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Match preview
Will Manchester City close the gap to leaders Arsenal with a win in this rearranged mid-week fixture?
On Saturday, the Citizens traveled to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby, and looked set to leave victorious, courtesy of Jack Grealish’s close-range header.
However, Man United scored twice in four minutes, the first of which was controversial to say the least, thereby snatching a 2-1 victory.
As a result, Pep Guardiola’s team have now taken just seven points from their last five league outings, leaving them eight points adrift the leaders.
Having lost to Brentford and then been held to a draw by Everton, will Man City fail to win three successive Premier League home games for the first time since December 2016?
Well, this seems entirely possible, given that Tottenham have had the Citizen’s number in recent seasons.
However, Antonio Conte’s team come into this one with confidence rock bottom, following a derby defeat of their own on Sunday.
Tottenham were pretty much swatted aside by Arsenal on their own pitch at the weekend, putting in a pitiful first half display, after which they were lucky to only be 2-0 down.
Dejan Kuluševski, Ryan Sessegnon and Harry Kane did all go close in the second 45, but it was all way too little too late.
Conte’s side have now lost five of their last nine Premier League fixtures, only beating Bournemouth, Leeds and Crystal Palace since 15 October.
So, everything points towards a routine Manchester City victory, but Spurs have history when it comes to upsetting the odds at the Etihad.
Manchester City team news
Centre-back Rúben Dias remains sidelined, having not featured since the World Cup quarter-finals due to a hamstring injury.
In his absence, it’s been Manuel Akanji and one other at the back, with Aymeric Laporte, potentially, coming in for Nathan Aké.
Elsewhere, İlkay Gündoğan could return to midfield; he bagged a brace when Man City last beat Spurs almost two years ago.
On the left, Jack Grealish’s goal at Old Trafford could see him displace Phi Foden.
Up front, Erling Braut Håland is enduring a goal draught, last scoring against Everton on New Year’s Eve, playing over 280 minutes since then.
Will his first goal of 2023 come here?
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Cancelo; Rodri, Gündoğan, De Bruyne; Maḥrez, Grealish, Håland.
Tottenham Hotspur team news
Antonio Conte was hoping to have Rodrigo Bentancur available for the North London derby, but the Uruguayan wasn’t even on the bench.
Dejan Kuluševski and Richarlison did both make their returns from injury, the former starting and the latter coming on for 20 minutes, having little impact.
The Brazilian’s last goal in the Premier League came for Everton against Crystal Palace 245 days ago.
Hugo Lloris will continue in goal, despite his calamitous own goal at the weekend.
In midfield, Pape Matar Sarr was handed his full-Premier League debut on Sunday, a bizarre decision, given that Yves Bissouma was on the bench.
Similarly, Spurs fans were desperate to see Ivan Perišić at left-wing-back, in place of Ryan Sessegnon.
Harry Kane, who famously could’ve joined Manchester City 18 months ago, will be looking to improve his record of four goals in 14 against them here.
Predicted XI (5-2-3): Lloris; Doherty, Romero, Dier, Davies, Perišić; Bissouma, Højbjerg; Kuluševski, Son Heung-min, Kane.
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Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Match statistics
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