26/10 27/10 9/10
Manchester City travel to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham on Sunday in the biggest match of the English Premier League this weekend. This has proven to be a daunting fixture for Spurs with City dominating their recent head-to-head record. However, the champions are struggling to find their rhythm and look nothing like the team that won the reverse tie 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Tottenham will fancy their chances in front of their home crowd and we should see 
a thrilling encounter.
Tottenham
Tottenham held their course for a Europa League finish after a hard-earned 2-2 draw away to Southampton last weekend. Twice the hosts led, both times through Italian hitman Graziano Pelle, but on both occasions Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs foiled the Argentine’s old club, thanks to compatriot Erik Lamela and Belgian international Nacer Chadli. Tottenham will now be eager to get back to winning ways as they come against a Man City side in disarray. Spurs have a terrible record against the Sky Blues having won just once in the last nine meetings between the sides with one draw and seven defeats including the last three ties. Despite their poor record, this is the best time for Tottenham to beat the reigning champions. Spurs have been in good form at home this season beating the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea there and have lost just once in their last 11 matches at White Hart Lane having won seven times with three draws. Spurs have played with a 4-2-3-1 formation that sees the advanced players aggressively pressure the opposition defenders to try and win the ball back quickly. Christian Eriksen is a creative force from the middle of the park. His vision and passing is incredible, as the Dane’s ability to methodically pick apart a defence has become evident, and he’s beginning to show the potential to be one of the top creative midfielders in the world. PFA Young Player of the Year Harry Kane has been the club’s standout performer this season and is proving to be a class striker in the Premier League. Kane’s hard work and enthusiasm has been praised by pretty much all football pundits who have watched Spurs this season, and indeed the youngster should be hailed for what he brings to the team. Kane has netted a remarkable 30 goals in all competitions this season and trying to stop him will be Manuel Pellegrini’s biggest challenge in this encounter—something other clubs have failed at.
Manchester City
From title winners to identity crisis, it has been a painful season for City. Having spent the last couple of weeks looking over their shoulders, Manchester City’s focus is in one direction now. Their victory against Aston Villa should ensure Champions League qualification – and it also moved them up from fourth to second – level on points with Arsenal who have a game in hand. In absence of a title race – given Chelsea’s procession towards the Premier League crown – the battle to be the best of the rest is as good as City can hope for. It has been a pretty disastrous two months by Man City standards and Pellegrini may yet pay for it with his job. The Sky Blues have won just three of their last seven matches in all competitions with four defeats and have lost their last five matches away from home. The champions need to kick into gear and their big players desperately need to step up to the game if they want to end their poor away form. City have world class players who can destroy any team on their day and Pellegrini will be hoping to have his stars shining against Spurs. David Silva offers a threat in the final third as he has the ability to score goals and create opportunities for his team-mates. He could cause Tottenham’s defence plenty of problems this weekend as he drifts between the lines which causes the opposition to leave space unattended. Sergio Aguero remains City’s focal point in attack and the Premier League’s top scorer will be looking to extend his tally of 21 goals on Sunday.
Probable line-ups:
Tottenham: 4-2-3-1
Lloris; Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Bentaleb, Mason; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane
Manchester City: 4-4-2
Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Kompany, Kolarov; Fernando, Toure, Navas, Silva; Dzeko, Aguero
Prediction: Tottenham
Manchester City are favourites at 9/10 while Tottenham are priced up at 26/10. Both teams to score looks a certainty with the individual form of prolific strikers Aguero and Kane but home advantage should see Tottenham prevail given City’s dreadful away run. I’m backing Tottenham to win plus both teams to score at 9/2.
Chadley Nagel
