Manchester City are set to clash with Tottenham Hotspur once again, with their eyes firmly fixed on avenging their recent exit from the Carabao Cup fourth round.
After a disheartening international break marred by four successive defeats, Pep Guardiola's men are eager to return to Premier League action, hoping the respite helps them find their footing once again in England's top flight.
This week witnessed Guardiola sign a new two-year contract, igniting optimism among the squad as they head into this crucial encounter. Currently resting five points behind league leaders Liverpool, Manchester City desperately need to claw back points, and this match against Spurs serves as a vital opportunity.
Meanwhile, Tottenham arrives with its own set of challenges, having struggled with form in recent outings. Despite a commendable performance against City in the Carabao Cup and a win over Aston Villa, recent defeats to Galatasaray and Ipswich Town have raised eyebrows.
Head Coach Ange Postecoglou, known for his innovative tactical approach, is under pressure to stabilize the team's erratic performance after failing to maintain defensive solidity, securing only three clean sheets in the league so far, leaving them languishing in 10th place.
In their last match, Manchester City faced disappointment, conceding two late goals to Brighton & Hove Albion, which left them fuming after Erling Haaland had put them ahead in the 23rd minute but unable to extend their advantage. Joao Pedro and Matt O'Reily's strikes cemented City’s fourth consecutive defeat.
Tottenham had a similar fate, collapsing against Ipswich. Goals from Sammie Szmodics and former City player Liam Delap handed Ipswich the points, amplifying the pressure on Postecoglou's side.
As Manchester City looks to reverse their fortunes, all eyes will be on the Etihad Stadium this Saturday. Kick-off is set for 17:30 GMT.
The officiating team will be led by John Brooks, officiating his fifth match of the season following notable encounters including Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea. He’ll be joined by assistants Simon Bennett and Dan Robathan, with Craig Pawson serving as the fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee will be Michael Salisbury, alongside Nick Greenhalgh.
Unfortunately for City, their injury woes continue as Mateo Kovačić joins long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb on the sidelines with an injury set to keep him out for a month. Pep Guardiola faces the dilemma of finding a new midfield solution ahead of this crucial tie.
While City’s defence has caught the ire of their supporters, there is a flicker of hope with John Stones and Manuel Akanji back in training, and Nathan Ake possibly returning to the fold as well. Furthermore, Jérémy Doku, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish have returned to training and are expected to play.
On the Spurs front, they will miss Wilson Odobert and Richarlison due to hamstring injuries, while defenders Micky van de Ven and Christian Romero remain absent. Timo Werner is nursing a hip issue with an expected return in early December, while Mikey Moore faces uncertainty due to illness. Rodrigo Bentancur is set to serve part of a seven-match suspension.
Historically, City leads the head-to-head record slightly, with 68 wins to Spurs’ 67. This weekend’s clash presents an opportunity for Tottenham to level the score as they aim to improve on their recent away form– claiming just two victories from their last eleven league matches and only two from their five outings this season.
Despite having the same goals scored and conceded as last season—23 and 13 respectively—Spurs find themselves 10 points adrift of the previous year's tally at this stage.
Bernardo Silva continues to be a key figure, having registered 17 shots in the league without finding the back of the net yet, the highest of any player in that predicament. Last May, City triumphed 2-0 in North London and will be looking to replicate this success for their first back-to-back wins against the North London side since 2019.
UK viewers can catch the action live on Sky Sports’ Main Event and Premier League channels starting just before the 17:30 GMT kick-off. In the United States, fans can tune in via Peacock and NBC for comprehensive coverage.
For full global TV listings for this intriguing encounter, check HERE!
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