White Hart Lane, London, September 26th, 9:45pm AEST
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The eighth-placed Tottenham host league leaders Manchester City in the first match of game week seven in the English Premier League.
Both teams have plenty to think about heading into the clash at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham have made a steady start to the season and are locked on nine points with five other teams and are just three points shy of fourth placed Leicester.
The outlook is not as positive as it looks ostensibly though, with the Spurs favourable opening six weeks against weaker opposition placing Tottenham in a good position rather than superior play.
The Spurs have struggled to find the back of the net this season, with just five goals from six matches.
The most worrying aspect from their goal drought is the fact that last season’s leading scorer Harry Kane has failed to register a goal this campaign.
The dearth of goals is sure to be one of the main points of focus for Spurs’ manager Mauricio Pochettino, who needs his captain Kane to find form quickly if they are to upset City.
Unfortunately for Pochettino, Kane does not have history on his side, with the English international having never previously scored against the Citizens.
After an imperious five game win streak for City, the blue side of Manchester was brought crashing down to earth with a shock home loss to West Ham.
The Sky Blues conceded the first two goals of the match, before a long range stunner by Belgian superstar Kevin De Bruyne just before half time gave City hope the comeback could be on.
A second half of frustration left the score line at 2-1 at the completion of the match, handing City their first loss for the season.
Despite the defeat, both 2015 signings Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling looked dangerous in attack, giving City boss Manuel Pellegrini one of the best front lines in the world along with Sergio Aguero.
All three men found the back of the net during City’s 4-1 win over Sunderland in the Captial One Cup midweek, and Pellegrini was glowing in his appraisal of his two big money signing’s ability to fit into his system.
“Kevin is a very good player and Raheem played very well also,” Pellegrini said.
“It is not easy at the beginning to make the correct movements, but both of them demonstrated why they are here.”
The match looms as an ominous one for the Spurs with City scoring 27 goals in their last eight league games against Tottenham, at an average of 3.4 goals a game.
City has scored 16 goals to Tottenham’s four across their last four meetings – winning them all.
Potential line ups:
Tottenham:
Lloris(GK); Alderweireld, Walker, Davies, Vertonghen; Chadli, Lamela; Heung-Min, Dier, Alli; Kane
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is expected to make several changes from the team that went down to Arsenal midweek, with Hugo Lloris and Jan Vertonghen set to reclaim their place.
The heat is on the Spurs after a lacklustre opening six weeks which has seen them only score five goals, but their defence has no issues at present.
Tottenham has the second best defensive record in the league, conceding only four goals.
Coincidentally they come up against the best defence in the league this season, with City only letting in two goals so far in 2015 – both against West Ham at home last weekend.
Much has been made about Spurs lack of signings this summer, but one man who has made an impression is new recruit, South Korean Son Heung-min.
Heung-min scored the winner last week against Crystal Palace and has provided some much needed spark to the Spurs.
The South Korean will need to be at his best if the Spurs are to upset the league leaders.
Manchester City:
Hart(GK): Sagna, Kolarov, Mangala, Otamendi; De Bruyne, Sterling; Touré, Navas, Fernandinho; Aguero
Coming off the back of a disappointing outing last week, City will be out for blood at White Hart Lane.
Even though they were unsuccessful in their last Premier League match, the line up should not differ too greatly from the one that took the field against the Hammers.
Two men that sat out the loss to West Ham – midfield meastro David Silva and City captain Vincent Kompany – will have to prove their fitness ahead of Saturday’s trip to London.
City boss Pellegrini gave nothing away on the fitness of his two superstar players.
“We’ll see during the week the way they recover from now until Saturday. I hope we will recover a couple of them for the next game.” City manager Pellegrini said.
Pellegrini spent a lot of money on his front half (140m pounds to be exact), but given the way De Bruyne, Sterling and Aguero have already gelled so far this season, the money looks to be a wise investment.
Match odds:
Odds provided by WilliamHill.com.au
Tottenham: $4.00
Draw: $3.75
Who will win and why:
Winner: Manchester City – $1.85
First goal scorer: Sergio Aguero – $5.00
Correct score: Manchester City 3-0 – $17.00
Player special: Raheem Sterling to score at any time – $3.00
After a red-hot start to the season from City, the blue side of Manchester travels to London on the back of a shock loss to West Ham at the Etihad.
With the Citizens conceding the only two goals they have let through this season in that match, a strong defensive showing is expected from Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
William Hill has Manchester City at $3.40 to be the only team to score in the match.
Tottenham have had an unspectacular but productive start to the season and sit level on points with the sixth placed Everton.
The Spurs have built their season around defence thus far, with only four goals conceded this campaign.
With only five goals in six matches, the Spurs will need to improve their productivity in front of goal if they are to be any chance of causing an upset against title aspirants City.
If the Spurs are to cause an upset their sole striker Harry Kane will need to have a big match.
Kane has not scored a goal in a drought that now extends to eight matches and the 22-year old has never scored against City in his career.
The Spurs’ number 10 has a few hurdles to overcome if he is to lead his side to victory.
Harry Kane is at $2.75 to score at any time during the match with William Hill.
City will be stung by their home defeat last week and will be keen to atone – unfortunately for the Spurs they are the team in the Citizen’s crosshairs and could be on the receiving end of a thrashing.
Expect Manchester City to keep a clean sheet en route to securing their sixth win of the season.
