Will City deal Spurs another setback?
Tottenham Hotspur have lost all of their last three league games in a row, conceding seven goals. That is one more goal conceded than in the first nine league games under Antonio Conte, from which a respectable 21 out of a possible 27 points were initially taken. Accordingly, the Londoners’ form curve is clearly pointing downwards at the moment.
Now, of all times, the Lilywhites have to visit the undisputed leaders of the Premier League. Since a 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in October, the Citizens have picked up 43 of a possible 45 points in league action. In the run-up to the clash between Manchester City and Tottenham, the odds are heavily in favour of the Sky Blues.
Adding to that, Pep Guardiola’s side have a superb home record, winning 5-0 away at Sporting CP in the Champions League last week to open the door to the quarter-finals. At home, City have taken 31 points from a possible 36 and have only lost one of their last 11 league home games against Spurs (eight wins, two draws).
The Sky Blues have no alternative when it comes to Manchester City vs Tottenham.
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
Manchester City are not only the absolute measure of all things in the Premier League, where the Sky Blues are currently unbeaten in 15 league games and have collected 43 out of a possible 45 points with 14 wins and one draw.
The Citizens were also convincing on the international stage during the week. In a 5-0 win away to Portuguese champions Sporting CP, they were defensively unstoppable, while Guardiola’s side looked like they could go one better at any time throughout the game.
By far the best home team in the Premier League
The previous year’s Champions League finalists will go into the coming games with a correspondingly high level of self-confidence when, with a nine-point lead over Liverpool in the Premier League, even a slip-up could theoretically be tolerated.
However, the Sky Blues were hardly able to hold a candle to them, especially in their own stadium. Ten of the twelve home games in the Premier League were won. No other team in the Premier League even comes close to that figure, while in addition no team has scored as many home goals (34) and been as solid at home (six goals conceded) as City.
Only lost one of the last eleven Premier League home games against Tottenham
The bookmakers expect a correspondingly clear number in this match, also in view of the recent negative series of the visitors from London.
In addition to the aspects already mentioned, the Citizens have lost only one of their last eleven home games in the Premier League against the Lilywhites, most of whom have had a tough time at the Etihad Stadium.
Predicted Manchester City line-up:
Ederson – Zinchenko – Aké – Dias – Walker – Gündogan – Fernandinho – Silva – Sterling – Mahrez – Foden
Last matches played by Manchester City:
Champions League Final
02/15 2022 – Sporting CP 0 – 5 Manchester City
Premier League
02/12 2022 – Norwich 0 – 4 Manchester City
02/09 2022 – Manchester City 2 – 0 Brentford
FA Cup
02/05 2022 – Manchester City 4 – 1 Fulham
Premier League
01/22 2022 – Southampton 1 – 1 Manchester City
Tottenham – Statistics & current form
Tottenham Hotspur continue to not settle down. After the Spurs under Pochettino’s successor José Mourinho last season were already no longer involved in the fight for the Champions League starting places and ended up only seventh in the final table under interim coach Ryan Mason, it continues shaky this season.
First Nuno Espírito Santo turned out to be a mistake before Antonio Conte made a strong start with the Lilywhites. However, the good yield of 21 out of a possible 27 points from the first nine games was followed by three defeats in a row.
Four defeats in a row for the first time in 18 years?
Although the standings are still unclear due to many postponements, the current snapshot shows the Londoners in eighth place in the table. This means that Spurs would not even be left in the Conference League, where they finished in the preliminary round this season.
It would therefore be important for the recent negative streak to come to an abrupt end, which is an extremely difficult task away from home against the Premier League’s strongest team by far. If they were to lose in Manchester, it would be the first time since 2004 that the Lilywhites have lost four Premier League matches in a row.
Always conceded at least two goals in last four league games
To stave off defeat at the hands of the Sky Blues, however, Spurs’ defence will need to regain its composure. Antonio Conte’s men have conceded two goals in each of their last four league games. This brings the total to 29 goals conceded in 22 league games – more goals conceded than own goals.
The Lilywhites have won three of their last four Premier League games against the Citizens. However, given the Londoners’ current poor performance, betting on an away win at Manchester City against Tottenham is extremely ill-fated.
Predicted Tottenham line-up:
Lloris – Sessegnon – Davies – Romero – Sánchez – Doherty – Bentacur – Winks – Son – Moura – Kane
Last matches played by Tottenham:
Premier League
02/13 2022 – Tottenham 0 – 2 Wolverhampton
02/09 2022 – Tottenham 2 – 3 Southampton
FA Cup
02/05 2022 – Tottenham 3 – 1 Brighton
Premier League
01/23 2022 – Chelsea London 2 – 0 Tottenham
01/19 2022 – Leicester 2 – 3 Tottenham
Manchester City – Tottenham Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 65 – 36 – 64
There have been a total of 165 meetings between the two teams so far and the record is almost completely even. In the first leg, Spurs won 1-0 after a goal by Heung-min Son.
Manchester City – Tottenham Tip
When it comes to Manchester City against Tottenham, the prediction clearly goes to the home-strong Sky Blues, who go into the game with an extreme amount of momentum. Guardiola’s side recently picked up 43 points from a possible 45 in league action and also shone in the Champions League during the week with a gala performance. Spurs, meanwhile, have lost their last three league games in a row due to continued poor finishing and recent defensive sloppiness.
Accordingly, there seems to be no alternative to betting on a home win for the Citizens, which can also be played with an Asian handicap of -1.5 in view of the fact that the Spurs defence has been so unstable recently.
