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Attendance: 80,811
Spurs logo
Premier League
Apr 14, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Manchester City logo

1-3

Eriksen (42')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Jesus (22'), Gundogan (25' pen.), Sterling (72')

Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews the Premier League action as champions-elect Manchester City travel to face Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur welcome Manchester City to Wembley in the Premier League as Mauricio Pochettino's men aim to claim a third straight home win over the Sky Blues.

As for City, Pep Guardiola's charges could wrap up the title with a victory against Spurs if results go their way over the weekend, but the Citizens are coming into the game off the back of three straight defeats.


Tottenham Hotspur

Christian Eriksen celebrates with Lucas Moura after scoring during the FA Cup quarter-final between Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur on March 17, 2018© Offside

Pochettino's side have been nothing short of fascinating for much of this campaign, taking their progressive approach into the Champions League and performing admirably against some of Europe's contemporary greats.

The neutral's favourites are, however, again starting to face the same age-old questions surrounding the club's lack of silverware. An exit on the continent against Juventus and Manchester City's outstanding form in the league have now left the FA Cup as the only remaining chance of a trophy for Spurs.

The club's semi-final clash with Manchester United arguably remains Tottenham's crucial point of focus, but should Pochettino want to find his project intact after the summer, Champions League qualification will be essential.

A fourth-placed finish looks all but secure given the side's 10-point gap over fifth-placed Chelsea, leaving Spurs just a couple of wins away from securing qualification for Europe's elite competition next term.

Harry Kane will be heading into the contest hoping to further his challenge against Mohamed Salah for the Premier League's Golden Boot, a battle that has been kept interesting after Kane was awarded Tottenham's second goal at Stoke after an appeal. Kane has 25 goals this season, compared to Salah's 29, as the frontman bids to win a third successive top-scoring award.

Spurs welcome City having now won six Premier League fixtures on the bounce, while Pochettino's men have also kept a clean sheet in four home matches in a row to bolster their Champions League chase.

In fact, Spurs are now unbeaten in their last 14 league games with 11 wins and three draws, which represents their joint-best run in the Premier League. The club's last longer run in a top-flight campaign came back in 1967 and lasted an impressive 20 matches.

Pochettino comes into the fixture knowing that Spurs have held the upper hand over City in North London in recent games, where his team have picked up victories in their last two home fixtures with City. Tottenham have lost just one of their last five Premier League meetings with the Sky Blues.

Recent form: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLWWWW


Manchester City

Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus scores during the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Liverpool on April 10, 2018© Offside

Guardiola's side have achieved monumental things this season, especially considering the club's virtually unchecked march towards Premier League glory.

City are now just two wins away from claiming a third league title and Guardiola's first for the club on their own terms, but events in recent weeks have just threatened to take the gloss off what has otherwise been a remarkable season for the Citizens.

The Sky Blues could actually wrap up the title with five games remaining with a win on Saturday night should Manchester United falter on Sunday. That is certainly an achievement that cannot be overlooked, but the club's European failures in the last two weeks will pose questions about City's outlook on the continent next season.

City's two defeats against Liverpool, leading to a 5-1 aggregate win for the Reds, sandwiched a frustrating 3-2 home defeat to rivals United at the weekend, who ensured that the Citizens were unable to claim the title on Jose Mourinho's watch.

That troubling period has left City with three defeats in a row and four losses in their last six fixtures. Guardiola will now hope to avoid losing a fourth game on the bounce for just the second time in his managerial career at the weekend.

City have plenty to call on in order to break out of a difficult patch and wrap up the title, though. Guardiola's men have remarkably scored at least two goals in 21 of their last 25 matches in the league.

Added to that, the club also have some promising away statistics. City are undefeated in 18 of their last 19 away games in the top flight and have been winning at both half time and full time in their previous three away games in the league.

One man who will be hoping to continue some fine form against Tottenham is City striker Sergio Aguero. The Argentine frontman has netted 10 Premier League goals against Spurs. Only Alan Shearer, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Wayne Rooney have scored more against the Lillywhites.

Recent form: WWWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): LWWLLL


Team News

Harry Kane during a Tottenham Hotspur training session on March 6, 2018© Offside

Kane will likely lead the line against City as the England international seeks his third successive Golden Boot.

Pochettino could decide to keep Serge Aurier at right-back after last week's win at Stoke City, but Ben Davies and Eric Dier will likely provide competition for Danny Rose and Victor Wanyama.

Ilkay Gundogan should come into midfield for City, with Brazilian holding man Fernandinho missing out after picking up 10 yellow cards.

Following the loss to Liverpool midweek, Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling could all be swapped for the trip to Wembley. Aguero may come in up front and will aim to continue some standout goalscoring form against Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dembele, Dier; Son, Alli, Eriksen; Kane

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Delph; Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne; B. Silva, Aguero, Sane


Head To Head

Spurs find themselves in promising form against City in recent years. Tottenham have lost just once in five Premier League meetings with the Citizens.

Pochettino's men have won out on the last two occasions when facing City at home, although that last victory came back in the first half of last season.

City won the reverse meeting 4-1 at the Etihad back in December to build from a 2-2 draw in Manchester when the sides met in January of last term.


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We say: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Manchester City

Spurs have evidently enjoyed themselves against City when competing at home, but they will arguably be facing an away side seeking to bounce back after a testing period on the biggest of stages.

Not only do City have some standout away form in the league, but Guardiola's men know that three points could well seal the title depending on how United do against West Bromwich Albion.

City have scored at least twice in their last three games against Tottenham in all competitions and they might just fancy themselves to upend an impressive unbeaten run from Spurs.



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Written by
Christopher Dodd
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