Spurs. A lack of consistency has massively cost the Australian's side at times this campaign, losing five and winning six.

Due to the nature of their style, Tottenham can turn teams over on their day, as their intensity and flair can rip teams apart, but in other games, they seem to hold a lot of meaningless possession on the edge of the opposition box, conceding dangerous chances in transitions.

However, despite this, due to the condensed nature of the table, Tottenham only sit three points off Chelsea in third place, and a win here could propel them up the table if results go in their favour. They are also the most threatening team offensively in the Premier League, having scored the most goals this season out of any side in the division on 23.

Scoreline Odds: Lowest Odds on a 2-1 home win

Draw 1-1 - 10/1 | Man City Win 2-1 - 8/1 | Spurs Win 2-1 - 18/1

It is offensively where both of these teams shine, as they hold the record for the most goals scored in the division thus far. Manchester City are joint-second top goalscorers alongside Brentford on 22 goals scored, while Tottenham lead the pack having dispatched one more.

Meanwhile, both clubs have been quite sloppy defensively this season, conceding 13 goals. City have looked vulnerable through the heart of midfield in quick transitions, while Tottenham have struggled down the wider defensive channels and from set pieces.​​​​​​​

In recent history, Tottenham have developed a habit of causing upsets to the champions, beating them in four of their last eight encounters, including a 3-2 away win at the Etihad Stadium in 2022. Furthermore, in their most recent matchup in October, Tottenham sent City crashing out of the League Cup in a 2-1 victory.

Though Guardiola's side have won two of their previous three matches between the two sides, including a vital 2-0 away victory last campaign, helping them seal the title.​​​​​​​

Goalscorer Odds: Both sides offer good options

Haaland - 4/9 | Foden - 19/10 | Solanke - 21/10 | Lankshear - 11/4

Unsurprisingly, star striker Erling Haaland is considered the most likely player to hit the back of the net here at 4/9 to score anytime, with the Norwegian leading the scoring charts on 12 goals already, four more than his closest rivals, Chris Wood, Mohamed Salah, and Bryan Mbeumo.​​​​​​​

Superstar midfielder Kevin De Bruyne also provides great value at 5/2 to score anytime and 8/1 to score first, as the Belgian is always a goal threat and is likely to return to action this weekend.​​​​​​​

Dominic Solanke is the bookie's favourite to get on the scoresheet for the Lilywhites, having scored nine in the league so far, and is valued at 21/10 to score anytime and 7/1 first. South Korean star Heung-min Son provides unbelievable worth considering his record of eight consecutive seasons scoring more than 10 goals, returning 16/5 odds to score anytime and 9/1 first.​​​​​​​

Prediction: City to bounce back from blip in 3-1 victory

Both teams to score in a four-goal thriller

​​​​​​​Considering previous fixtures between these two, this match is almost guaranteed to be a gripping matchup, and considering that both have shown vulnerabilities defensively and possess the two most potent attacks in the division, this game is likely to have plenty of chances, and thus, plenty of goals too.

However, despite Tottenham's record against Guardiola's Manchester City and the major dip in form that the home side have faced in the previous four matches, we believe that City bounce back here in a 3-1 win, putting their season back on track. This is mostly due to City having key men returning, with Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and De Bruyne all reportedly back in training ahead of this weekends clash.

Both teams to score (4/9)

Match to end in 2-1 Man City win (8/1)

Erling Haalnad to score first (12/5)

Dominic Solanke to score any time (21/10)

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Tottenham Deal to Sign £165,000-a-Week Star was 'Pointless'

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Don Hutchison has branded Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to sign Timo Werner on loan ‘weird’ after the German winger’s difficult start to the Premier League season.

Werner, who joined Spurs on a 12-month temporary deal from RB Leipzig, has struggled to recapture his best form in North London, scoring once in 13 appearances under Ange Postecoglou.

Having tried out Werner on an initial six-month loan in 2023/24, Tottenham ‘knew what they were getting’, according to Hutchison, who suggested the 28-year-old’s minutes could have been handed to a youngster, including Mikey Moore:

“Just a weird signing. I mean, Tottenham knew what they were getting or when they signed him on loan in the summer.

“I mean, what was the point? He didn't do particularly well last season. They could have given that job to Mikey Moore or a young player coming through.

“I just didn't see the point in the sign. And then when he plays, he doesn't impress.”

Werner, who earns £165,000 per week, has made just two starts in the Premier League this term, assisting one goal in 266 minutes of action.

The 28-year-old scored once for Spurs in the Carabao Cup, netting the opener in their surprise 2-1 victory over Manchester City last month.

According to GIVEMESPORT sources, the German international is not expected to continue in North London after the season and is set to return to RB Leipzig, where he has a contract until June 2026.

Spurs have an option to make Werner’s arrival permanent for just £8.5m, but it is understood that Postecoglou has set his sights on a fresh attacker next season.

GMS sources have also been told that Tottenham will only have the opportunity to cut the 28-year-old’s loan short if an interested party emerges in January.

Werner, who made his first move to England in the summer of 2020, endured a lacklustre two-year spell at Chelsea, despite winning the Champions League and Club World Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

The German international scored just 10 goals in 56 league appearances for the Blues before returning to RB Leipzig in the summer of 2022.

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Amorim Asks Man Utd to Sign ‘Best Right-Back in the Premier League’

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Manchester United are reportedly in the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur full-back Pedro Porro, despite competition from Manchester City and Real Madrid - with former boss Ruben Amorim potentially making a big move to sign the Spaniard.

United spent a lot of money in the summer transfer window under Erik ten Hag, but a failure to spend that wisely has seen the club endure one of their worst ever starts to a season, and as a result, the Dutchman was sacked with Amorim coming in. He will target new players - and Porro could be one of those, according to reports.

United 'in Race' For Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro

The Red Devils could be set to boost their options under Amorim

The report from AS, via SportWitness, states that whilst Real Madrid are in the market to sign Porro, they will face competition from United for his services, alongside local rivals City.

Tottenham loaned Porro from Sporting Lisbon back in 2023, and made his stay permanent in the summer later that year - but of course, his time at the Portuguese club was under Amorim, who has recently become United manager, and he has evidently taken a liking to his right-back star over the years, having featured in 98 games under Amorim in which he scored 12 goals and registered 20 assists.

AS claim that United are 'interested in hiring' the Tottenham star, with Porro's representatives 'convinced' that United will make an attempt to prise him away from north London whilst Amorim is manager, due to the 'excellent' relationship between the player and manager.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Ruben Amorim won 164 of his 231 games in charge of Sporting.

Porro does have a contract that lasts for another three-and-a-half years and it's thought that a fee of £60million will only be enough to tempt Daniel Levy into a sale; though with Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui at the club, competition for spaces could be rife.

Porro has really stamped his mark as one of the Premier League's best attacking full-backs, being labelled as the outright 'best' right now - with eight goals and 12 assists in just 67 games for the north London outfit, and with top-flight experience coming out of his ears, it's easy to see why United would be linked to someone of his ability if they are to return to the fore as an elite side.

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Pundit Says Tottenham Academy 'Revelation' Ready to Replace Maddison

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Don Hutchison says Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou should consider replacing James Maddison with Mikey Moore if the Australian tactician decides to let his star midfielder leave in the summer.

Speaking on ESPN, the former Liverpool midfielder praised the Spurs youngster, tipping him to become the next big name to emerge from their academy.

Moore has particularly impressed Hutchison during Europa League games and is backed to fill Maddison’s shoes if the England international departs after the season:

“Mikey Moore, when you talk revelation to me, revelation to me is finding someone brand new. And I think Mikey Moore, I've worked on Tottenham's European games this season. He's played a few of them. He's been outstanding.

“I spoke to Tim Sherwood, Jermaine Defoe, they reckon he's the next one to come from their academy.

“I think if Ange Postecoglou wants to move James Maddison on in the summer, then Mikey Moore can fill his shoes. I think it could be that good.

“So I think revelation is a young player, someone brand new. That's why I am going from Mikey Moore.”

Maddison’s role under Postecoglou has diminished recently – the 27-year-old was dropped from the starting line-up for their last two Premier League games, including a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich Town before the international break.

The England international was also omitted from the first XI for Spurs’ Carabao Cup win over Manchester City and has now started just once in their last four games across all competitions.

Maddison started the domestic season strongly, scoring twice and assisting three times in his first eight Premier League games. However, Postecoglou’s shift in priorities, with a greater focus on work rate and control in midfield, has seen Maddison fall down the pecking order.

Moore, meanwhile, broke into Spurs’ first team towards the end of last season at just 16, making his debut in the penultimate game of the Premier League campaign.

This term, the 17-year-old attacker has cemented his place in Postecoglou’s plans, making eight appearances in all competitions so far, including his first league start against Crystal Palace last month.

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Tottenham’s Stance on Sacking Ange Postecoglou Ahead of Man City

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou's slow start to the Premier League season has no real reason to show cause for concern just yet, despite only sitting in 10th place - but Ben Jacobs has exclusively told GIVEMESPORT that the Australian boss could be looking over his shoulder next season if results don't improve, after comments that defiantly claimed he would win a trophy in his second season at the club.

Tottenham have only won five of their opening 11 games in the Premier League, with the same number of losses and just one draw to leave them clinging onto a place in the top half via goal difference. Even though they sit just three points behind third-placed Chelsea and local rivals Arsenal, the fact of the matter is that they sit tenth and that is simply a downgrade from last season.

Tottenham's Goal Difference Paints a Faux Picture

The Lilywhites have lost more than they would have liked despite heavy wins

Interestingly, Tottenham boast the second-best goal difference in the division with +10, though that comes with tight losses and ceremonial victories - including their 4-0 win over Everton, a 3-0 win over Manchester United and a 4-1 trouncing of West Ham United.

But despite failing to lose any game by more than just one goal this season, it's the number of defeats that could be a cause for concern for Postecoglou in terms of his Tottenham future - and Jacobs believes that if results don't improve, he could be looking over his shoulder nervously next season.

Jacobs: No Postecoglou Conversation 'Yet'

The Australian does need to improve, though

Speaking exclusively to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs stated that whilst there aren't conversations over Postecoglou's future yet, he could be looking perilously over his shoulder in the coming months if results don't improve. Jacobs said:

"So I don't think there's a conversation yet about Postecoglou ending his Spurs tenure, because he's back and believed in by the hierarchy in this new project.

"But I do think if we get to the end of the season and Spurs underwhelm and don't win anything, then people will be coming back to those Postecoglou comments, and saying 'the manager explicitly said he always wins something in his second season' - he hasn't.

Should that happen, and then in the summer of 2025, he will then be facing the need for something positive into next season - otherwise we may be having a move serious conversation about whether Spurs are moving in the right direction."

Postecoglou Hasn't Come Close to Excelling His Predecessors

The Australian still has work to do to become a Tottenham hero

Whilst Postecoglou has done well in his own right, having never managed in the Premier League before, it's fair to say that he hasn't done any better than Antonio Conte so far. The Italian at least lead the club to Champions League football back in the 2021/22 season - whilst Jose Mourinho and the Australian boss have both failed to emulate that, and especially what Mauricio Pochettino achieved in his tenure, with four consecutive finishes in the top four of the Premier League at White Hart Lane.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Ange Postecoglou has won 31 of his 58 games in charge of Tottenham Hotspur.

Last season was a solid debut campaign for the former Celtic boss, finishing fifth without Harry Kane who was sold to Bayern Munich before a ball was kicked in the Premier League - but having spent the fee that the England captain brought in alongside some more of Spurs' cash reserves, any notion of the club going backwards could see him come under real pressure in north London.

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