Manchester City meet Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in a blockbuster Premier League clash.
Victory would see second-placed City cut their title deficit down to two points, whilst Spurs can go as high as fourth if results earlier in the day swing their way.
Team News
Mateo Kovacic is ruled out for Man City after he suffered an injury whilst on international duty for Croatia.
Jeremy Doku (muscle), John Stones (foot), Phil Foden (knock), Manuel Akanji, Jack Grealish, Matheus Nunes (all unspecified) and Nathan Ake (fitness) face late checks.
Ruben Dias (muscle), Oscar Bobb (leg) and Rodri (knee) remain ruled out.
Tottenham will be without midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur who is suspended for their next seven domestic games, following inappropriate comments made this summer.
Mikey Moore (illness) could feature but Cristian Romero (toe), Mickey van de Ven, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison (all hamstring) are sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Tottenham at Etihad Stadium on Saturday 23 November at 5:30pm, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City have won two of their last six league meetings against Tottenham (W2, D1, L3).
- Tottenham have won one of their last six league visits to Man City (W1, D2, L3).
- Spurs’ Dejan Kulusevski has scored in both of his two league appearances away to Man City (D1, L1).
- City are looking to avoid suffering three straight league losses for the first time under Pep Guardiola.
- Tottenham have won just one of five league games on the road this season (W1, D1, L3).
Prediction
Following four consecutive defeats in all competitions, Man City will be glad to have had two weeks off to just reset and regroup but Kovacic is a loss in midfield with just four central midfielders now definitely available.
Akanji, Ake and Stones’ returns to defence however are welcome given how vulnerable City have been without them, which showed in their fatigued loss at Brighton so I do expect a stronger performance.
Tottenham’s lightning start proved the difference at home to City in their Carabao Cup clash last month, but they need a similar start here after two sloppy losses to Galatasaray and Ipswich before the break.
Nevertheless both teams have huge points to prove so it wouldn’t be a shock if they cancel each other out.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-1 Tottenham
