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Five keys to Tottenham Hotspur beating Manchester City in EPL opener

By Aaron Coe

Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian midfielder Giovani Lo Celso (C) puts the ball past Manchester City's Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson (R) to score on November 21, 2020. (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian midfielder Giovani Lo Celso (C) puts the ball past Manchester City's Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson (R) to score on November 21, 2020. (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Harry Winks (L) vies with Manchester City’s Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez Tottenham Hotspur’s English midfielder Harry Winks (L) vies with Manchester City’s Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez during the English League Cup final football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, northwest London on April 25, 2021. (Photo by CARL RECINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Tottenham Key Four – Follow the runners

When you look at the goal scoring for Manchester City last season what you see is that got goal contributions from all over the pitch. However, the one position you would expect to score a lot of goals, center-forward was not the top for the team. It was central midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and left-winger Phil Foden who led City with 17 and 16 goals in all competitions.

While Jesus had 14 goals as the primary center forward, left-winger Raheem Sterling and right-winger Riyand Marhez both had 14 goals as well.  The point is, City gets goals from lots of different sources many of which come from runs into the box.

Tottenham struggled at times against Chelsea picking up the runners coming from the midfield and breaking into the box and conceded as a result. Against Arsenal, the Spurs did a better job of identifying the runners and going with them into the box. If Tottenham is to stop Manchester City from scoring they need to make sure they are running with those late-breaking midfielders and wingers because un-marked men in the box is a recipe for disaster.