The Premier League gets back underway this weekend, one of the headline games is Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur, so what do Spurs need to do to win.
Tottenham Hotspur versus Manchester City is always an exciting game that keeps fans and players alike on the edge of their seats and wanting more. While games between the two almost always deliver memorable moments, it is never VAR that you expect to settle the issue, it is the players on the pitch. With the players and this season in mind, here are three things Tottenham need to do to control Manchester City and win the game.
Do Not Let the City Offense Loose
Manchester City has been a scoring machine for most of the Pep Guardiola era. However, this season has been a bit of a different story for the Sky Blue. Manchester City has actually only scored 10 goals in their seven matches this season. The Sky Blues have been marginally better offensively on the road scoring six goals in their four road games.
The last time Manchester City scored more than 1 goal in a league game was September 27, in a 2-5 loss home to Leicester City. Manchester City has only scored more than 1 goal in one other game in league all season, their first game of the season 1-3 win at Wolves. While the third occurred at the 5th minutes of injury time, it demonstrates that City can score goals still.
It is imperative that Tottenham keep the Manchester City attack under wraps and keep the players questioning themselves. All it takes is a couple goals and suddenly a team with as much talent as City can explode. Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld need to keep their heads and play smart football and they can keep the City attack under wraps.
Unlock the City Defense
It seems simplistic, do not let City score, and then score against them but it is much easier to say than do. While Manchester City has been a notch below their normal standards offensively this season, they have been strong defensively this term. City are tied with Tottenham and several others with only nine goals against. In fact, in 12 games in all competitions this season City have given up more than 1 goal only once, in that 2-5 defeat to Leicester.
Even that 2-5 defeat is quite deceiving as three of the five goals conceded where penalty kicks. Take those three penalties away and suddenly they have the best defensive record in the league. With two shutouts, one home and one away, City can flat out defend. However, the defense is also integral to the City attack and that is where Tottenham need to take advantage.
Defensively Manchester City play a high line and if Harry Kane drops deep some opportunities will open-up over the top. Additionally, we are projected both Son and Bale to start on the wings. With Son and Bale on the outside the attack Manchester City will be forced to defend a bit more with their fullbacks than they would like. This is particularly true if Bale and Son can attack the defenders on the dribble. Keeping those fullbacks pressed back limits the pace and effectiveness of City’s attack. For Tottenham to win, they do not have to out possess City, but they do have to be more clinical and make City defend.
Stop Kevin De Bruyne
By Sunday morning Pierre Højbjerg will be having nightmares about Kevin De Bruyne after facing the Belgian in Nations League Thursday and then in the Premier League on Saturday. Højbjerg did not have near the team around him with Denmark as he does with Spurs, so expect the Dane to keep a strong tab on De Bruyne, but not be assigned to him.
With Sergio Aguero hurt most of the season and Raheem Sterling just not as effective the majority of anything positive offensively for City has run through De Bruyne. His ability in the open field on the counter is particularly deadly and Tottenham will have to work to keep him out of space. Likewise, De Bruyne is effective in the final third with a wide array of passes at this disposal.
If Tottenham can keep De Bruyne off the ball as much as possible, then harass him when he is on the ball, they should be okay. Alternatively, if De Bruyne is able to get on the ball and has time, particularly in the attacking half, it could be a long day for Tottenham and that strong offense looking to get on track could come to life. How well Sissoko and Højbjerg control De Bruyne is going to go a long way toward deciding the outcome on Saturday.