Tottenham Players To Watch Against Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur could be facing their 4th league defeat on the trot, a run the north London club haven’t been on in 18 years.

Forget Antonio Conte losing two games on the bounce at home for the first time, Tottenham is on the verge of losing four Premier League games in a row, something they haven’t done in almost two decades.

Manchester City is flying in both the league and Champions League, looking stronger with each match. A club that looks lined up to push for the treble, they’ve opened up an impressive nine-point gap between themselves and second-place Liverpool, after playing one more game than their title rivals. It’s not exactly what Conte envisioned as a place to turn form around.

Tottenham’s away record at the Etihad isn’t ideal. In February 2021, on their last visit to the Etihad, Spurs were crushed 3-0. The north London side has lost on multiple occasions over the last decade away to City, some in humiliating fashion. Whilst Spurs won on aggregate away to City in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2019, their last league win came in February 2016. City away and February, the two just go together.

Strangely, Manchester City has failed to score a single goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since the stadium opened in 2019, losing every game they’ve played there, including a Champions League quarter-final. Man City’s last victories away to Tottenham date back four years to 2018 during Spurs’ time at Wembley Stadium. Wish tomorrow’s match was a few hundred miles south.

Dier and Romero back together

Eric Dier is rumoured to be back and ready to feature against City. He’s a player that Tottenham Hotspur has undoubtedly missed in their backline in recent weeks. Conte has sung his praises on numerous occasions already, and it’s clear that Tottenham are a much sharper defensive unit when he’s playing.

Cristian Romero has been a glimmering light in Tottenham’s back three, even if his return to the side has seen two defeats in the last three games with six goals conceded. Romero has maintained his aggressive and tenacious nature and has a brilliant tackling ability. Whether that’s timing a slide tackle to perfection, or closing down the space on a striker as he receives the ball.

Romero has been plagued by Ben Davies and Davinson Sanchez’s dip in form, and whilst he played a part in positional flaws in previous games, he’ll be bolstered by the return of Dier, whose communication helps negate questionable positioning and movement.

Rodrigo Bentancur should start again

Rodrigo Bentancur hasn’t arrived during a golden period at Tottenham, but the Uruguayan midfielder has still showcased abilities that his teammates and fellow midfielders have lacked.

Bentancur looks like a centre mids answer to Dimitar Berbatov. Whether it’s his body language or general lack of fright and fear on the ball, he’s proving to be a great option. A player who always wants the ball and has an eye for a defence-splitting forward pass, Bentancur may look even stronger next to Hojbjerg, who’s happy to do a lot of the dirty work. Alternatively, it may be a good idea if Conte decides to play three in the middle to avoid Spurs’ being overran.

Harry Kane needs to step up

A striker who could also pass as a playmaker, it’s time for Kane to put this team on his shoulders, at least metaphorically. Some think he’s out of form, but I feel they’re not seeing how little service he’s had so far.

His ability to drop deep and shatter an opponent’s defensive positioning by pulling players with him, then playing a ball Luka Modric would be proud of, is essential to Spurs’ success. Against Wolves, Kane and Bentancur were the only individuals capable of playing a decent ball through for the runs of Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura.

If Bentancur can start finding Kane’s movement as much as he was looking for Son’s sprints, Spurs may begin to look more threatening.

Son and Lucas have both been on a rollercoaster in recent weeks. Whilst Son has scored on a couple of occasions, and Lucas has grabbed assists on those goals, both have squandered so many chances, particularly against Wolves.

Bentancur played two exceptional balls through to Son to set him clear twice. But the Korean forward overplayed and fumbled the opportunities.

Confidence is low amongst the Tottenham squad, and Manchester City away isn’t usually the place you’d go looking for a bounce-back, but one can hope, right? Though hope can only go so far against such a formidable City outfit.