The Independent

Bournemouth welcome Tottenham to the Vitality Stadium looking to build on a big away win at Wolves.

Andoni Iraola’s side enjoyed a strange outing at Molineux that saw Justin Kluivert strike thrice from the penalty spot in a 4-2 victory that leaves them eyeing the top half of the table.

Spurs, meanwhile, suffered a set back in a home draw against Fulham as they failed to build on such an encouraging performance against Manchester City.

With the chase for European places fierce in a competitive Premier League season, Ange Postecoglou will be keen to avoid another poor result as the London club travel south.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Bournemouth vs Tottenham is due to kick off at 8.15pm GMT on Thursday 5 December at the Vitality Stadium.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live via Amazon Prime Video.

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Andoni Iraola confirmed that there are no new fitness concerns within the Bournemouth squad, with Antoine Semenyo back available after suspension. Lewis Cook has been able to train after a muscular problem but a cautious approach is likely to be taken.

Ange Postecoglou is hopeful that he may be able to welcome back Dominic Solanke after the striker missed the weekend fixture with Fulham due to illness. Archie Gray should also be available having recovered from a knock, but Guglielmo Vicario (ankle), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Cristian Romero (toe), Rodrigo Bentancur (suspended), Wilson Odobert (hamstring), Micky Moore (virus) and Richarlison (hamstring) remain out.

Bournemouth XI: Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson.

Tottenham XI: Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson, Kulusevski, Son; Solanke.

Bournemouth win 7/4

Draw 3/1

Tottenham win 6/4

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The two most successful sides in FA Cup history will meet in the third round after Arsenal were drawn to host Manchester United.

The 14-time champions will welcome Ruben Amorim’s side, who have one fewer competition crown after lifting the trophy last season, to the Emirates Stadium in January in the pick of the all-Premier League ties.

Tamworth, one of only two non-league representatives remaining, have secured a glamour fixture with Tottenham Hotspur set to come to the Lamb Ground in Staffordshire. Fellow National League club Dagenham & Redbridge will make the short trip to Millwall.

Elsewhere, struggling Manchester City also face local opposition in the form of Salford City, owned by Gary Neville and the rest of Manchester United’s Class of ’92.

Liverpool host Accrington Stanley and Chelsea take on Morecambe, while Newcastle face a fixture against third-round debutants Bromley.

Other ties of intrigue include Russell Martin facing former club Swansea with Southampton, and an all-Yorkshire affair between Harrogate Town and Leeds United at Elland Road.

Ties will be played over the weekend of 10-13 January.

Southampton v Swansea City

Arsenal v Manchester United

Exeter City v Oxford United

Leyton Orient v Derby County

Reading v Burnley

Aston Villa v West Ham United

Norwich City v Brighton & Hove Albion

Manchester City v Salford City

Millwall v Dagenham and Redbridge

Liverpool v Accrington Stanley

Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Preston North End v Charlton Athletic

Chelsea v Morecambe

Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers

Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion

Mansfield Town v Wigan Athletic

Tamworth v Tottenham Hotspur

Hull City v Doncaster Rovers

Sunderland v Stoke City

Leicester City v Queens Park Rangers

Brentford v Plymouth Argyle

Coventry City v Sheffield Wednesday

Newcastle United v Bromley

Everton v Peterborough United

Wycombe Wanderers v Portsmouth

Birmingham City v Lincoln City

Leeds United v Harrogate Town

Nottingham Forest v Luton Town

Sheffield United v Cardiff City

Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers

Fulham v Watford

Crystal Palace v Stockport County

Follow live coverage as Tottenham face Fulham today in the Premier League.

Spurs will hope to bounce off a stunning 4-0 win at Manchester City, despite coming unstuck midweek in Europe against Roma.

The result saw the Australian coach pushed on his approach once more, which was met with a defiant response: “Look, I don’t know how many ways I can say this. “There’s plenty of room for pragmatism in walks of life and in football as well. But I’m just not interested in it. I don’t know why I need to change my approach to be like everyone else wants me to be.”

Ange Postecoglou’s side meet Marco Silva’s Whites, who will be determined to respond to a setback at home to Wolves last time out.

Follow all the latest updates and goals from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium below:

Tottenham’s inconsistent form continued after Mats Hummels’ stoppage-time goal ensured they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Claudio Ranieri’s Roma in the Europa League.

Spurs had looked on course to back up Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City with a hard-fought victory after captain Son Heung Min and Brennan Johnson struck in the first half to cancel out Evan N’Dicka’s goal.

Ange Postecoglou watched his team squander a number of chances to set up a nervy finale and not long after Fraser Forster, who deputised for the first time since Guglielmo Vicario’s ankle surgery, had produced a superb save to deny Gianluca Mancini, the visitors levelled.

Postecoglou had made half a dozen changes in each of Spurs’ previous four Europa League matches, but went stronger with only four from the win at Man City.

All eyes were on Forster and yet the immediate action occurred in Roma’s penalty area as Pape Sarr won a spot-kick in the third minute after being caught by Hummels.

Referee Glenn Nyberg eventually pointed to the spot after assistance from VAR and Son made no mistake for only his fourth goal of the season.

It failed to act as a catalyst for the hosts, however, as Roma responded strongly with Paulo Dybala being denied by Forster.

Tottenham’s sloppiness in possession continued and they were punished in the 20th minute when Dybala produced a fine ball into the area for N’Dicka to flick home via the crossbar.

Ranieri celebrated again two minutes later, but Stephan El Shaarawy’s volley into the bottom corner was ruled out for offside by VAR.

It remained end-to-end as Postecoglou’s side finally woke up with Roma left-back Angelino forced make a superb block on the line from Johnson before Dominic Solanke’s follow-up was saved by Mile Svilar.

Back down the other end and Forster got down well to thwart Dybala’s latest effort before Spurs did make their next opportunity count.

Sarr was involved again as he sent Dejan Kulusevski away down the left and the in-form attacker patiently waited to cut back for Johnson, who steered into the bottom corner after 33 minutes.

Tottenham nearly grabbed another two minutes later when Kulusevski bundled into the area and hit the post before Son blazed over the rebound.

Son had another shot tipped wide by Svilar before half-time and after Johnson fired over at the start of the second period, Roma regained the ascendancy.

Manu Kone and Artem Dovbyk both had efforts ruled out for offside in quick succession before Angelino’s superb volley from Zeki Celik’s cross deflected off Pedro Porro and onto the crossbar.

It was another let-off for Spurs, who did react with a marauding Ben Davies run able to win a free-kick, which Porro clipped onto the crossbar.

Postecoglou turned to his bench with 21 minutes left as Yves Bissouma and James Maddison entered the fray.

Maddison almost immediately helped put the game to bed when he sent Solanke away, but his powerful strike was pushed over by Svilar.

An even better chance was created for Solanke with 10 minutes left, but he headed against the crossbar after a fine Archie Gray centre.

It looked like Tottenham had survived when Forster made a superb save to deny Mancini’s volley at the start of five minutes of stoppage-time, but Hummels fired home from Angelino’s cross not long after to ensure the points were shared.

In France, meanwhile, Philippe Clement again found sanctuary in Europe as Rangers romped to a remarkable 4-1 win over Nice in France.

Amid domestic struggles which have piled pressure on the Belgian boss, his side again came up with the goods this season in the Europa League.

The home side had an early penalty award overturned and the Ibrox side took advantage with goals from winger Vaclav Cerny, midfielder Mohamed Diomande and striker Hamza Igamane before the break.

The 22-year-old Moroccan, making his first European start, grabbed his second in the 54th minute as the home side’s dismal defensive display deteriorated before Badredine Bouanani reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute.

Rangers moved on to 10 points from five fixtures and the victory was a real boost to chances of a top-eight finish.

PA

After producing perhaps their best performance under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham will hope to keep their momentum rolling as they host Roma in the Europa League.

The 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City represented a much-needed Premier League boost for Spurs after an up-and-down period.

They are well placed in Europe despite a young side suffering defeat at Galatasaray in their last outing, with three wins from three games before that reverse leaving them seventh in the table.

Roma, meanwhile, have won just once in the competition amid a difficult start to the campaign. Claudio Ranieri has been tempted out of retirement in hopes that the vastly experienced manager can instigate a turnaround.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Tottenham vs Roma is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Thursday 28 November at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage from 7.45pm GMT. Subscribers can stream via discovery+.

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Spurs were dealt a significant injury blow with Guglielmo Vicario set for a long spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a broken ankle. Fraser Forster will deputise in goal, while Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies are likely to continue in central defence with no Micky van de Ven or Cristian Romero. Will Lankshear is suspended after the youngster was sent off against Galatasaray but Rodrigo Bentancur is available despite his domestic suspension.

Lorenzo Pellegrini returned to the Roma side in Claudio Ranieri’s first game in charge, a 1-0 defeat to Napoli in Serie A. Paulo Dybala appeared off the bench and could start.

Tottenham XI: Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Gray; Sarr, Bentancur, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Werner.

Roma XI: Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Hummels, Angelino; Soule, Baldanzi, Cristante, Zalewski; Dybala, Dovbyk.

Tottenham win 3/4

Draw 10/3

Roma win 57/17

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Former Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris is convinced Ange Postecoglou can end his old team’s trophy drought, but has preached patience from both the club and its supporters.

Spurs boss Postecoglou masterminded the best victory of his tenure on Saturday with a remarkable 4-0 win away to Premier League champions Manchester City.

The Etihad Stadium thrashing occurred a fortnight on from a shock home loss to Ipswich, which sparked murmurs of discontent amongst a fanbase desperate for silverware and eager for consistency after up-and-down results this term.

Lloris spent 12 seasons at Tottenham before his departure last year and captained the club in three unsuccessful finals, but feels the current crop can go one better and win a first trophy since 2008.

“I spent six months in the changing room, I was not even involved but I could enjoy the football vision of Ange and I still believe and I am still convinced you have to stick with this way and trust the process,” Lloris told the PA news agency.

“The team and club is in a good position, they have talented players, different ages, different experiences but I still believe they can achieve something and win something.

“Part of the football world today, you have to deal with this expectation and I just hope and you don’t want to see the team affected by these things or the club affected.

“They have to be strong and stay together and make (as) one in the club. And also I would say the fans need to trust the process because what we see, we enjoy.

“That is the football we want to see them playing and it’s not because of one bad result or two bad results that we need to question everything. You have to look about medium to long-term because I believe they can do it.”

Across 447 appearances for Tottenham, Lloris always preferred to look forward rather than back.

However, the World Cup winner has spent much of the last year being forced to reminisce for his new autobiography titled ‘Earning My Spurs’ and published on November 7.

While Lloris never planned a book, journalist Vincent Duluc twisted the goalkeeper’s arm in 2023 and 10 sessions later the result is a detailed look at his whole life.

From his early years at Nice and Lyon to his record-breaking spell with France, the Quercus-published ‘Earning My Spurs’ covers a wide range of topics and extracts recently made headlines in England.

Lloris’ autobiography revealed how a luxury watch to the whole Spurs squad from chairman Daniel Levy with the engraving of ‘finalist’ before the Champions League final stunned him.

But the 37-year-old has not experienced any pushback for any of the content in a searingly-honest memoir.

“No, but there was a lot of noise about the Champions League episode,” Lloris said.

“To be honest, there is nothing bad about that, especially because I have so much respect for the club and also for Daniel Levy but at that time it was a bit weird.

“The only thing I meant is the club never used to be in that position and probably we didn’t do things in the right way. It’s as simple as that.”

Nevertheless, Lloris’ fondness for Tottenham shows in a book which not only offers praise for his successor in goal Guglielmo Vicario but detailed gratitude to Levy for “the sort of goodbye I’d dreamed of”, in reference to his farewell presentation on December 31 against Bournemouth.

When Lloris signed for Spurs in 2012, the club had not yet built its 62,850-seater stadium and only qualified once for Europe’s elite competition during the previous 50 years.

Lloris, who joined MLS side Los Angeles FC after leaving the Premier League, reflected: “I gave 12 years of my career to the club and I am proud of it, you know?

“And today I just support the club, I love the club and I just want to wish them and see them succeeding.

“I hope it will come but I am also proud because I was part of the group of players that make the club evolution. When I signed for the club and when I left, it’s a totally different club.

“Step by step we become even more competitive and put the club in a better position. I think today the club has everything and is strong enough to succeed.”

Five in a row has taken on a different meaning for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. It was supposed to signify their pursuit of an unprecedented fifth consecutive English title. Instead, the immediate significance comes from another historic first. Guardiola has lost five consecutive matches, his worst ever run bookended by reverses against Tottenham Hotspur.

If the first scarcely left City distraught, with Guardiola unworried by exiting the Carabao Cup, the latest was more emphatic, more dramatic, more chastening, more stunning. Guardiola’s joint heaviest defeat became an embarrassment. He risks being expelled from the title race. City could find themselves eight points behind Liverpool on Sunday, perhaps returning from Anfield next week 11 adrift. That, Guardiola conceded, would be too big a gap to bridge.

“After eight years here I knew sooner or later we would drop,” he said. But perhaps not this far, this fast. Empires can collapse suddenly and dramatically but City’s was supposed to have been reinforced. This began as an evening of celebration; it became one of humiliation and capitulation. The new-contract bounce, of Guardiola committing his future to the club until 2027, lasted for about 12 minutes of football.

The gaudy on-pitch presentation of the Ballon d’Or to Rodri was followed by an illustration of how much City miss their injured talisman. A third straight league defeat showed a now familiar fragility. City were caught on the break too easily and too often. A team without a proper defensive midfielder lost to one with a potent attacking midfielder.

Because, while the Spaniard gazed on from the stands, the dominant figure was James Maddison. Perhaps a fit Rodri would have prevented his seven-minute double – Maddison was left unmarked for each, beautifully as he took them – as the recalled, resurgent Englishman upstaged the City manager and award winner. He once infamously said that, when he goes out for a roast dinner with his family, he wants to be the main man.

He turned this evening into his 28th birthday party. “It was a perfect night for him,” said Ange Postecoglou. Maddison had spent much of the last month on the bench. This was quite a comeback.

For City, it was quite a setback. They had defenders returning from injury. They still looked unable to keep a clean sheet without Rodri. “In this moment we are fragile defensively,” said Guardiola. The notion that recent losses could be attributed to uncertainty about Guardiola’s future was disabused. They instead again looked an ageing side who were too susceptible to counterattacks; Guardiola a manager casting around in search of solutions. He began with a Dyche-esque 4-4-1-1. He tried three different players on the left wing. City still had shots – some 23 of them – but couldn’t score against a Spurs team lacking their first-choice centre-backs. Guardiola ended up suffering a first home league defeat for more than two years.

And Tottenham cemented their status as the division’s great enigmas. They have recorded a remarkable Manchester double: after winning 3-0 at Old Trafford, they went one better at the Etihad. Yet they had just lost at home to Ipswich. Angeball can be something of an oddball, but on such nights it is glorious for Tottenham.

“Today was about doubling down on our footballing principles,” said a vindicated Postecoglou. “City test you in every football way possible. You have to do a bit of everything: defend, work hard, be disciplined and play football and in all four areas we got to a really strong level.” This was arguably his finest hour-and-a-half as Spurs manager and he added: “They have got an unbelievable record here at home. It isn’t something you can be blasé about.”

Postecoglou got his decisions spectacularly right. He brought back the exiled Maddison, who scored twice. He moved Dejan Kulusevski, his player of the season, from midfield to the right wing and the Swede was superb. He dropped his top scorer, Brennan Johnson, but brought him on to score the fourth goal.

First Maddison ghosted in behind the returning John Stones to volley in Kulusevski’s cross. Then he dinked a shot over Ederson after exchanging passes with Son Heung Min. It was a double of a different kind for Josko Gvardiol, who backed off to allow Kulusevski to cross for the opener and contrived to pass to Maddison in the build-up to the second. Gvardiol was also City’s main provider, the outlet on the left. He created eight chances. He was simultaneously City’s best attacker and worst defender.

Damningly for him, Tottenham’s third goal came from his flank, too. Pedro Porro, who was owned by City but never played for them, slotted in after a wonderful cross-field move, with Kulusevski popping up on the left to curl a pass to Dominic Solanke, who teed up the right-back. The fourth featured three substitutes: Timo Werner latching on to Jack Grealish’s misplaced pass and hurtling past Kyle Walker to give Johnson a tap-in. As Ederson made fine saves from Son, Solanke and Kulusevski, Tottenham had the opportunities to score seven.

Which made some of City’s efforts feel rather irrelevant in the final reckoning. Erling Haaland, up against Tottenham’s defensive duo of Radu Draguson and Ben Davies, had two efforts before Maddison struck, a third fine chance just after his second goal. One was deflected wide by Davies, one well saved by Guglielmo Vicario, one ballooned over the bar. He went on to curl a shot against the upright from an acute angle. Vicario made a terrific save from Ilkay Gundogan. Tottenham had to defend and did. When City had to defend, they couldn’t.

And for the second successive game, Guardiola found himself greeted by taunts of “sacked in the morning”. He did not need the new contract to know it will not happen. But the first manager to win four consecutive English titles is now the first City manager since Stuart Pearce to lose five in a row. For Guardiola, it is an infamous five.

Five in a row has taken on a different meaning for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. It was supposed to signify their pursuit of an unprecedented fifth consecutive English title. Instead, the immediate significance comes from another historic first. Guardiola has lost five consecutive matches, his worst ever run bookended by reverses against Tottenham Hotspur.

If the first scarcely left City distraught, with Guardiola unworried by exiting the Carabao Cup, the latest was more emphatic, more dramatic, more chastening, more stunning. Guardiola’s joint heaviest defeat became an embarrassment. He risks being expelled from the title race. City could find themselves eight points behind Liverpool on Sunday, perhaps returning from Anfield next week 11 adrift. That, Guardiola conceded, would be too big a gap to bridge.

“After eight years here I knew sooner or later we would drop,” he said. But perhaps not this far, this fast. Empires can collapse suddenly and dramatically but City’s was supposed to have been reinforced. This began as an evening of celebration; it became one of humiliation and capitulation. The new-contract bounce, of Guardiola committing his future to the club until 2027, lasted for about 12 minutes of football. The gaudy on-pitch presentation of the Ballon d’Or to Rodri was followed by an illustration of how much City miss their injured talisman. A third straight league defeat showed a now familiar fragility. City were caught on the break too easily and too often. A team without a proper defensive midfielder lost to one with a potent attacking midfielder.

Because, while the Spaniard gazed on from the stands, the dominant figure was James Maddison. Perhaps a fit Rodri would have prevented his seven-minute double – Maddison was left unmarked for each, beautifully as he took them – as the recalled, resurgent Englishman upstaged the City manager and award winner. He once infamously said that, when he goes out for a roast dinner with his family, he wants to be the main man.

He turned this evening into his 28th birthday party. “It was a perfect night for him,” said Ange Postecoglou. Maddison had spent much of the last month on the bench. This was quite a comeback.

For City, it was quite a setback. They had defenders returning from injury. They still looked unable to keep a clean sheet without Rodri. “In this moment we are fragile defensively,” said Guardiola. The notion that recent losses could be attributed to uncertainty about Guardiola’s future was disabused. They instead again looked an ageing side who were too susceptible to counterattacks; Guardiola a manager casting around in search of solutions. He began with a Dyche-esque 4-4-1-1. He tried three different players on the left wing. City still had shots – some 23 of them – but couldn’t score against a Spurs team lacking their first-choice centre-backs. Guardiola ended up suffering a first home league defeat for more than two years.

And Tottenham cemented their status as the division’s great enigmas. They have recorded a remarkable Manchester double: after winning 3-0 at Old Trafford, they went one better at the Etihad. Yet they had just lost at home to Ipswich. Angeball can be something of an oddball, but on such nights it is glorious for Tottenham.

“Today was about doubling down on our footballing principles,” said a vindicated Postecoglou. “City test you in every football way possible. You have to do a bit of everything: defend, work hard, be disciplined and play football and in all four areas we got to a really strong level.” This was arguably his finest hour-and-a-half as Spurs manager and he added: “They have got an unbelievable record here at home. It isn’t something you can be blasé about.”

Postecoglou got his decisions spectacularly right. He brought back the exiled Maddison, who scored twice. He moved Dejan Kulusevski, his player of the season, from midfield to the right wing and the Swede was superb. He dropped his top scorer, Brennan Johnson, but brought him on to score the fourth goal.

First Maddison ghosted in behind the returning John Stones to volley in Kulusevski’s cross. Then he dinked a shot over Ederson after exchanging passes with Son Heung Min. It was a double of a different kind for Josko Gvardiol, who backed off to allow Kulusevski to cross for the opener and contrived to pass to Maddison in the build-up to the second. Gvardiol was also City’s main provider, the outlet on the left. He created eight chances. He was simultaneously City’s best attacker and worst defender.

Damningly for him, Tottenham’s third goal came from his flank, too. Pedro Porro, who was owned by City but never played for them, slotted in after a wonderful cross-field move, with Kulusevski popping up on the left to curl a pass to Dominic Solanke, who teed up the right-back. The fourth featured three substitutes: Timo Werner latching on to Jack Grealish’s misplaced pass and hurtling past Kyle Walker to give Johnson a tap-in. As Ederson made fine saves from Son, Solanke and Kulusevski, Tottenham had the opportunities to score seven.

Which made some of City’s efforts feel rather irrelevant in the final reckoning. Erling Haaland, up against Tottenham’s defensive duo of Radu Draguson and Ben Davies, had two efforts before Maddison struck, a third fine chance just after his second goal. One was deflected wide by Davies, one well saved by Guglielmo Vicario, one ballooned over the bar. He went on to curl a shot against the upright from an acute angle. Vicario made a terrific save from Ilkay Gundogan. Tottenham had to defend and did. When City had to defend, they couldn’t.

And for the second successive game, Guardiola found himself greeted by taunts of “sacked in the morning”. He did not need the new contract to know it will not happen. But the first manager to win four consecutive English titles is now the first City manager since Stuart Pearce to lose five in a row. For Guardiola, it is an infamous five.

Liveupdated

Manchester City host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League as Pep Guardiola faces the unprecedented scenario of attempting to end a four-game losing run in all competitions.

The champions were stunned by Brighton before the international break to leave City trailing Liverpool by five points. Guardiola’s side have also lost to Bournemouth and Sporting, in an extraordinary spell of results that began with defeat against Tottenham in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup last month.

Guardiola’s decision to sign a new two-year contract has lifted the mood, but Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs will be looking to deepen the sense of crisis at the Etihad. Tottenham are under pressure to secure a result themselves, having been beaten by Ipswich before the international break.

It continued Tottenham’s inconsistent season, so what version of Tottenham will turn up as they take on the champions away from home? Follow live updates from Manchester City vs Tottenham in our live blog, below.

Man City vs Tottenham LIVE

We have Richard Jolly at the game today. Ahead of kick-off, here are his thoughts:

“Tottenham came to the Etihad last season without their first-choice centre-backs and got a 3-3 draw. Now they return without their first-choice centre-backs but with Ange Postecoglou recalling James Maddison in midfield. Pep Guardiola, however, does have some centre-backs who are fit to return, with John Stones and Manuel Akanji back. It looks as though Rico Lewis is starting in midfield.”

Karl Matchett23 November 2024 17:25

Dejan Kulusevski’s record against Manchester City

Dejan Kulusevski has been Tottenham’s player of the season so far, and the Sweden international has a brilliant record against today’s opponents as well.

He has scored on all three of his visits to the Etihad, including his first for the club in a 3-2 win there in February 2022 as well as last season’s late equaliser to rescue a 3-3 draw.

Kulusevski has had a hand in more Premier League goals against Man City (five – three goals, two assists) than he has against any other side, scoring or assisting five of our last nine league goals against Pep Guardiola’s team.

Jamie Braidwood23 November 2024 17:20

Man City vs Tottenham: Pre-match stats

Manchester City risk losing three consecutive league fixtures for the first time under Pep Guardiola. It last happened in February to March 2016 during Manuel Pellegrini’s reign, and included a home defeat against Tottenham.

But Guardiola has lost six Premier League games versus Spurs and conceded 22 goals – more than against any other opponent. In fact, Tottenham have scored at least twice in each of their past three top-flight games at the Etihad Stadium.

Jamie Braidwood23 November 2024 17:10

Ange Postecoglou relishing Tottenham’s key run of fixtures before Christmas

Ange Postecoglou knows the next month will be “significant” for Tottenham, but is confident they will improve and not be mid-table at Christmas.

Postecoglou remains bullish about Tottenham’s progress and acutely aware of the scrutiny set to come his way if they stay 10th.

“Christmas is a joyous occasion, irrespective, and I think it should be celebrated. If we’re still 10th then people won’t be happy, I won’t be happy, but we might not be 10th,” Postecoglou pointed out before nine games in 30 days.

“Certainly for us I think it’s a significant period because you look at those games and we’ve got the league where we’ve got to improve our position and a couple of important European fixtures that can set us up for the back half of the year, also a Carabao Cup quarter-final.”

Ange Postecoglou relishing Tottenham’s key run of fixtures before Christmas

Spurs went into the international break in 10th position, but could have been third with a win over Ipswich.

Jamie Braidwood23 November 2024 17:00

Pep Guardiola sure 75 per cent of Premier League clubs want Man City relegated

Pep Guardiola claims three-quarters of the Premier League want to see Manchester City relegated over financial irregularities.

But the City boss has vowed to stay on and lift the club back to the top even if they are sent all the way down to the National League.

Guardiola ended speculation over his immediate future this week by extending his contract, which had been due to expire at the end of the season, through to the summer of 2027.

That has given the club some stability at a time of great uncertainty as they fight 115 charges related to alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.

City have denied all wrongdoing but their punishment if found guilty could be severe, with demotion even a possibility.

Pep Guardiola sure 75 per cent of Premier League clubs want Man City relegated

The City boss has vowed to stay on and lift the club back to the top if they are sent down the divisions.

Jamie Braidwood23 November 2024 16:45

Ange Postecoglou does not believe Spurs are ‘down in dumps’ ahead of City test

Ange Postecoglou insists his Tottenham squad will not be “down in the dumps” ahead of Saturday’s trip to Manchester City despite Rodrigo Bentancur being the latest player to join the list of absentees.

Bentancur has been given a seven-match domestic suspension by the Football Association for the use of racist language during a media interview earlier this year and while Spurs have appealed against the length of ban, the Uruguay international will definitely sit out the Etihad Stadium clash.

“It’s really important when they come back here again we move on pretty quickly,” Postecoglou reflected, with reference to the 2-1 home loss to Ipswich before the international break.

“They understand we still have to do our review and we did that. We looked back at the areas we need to be better, but I don’t get the sense the lads are down in the dumps in any way.”

Ange Postecoglou does not believe Spurs are ‘down in dumps’ ahead of City test

Rodrigo Bentancur is the latest absentee after he was given a seven-match domestic ban on Monday.

Jamie Braidwood23 November 2024 16:35

Man City v Spurs - live

Teams are in!

Man City - Ederson, Walker, Stones, Gvardiol, Lewis, Akanji, Savio, Foden, Gundogan, Silva, Haaland

Spurs - Vicario, Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie, Sarr, Bissouma, Kulusevski, Maddison, Solanke, Son

Karl Matchett23 November 2024 16:29

Worry for Tottenham as defensive injuries hit

Tottenham will face Manchester City and Erling Haaland without their first-choice centre-back partnership, with vice-captain Cristian Romero forced to return early from national team duty due to his ongoing toe issue which will rule him out of the fixture against Pep Guardiola’s side. It adds to Micky van de Ven’s absence, with the defender sidelined for another couple of weeks.

Jamie Braidwood23 November 2024 16:13

Managerial godfather Pep Guardiola is about to accept his greatest challenge yet at Man City

It could seem a rare vote of confidence when a club on a record losing run gives a manager a new contract. Then again, when the manager is Pep Guardiola, his longest sequence of defeats only stands at four; so does his unique chain of English league titles.

So if it is a vote of confidence, it is by Guardiola in Manchester City and not vice versa. There were reasons for the manager to walk away; some would say, 115 of them. Guardiola’s decision to commit himself to the club for a further year, until 2026, and, with a one-season option on top of that, seems to reflect a belief that City will emerge completely or relatively unscathed from the hearing into the Premier League’s century of charges.

Guardiola has tended to be bullishly outspoken in the club’s defence, even though he is not in the dock personally and most of the alleged offences predate his arrival. Guardiola said in September the rest of football wanted City to “disappear off the face of the earth”. A new deal nevertheless indicates he does not expect next autumn’s fixture list to contain Plymouth and Preston, let alone Braintree and Boston.

Building Man City 3.0 will be Pep Guardiola’s greatest challenge yet

The Premier League champions need a rebuild and their masterful manager is set to stay to oversee it after agreeing a new one-year contract, writes Richard Jolly

Jamie Braidwood23 November 2024 16:00

Pep Guardiola promises to stay with Man City even if they are relegated

Pep Guardiola has stated his determination to lead Manchester City back to the top even if they are relegated to the National League over alleged financial irregularities.

The City manager this week ended speculation over his immediate future by extending his contract with the club he has guided to six Premier League titles through to the summer of 2027.

The news has given the champions a lift at a time of huge uncertainty off the field. The club are currently battling 115 charges of alleged rule-breaking following an investigation into their financial affairs.

City deny all wrongdoing but, if found guilty, they could face a severe punishment, including the possibility of relegation.

Guardiola, who revealed his contract negotiations were concluded in two hours, said: “I said six months ago, not because now I’ve extended my contract.

“I said when all the clubs accused us of doing something wrong, (and people asked) what happens if we are relegated, (I said) I will be here.

“Next year, I don’t know the position of the Conference they are going to (put) us, (but) we are going to come up and come up and come back to the Premier League. I knew it then and I feel it now.”

Jamie Braidwood23 November 2024 15:45

Follow live coverage as Manchester City face Tottenham Hotspur today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.

The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.

Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below: