Premier League team news and prediction: Tottenham vs Man City
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola resume rivalries on Saturday evening as Tottenham welcome Manchester City to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Saturday's clash will mark one year and one day since Mourinho succeeded Mauricio Pochettino in north London, while Guardiola will hope to mark his new contract with three points in the capital.
Ahead of the weekend's mouth watering meeting between Spurs and City, we have all your need-to-know matchday information in one place, including the match permutations, team news and predicted XIs.
When is kick off?
Saturday 21st November, 17:30 GMT
Where is the match?
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Where can I watch it?
Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event
2020/21 So Far
After their opening day defeat at the hands of Everton, Tottenham have turned their fortunes around and return to domestic duties just one point off league leaders Leicester. Spurs are on the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League, with a 1-0 win over West Brom last time out extending that streak to seven matches. However, despite their lofty position on the table, Spurs' 2-1 win over Brighton in their last home game ended a three-match winless home run to kick off the campaign.
Manchester City sit five points behind Spurs ahead of gameweek nine, albeit having played one game fewer, and they'll look to close the gap on Jose Mourinho's side to re-affirm their title credentials. Pep Guardiola's outfit are unbeaten in five, but a 1-1 draw with Liverpool earlier this month means they have won only twice in that run. City have struggled on their recent trips to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, losing their two visits since Spurs returned to their home on Seven Sisters Road. Guardiola will be hoping it is third time's the charm on Saturday.
Team News
Matt Doherty tested positive for COVID-19 while on international duty with Ireland, so misses out for Tottenham. Serge Aurier and Japhet Tanganga are competiting to deputise for Doherty at right-back, with the latter back in training following a spell on the sidelines. Erik Lamela will be assessed, so too will midfielder Tanguy Ndombele. Steven Bergwijn was sent back to London during the international break having been unfit to represent the Netherlands, while Giovani Lo Celso played the full 90 minutes for Argentina in Peru in midweek.
Pep Guardiola has Oleksandr Zinchenko available for selection. The Ukraine squad was placed in quarantine in midweek, which meant their UEFA Nations League meeting with Switzerland couldn't go ahead, but Zinchenko as since returned a negative COVID-19 test. Raheem Sterling and Nathan Ake both sustained knocks while on international duty with England and the Netherlands, respectively, and will be assessed. Benjamin Mendy, Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero have been building up their fitness during the international break, but only the latter should be fit to make the matchday squad.
Probable XIs
Tottenham (4231) - Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Bale, Lo Celso, Son; Kane
Manchester City (433) - Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Torres, Jesus, Foden
Key Battle - Son Heung-Min vs Ferran Torres
Son Heung-Min has been one of the stars of the season with a WhoScored rating of 7.83 one of the best in the Premier League in 2020/21. No player has scored more goals than the South Korean (8) and his partnership with Harry Kane has been a key reason behind Tottenham's rise up the Premier League. Son netted in this fixture last season and has scored five times against City in total, making them one of his favourite English opponents.
However, Ferran Torres comes into the meeting with Spurs with his tail up. The Spaniard underwhelmed in City's 1-1 draw with Liverpool prior to the international break, but bagged a hat-trick in Spain's 6-0 thumping of Germany in midweek. With Raheem Sterling potentially ruled out having sustained a calf problem on international duty, Torres may have another chance to bag his first league goal when City travel to London on Saturday evening.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Manchester City
