Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said that his team are not scared of playing away from home having taken just four points from 18 available on the road this season.

The Citizens have lost at Cardiff City, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Sunderland this term, as they struggle down in ninth in the Premier League.

Nine points separate them from leaders Arsenal ahead of today's game against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium, where they have won five from five.

"It's not a relief [to be playing at home], we are not afraid to be playing away," Pellegrini told reporters. "We need to improve [away] because we don't have many points, but it's important to see the way we are losing the games.

"The home team never has more chances than us. We have the possession, the style of play. The reality is we just have four points from 18 [away] but I am absolutely sure that we will mix all things and play a good game.

"It is an important game. All the Premier League games are important, because all have three points [at stake], but we are playing against one of the teams near the top of the table so it is [more] important."

City can go into fifth place above Everton with a win.