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After most Premier League teams gave their second string sides a run out in the League Cup in midweek, the focus reverts back to Matchweek 7 of what is already turning out to be a surprising Premier League campaign. One of the headline fixtures this weekend sees table toppers Manchester City travel to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs have had an indifferent run so far this season, with just two victories in six league matches so far (both 1-0 wins), while also suffering a League Cup exit in midweek to North London rivals Arsenal.
Kick-Off and Live Telecast
Channel: StarSports 4, StarSports HD4
Live Stream: Star Sports
Date and time: Saturday, 26 September 2015 – 17:15 IST (12:45 BST)
Venue: White Hart Lane, London
Team News
Tottenham
Tottenham have no new injury concerns for manager Mauricio Pochettino to deal with, with Algerian midfielder Nabil Bentaleb set to continue his spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Moussa Dembele and Ryan Mason are both doubtful with respective knee and ankle injuries and are unlikely to be risked.
Manchester City
City are set to welcome back their captain Vincent Kompany from a calf injury he sustained in the Champions League defeat to Juventus. He is set to replace Eliaquim Mangala in the starting XI, who himself suffered a muscle problem and had to be subbed off at half-time in last weekend’s defeat to West Ham.
Playmaker David Silva could miss the game following a calf injury he endured right at the stroke of kickoff in the West Ham game but Pellegrini will take a final call late on Friday. Meanwhile Fabian Delph continues to be a long-term absentee for the table-toppers.
Form
Tottenham
Tottenham’s last Premier League game saw them victorious over another London rival Crystal Palace at home, where new signing Son-Heung Min once again stole the show with a left-footed strike past Alex McCarthy to give his side a hard-fought 1-0 win over Alan Pardew’s side.
Harry Kane’s goal drought this season continues despite an impressive performance against the Gunners and the Spurs faithful will be hoping he identifies this game to break his goal duck in order to give them any chance of overcoming the Premier League giants.
Last 5 games (All Competitions): L-W-W-W- D (Most Recent: Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal)
Manchester City
City returned to winning ways on Tuesday, with an emphatic 4-1 pounding of struggling Sunderland, who are yet to register a victory in the Premier League this season. Sergio Aguero scored for the first time since his opening goal against Chelsea in August, albeit from the penalty spot.
Manuel Pellegrini will be disappointed with the manner in which they let go of their 100% start to the Premier League season against West Ham, where some over-cautious and sloppy defending cost them two first-half goals. The Chilean will be hopeful his side’s fortunes change on Saturday by converting chances into goals against what now looks a settled Belgian centre-back duo of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.
He will also look to Aguero to continue his amazing goal-scoring form against Spurs. He scored five goals against Pochettino’s side last season.
Last 5 games (All Competitions) : W-L-L-W-W (Most Recent: Sunderland 1-4 Man City)
Key Stats
Head-to-Head
- Manchester City have won 8 out of the last 9 games against Spurs in the Premier League. (L1)
- They have scored 28 goals and conceded just 9 during this period.
- Sergio Aguero has scored 8 goals in his last 4 Premier League appearances against Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
- Tottenham have won just 2 out of their last 6 home games (2D, 2L)
- Harry Kane is yet to find the net for Spurs this season in any competition. He has not scored at White Hart Lane since scoring a hat-trick against Leicester City in March.
- Son Heung-Min has scored 3 times in as many appearances since signing for Spurs in August.
- Man City have won their last 6 games on the road in all competitions.
- Sergio Aguero has scored just 1 goal in 6 Premier League appearances for Man City. His last away goal in the Premier League came against Tottenham in a 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane in May.
- David Silva has provided the most number of assists(4) in the Premier League this season.
Possible Lineups
Man City possible lineup (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernandinho. Yaya Toure, Silva, de Bruyne, Sterling; Aguero
Spurs possible lineup (4-2-3-1) : Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Alli, Lamela, Son, Chadli; Kane
Key Battles
Dele Alli vs Fernandinho
The encounter will most likely be decided by the superiority in midfield, and the duel between Fernandinho and teenager Dele Alli promises to be a mouth-watering one. While box-to-box midfielder Alli has been dubbed as a future England star with his crisp passing and energy up-front, Fernandinho has shielded his defence brilliantly this season, with his accurate tackling and ability to foil opposition counter-attacks. He has also got on the scoresheet twice this season.
Hugo Lloris vs Sergio Aguero
French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris once again proved his world-class credentials with a stunning performance against Crystal Palace, making a series of brilliant saves to deny a menacing Palace attack. Sergio Aguero, who has so far struggled with his finishing inside the box, will have to use his shooting boots to the most efficient extent if he has to get the better of Lloris and hand Man City a seventh successive victory away from the Etihad Stadium.
Prediction
Man City’s attacking quintet of Toure, Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva and Aguero have the ability to open up the Spurs defence while Kompany’s return to the pitch will also make it difficult for goalless Kane and Korean Son-Heung Min to have too many clear attempts on goal. With the strength of Otamendi alongside him, wingers Lamela and Chadli will also find the going tough trying to supply accurate crosses into the box.
Man City, on paper, have the quality to come away from White Hart Lane with all three points.
Predicted score: Tottenham 1-3 Man City
Betting Odds (bet365)
Tottenham: 16/5
Draw: 14/5
Man City: 10/11
