Time for star to shine as Tottenham visit Manchester City

The key to Tottenham Hotspur staying in the top-four race and igniting their season is getting their star to shine against one of his favorite opponents.

This has not exactly been the season we all were expecting as Tottenham Hotspur fans. After pulling out of the top-four finish last season and then adding a few new signings this past summer, Spurs were supposed to kick on. Instead, Tottenham has remained neutral for the last several months, and the lack of a consistent second scorer behind Harry Kane has been one of the reasons.

On Thursday, Tottenham plays one of superstar Heung-min Son‘s favorite opponents, Manchester City, and beating the Sky Blues could turn the season for both player and team.

Sonny has been critical in previous Tottenham successes against Manchester City

After scoring 24 goals last season and tying Mo Salah for the Premier League Golden Boot award, to say that Son’s four goals through half of the EPL season are a disappointing return would be an understatement.

It would have been unfair to expect another twenty-plus goal season, as few have done it, but his current output is a significant drop. The good news is that historically, Sonny has enjoyed his football against Manchester City, and when he does, it usually means Spurs will come out on top.

With seven goals in his career against the Cityzens, there are only three clubs, Southampton (12), Leicester City (10), and Borussia Dortmund (9), who Son has scored more often against. As important from a Tottenham perspective is that Spurs are 4-1-1 in the six games in which Son has scored his seven goals against City.

Even in the one loss, a 4-3 defeat at the Etihad, Son’s two goals, along with one from Fernando Llorente, were enough to see Tottenham through in the Champions League on aggregate.

The point is, when Son scores against City, things tend to go well for Tottenham. Of course, the opposite is true, too, with Son having no goals and no assists in the six losses against Man City in his career. Of course, for Son not to score and for Spurs not to win would be more of the same from this season. However, Thursday is about change and how one man and the team can turn things around, which means a goal for Son and some points for Tottenham.