Manchester City v Tottenham Preview, KO, Team News

Tottenham face the daunting challenge of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, mindful of how last season’s match went wrong from the opening seconds as they went on to suffer a humiliating six goal defeat. Spurs will be looking to improve on that result and performance in today’s lunchtime kick-off.

Team Update:

Lloris, Dier, Fazio, Kaboul (c), Rose; Capoue, Mason; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Soldado

Subs: Vorm, Vertonghen, Dembele, Stambouli, Townsend, Adebayor, Kane

Saturday, 18th October, 2014
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur  (Premier League)
Kick-off: 12.45pm (UK time)
Television: BT Sport

Since Tottenham’s memorable victory over City in May, 2010 which took them into the Champions League, Spurs have only defeated City once in 8 matches. That was at White Hart Lane and at the Etihad they have suffered 4 consecutive defeats.

In 2011, it was a close game which saw City claim the Champions League place with a single goal victory. In the following two defeats, again by a single goal, Spurs could consider themselves unfortunate but last season a gulf opened between the two clubs just as the gulf which opened in the Tottenham defence, of which, City took full advantage to stroll to victory with 6 goals to their name.

Manchester City

City, as reigning Champions are currently in second place in the Premier League, 5 points behind Chelsea. They defeated Liverpool 3 – 1 in their opening home match but lost unexpectedly to Stoke City (0 – 1) the following weekend. Their other home league match was a 1 – 1 draw with Chelsea, Frank Lampard scoring City’s equaliser, 5 minutes from time.

Their last two home games had contrasting results a 7-goal demolition of Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup was followed by a 1 – 1 draw with Roma in the Champions League group match.

City have made a habit of scoring late goals this season with 6 in their 11 matches, including 2 in the last league game, a 2 – 0 win at Aston Villa when Yaya Toure scored in the 82nd minute and Aguero, six minutes later.

Sergio Agüero is City’s leading scorer with 5 goals while Edin Dzeko and Lampard are close behind on 4 goals.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham

Spurs ended their losing run against Southampton before the international break but the team are still adapting to Mauricio Pochettino’s style and methods. Their recent record against City has been poor as were their displays and results against the top-4 clubs last season. This is another opportunity to improve on that unwanted record from last season.

Tottenham are undefeated away from home this season and having taken a hard-earned point against Arsenal at the Emirates in the last away game, it will take a similar display with application, endeavour and more from Spurs if they are to take anything against City.

Team News

Following the international matches, Pochettino has been left with a number of doubts over team selection. Of greatest concern is the injury to Hugo Lloris who sat out the two games France played during the break. Nacer Chadli was also missing from the Belgium team in their last match, having scored in the previous game.

More from Hotspur HQ

• Storybook ending after difficult period for Tottenahm’s Richarlison
• Tottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivated
• Tottenham player ratings in 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United
• Tottenham projected starting 11 for Sheffield United
• Tottenham’s Richarlison says he’s going to seek psychological help

Kyle Naughton’s injury against Southampton creates a problem at right-back with Kyle Walker expected to be absent for another 6 weeks. Eric Dier who played at right-back for the England Under-21 team may return to the starting line-up.

The late return from international duty of Emmanuel Adebayor and Nabil Bentaleb having played on Wednesday, also raises questions over their availability and could see Roberto Soldado start his first Premier League game of the season.

Manchester City expect to be without defender Eliaquim Mangala and there is a doubt over Yaya Toure’s fitness.

As with the game against Arsenal, expectations among Spurs supporters will be low. They will not be looking forward to this game with any great confidence and the best that many will be hoping for will be to avoid embarrassment. Anything more than that will be a bonus but Spurs surprised us at the Emirates so can they do it for a second time? Here’s hoping.