Tottenham vs Manchester City Preview

• Draw or City win
• Over 2.5 goals

Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-0 win over Manchester City in November was expected to be a statement victory, but it proved to be an anomaly rather than the start of something special.

Since then, Spurs have struggled with injuries and inconsistency, though three straight Premier League wins have helped them regain momentum.

Manchester City, on the other hand, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend, leaving their title hopes in tatters. The FA Cup now appears to be their only realistic chance of silverware, but securing a top-four finish is now a priority given their mixed form in the league.

Key Stats

• Tottenham have won three consecutive Premier League games, scoring 10 goals in that run.
• Spurs have conceded just one goal from 15 shots on target in February.
• Manchester City have won just five of their 13 away league games this season (D3, L5).
• Three of City’s five away wins have come against teams in the bottom five.
• Tottenham won the reverse fixture 4-0 in November.

Tottenham Hotspur: Have They Finally Turned a Corner?

Despite serious injury issues throughout the campaign, Tottenham appear to be finding their rhythm at the right time.

A dominant 4-1 win over Ipswich at the weekend showed their attacking quality, while their defence has tightened up despite missing key centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Reasons for Optimism

• Back-to-back home wins against Everton (2-1) and Leicester (3-0).
• Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski in fine attacking form.
• Midfield duo of James Maddison and Yves Bissouma controlling games well.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Tottenham 4-1 Ipswich – Win
• Premier League: Tottenham 3-0 Leicester – Win
• Premier League: Tottenham 2-1 Everton – Win
• FA Cup: Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham – Loss
• EFL Cup: Liverpool 5-1 Tottenham – Loss

Key Player: Brennan Johnson (Winger)

• Scored twice against Ipswich last weekend.
• Also scored in Spurs’ 4-0 win over City in November.
• His pace and direct running could trouble City’s full-backs.

Manchester City: Can They Improve Their Away Form?

Manchester City’s away form in the Premier League has been disappointing, with only five wins from 13 games. Their recent 2-0 loss to Liverpool exposed their struggles against the league’s top teams, and this game presents another massive test.

Reasons for Concern

• They’ve lost five away games in the league already.
• Struggled in big games away from home, losing to Arsenal (5-1) and Liverpool (2-0).
• Haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last four league matches.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Manchester City 0-2 Liverpool – Loss
• FA Cup: Manchester City 3-1 Luton – Win
• Premier League: Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle – Win
• UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid 3-2 Manchester City – Loss
• Premier League: Manchester City 2-2 Brentford – Draw

Key Player: Phil Foden (Midfielder)

• Has scored seven of his ten goals this season away from home.
• A key attacking outlet when City struggle to break down defences.
• Scored in their last away league win (4-0 vs Newcastle).

Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Meetings in All Competitions)

Key Trends

• Tottenham have won three of their last five home games against City.
• City have not won at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League since 2018.
• Spurs’ 4-0 win at the Etihad was their biggest-ever victory over City.

Tactical Insights

Tottenham’s Approach

• Use high pressing to disrupt City’s build-up play.
• Attack the spaces behind City’s full-backs with Brennan Johnson and Kulusevski.
• Look to exploit set-pieces against City’s defence.

Manchester City’s Approach

• Control possession and try to dictate the tempo.
• Overload wide areas to pin back Tottenham’s wingers.
• Utilise Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne to break down Spurs’ defensive shape.

Match Prediction

Tottenham have hit form at the right time, and their strong record against City at home makes them a tough opponent. However, City desperately need a response after their loss to Liverpool, and Guardiola will expect his side to control the game.

If Spurs can replicate their defensive solidity from recent games, they could frustrate City. But given City’s superior squad depth and individual brilliance, they might just edge this one.

Final Score Prediction: Tottenham 1-2 Manchester City

• Brennan Johnson to score for Spurs.
• Phil Foden to get on the scoresheet for City.
• A tight game, but City’s quality to prevail in the end.

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Spurs v Man City, 2024/25 | Premier League