Manchester City, the reigning champions, are set to host an injury-riddled Tottenham Hotspur in the final match of Gameweek 14 of the Premier League. This Sunday afternoon showdown will take place at the Etihad Stadium.
City recently confirmed their top spot in their Champions League group with a midweek win over RB Leipzig. However, they trail Arsenal by a point at the top of England's premier league heading into this weekend's fixtures. That could of course change by the time this match kicks off.
On the other hand, Spurs have been struggling after three consecutive defeats and are without several key players. Despite these setbacks, they will take confidence from having beaten City several times in recent years.
Man City vs Spurs Team News
Given the midweek Champions League exploits of City and the growing injury crisis at Spurs, this is how we see the two sides lining up.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Lewis; Foden, Silva, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland
Due to injuries, Man City will be without midfield trio Kevin De Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes. De Bruyne has been out for some time and remains sidelined, while Kovacic and Nunes have played their part this season but will miss out here. Changes are expected from Pep Guardiola after their dramatic 3-2 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
Jack Grealish has overcome an illness but is likely to lose out to Jeremy Doku for that left-wing berth as Pep opts to rotate from the team which played Leipzig. John Stones could potentially make his first start since early November; however, Guardiola has expressed caution about risking another injury to him so soon after recovery.
Walker and Dias have consistently kept their places in the back three in recent weeks, with Guardiola selecting either Josko Gvardiol or Nathan Ake on the left side, game-by-game. As Gvardiol played against Leipzig, expect Ake to return to the fold for this Premier League clash.
He may go with fresh legs in the pivot and give Akanji a rest, partnering Rodri instead with youngster Rico Lewis.
Tottenham Hotspur Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Emerson, Davies, Udogie; Bissouma, Lo Celso; Johnson Kulusevski, Gil; Son.
Tottenham's latest casualty is Rodrigo Bentancur who faces two months on the sidelines due to a torn ligament in his ankle sustained against Aston Villa.
Ange Postecoglou remains without summer signings James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Manor Solomon, while Cristian Romero completes his three-game suspension following a red card against Chelsea.
On top of these absences, Pape Matar Sarr remains doubtful due to injury, but Yves Bissouma is available again after serving a one-game ban.
There is little mystery to Ange's possible lineup. Expect Bissouma to replace the injured Bentancur, or possibly Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Aside from that, he will surely play the same team which lost to Villa last weekend, and a bench made up almost entirely of academy prospects.
Man City vs Spurs Prediction
Man City's recent draw with Liverpool was less than stellar but they hope their victory in Europe has shaken off any lingering cobwebs from the November international break.
Tottenham are arguably at their most vulnerable since Postecoglou's arrival. The seemingly endless Spurs injury list has highlighted their lack of squad depth and they were guilty of wasting numerous chances in the Villa defeat - a mistake which Man City are unlikely to allow to go unpunished.
While Spurs have upset the odds against the treble winners on several occasions in recent years, their aggressive approach may play into the hands of Man City who boast superior attacking quality.
It should be close, and we see both teams scoring, but ultimately this bare-bones Spurs outfit will surely fall to the sword at the Etihad.
Prediction: Man City 3-2 Spurs
Expect goals galore in this one, as two of the most forward-thinking coaches in the game face off. Neither side has done too well keeping the back door closed of late, and both teams have attacking flair in abundance, albeit limited by injury on Spurs' side.
It should be a fascinating encounter. A win for Spurs could throw them right back into the title picture, while City could move back to the top of the table if they pick up all three points and results elsewhere go their way.
Man City vs Spurs will be broadcast live on TV and online with Sky Sports. Fans can watch on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League or Sky Sports Ultra, or via live streaming with the Sky Go app.
