Man City vs Tottenham Prediction

In the first of our midweek Premier League predictions, Man City return to action with their match against Tottenham, who now have one win from four matches and have slipped out of the Champions League qualification places. Can City bounce back with a win following their derby disappointment, or will it come together for a Tottenham side who defeated Man City twice last season? Find out with Beat the Bookmaker’s Man City vs Tottenham prediction.

Man City vs Tottenham Prediction Match Overview

In the second of our midweek Premier League predictions, Man City come into this game against Tottenham on a surprisingly poor run of form and after a controversial defeat at Old Trafford against archenemies United. There has been much debate about Bruno Fernandes’s equalising goal on Saturday and whether Marcus Rashford was interfering with play. However, ultimately, the fact is that United won and are now only one point behind City. This loss is City’s second in the last six games, and they have also drawn one of those. Therefore, they have 10 points from the previous 18, which puts them firmly in mid-table form. At home, too, City haven’t won in their last two games. Much talk has concerned whether Erling Haaland has upset their style with him being less involved in their link-up play. He was indeed completely ineffectual against United. Tottenham is a difficult test.

Tottenham’s form is somewhat bipolar, with four consecutive wins sandwiched between two defeats before that and defeats in their two most recent games. They have scored 15 and conceded 15 across these eight games, so while they can score goals, they concede them too. Sunday’s loss to rivals and league leaders Arsenal will have angered coach Antonio Conte, particularly as the first goal was a gift from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. There was a spirited effort in the second half, but Arsenal held on well. Tottenham’s results are of a similar level both home and away, but playing away actually suits them as they can implement Conte’s counter-attack style with the pacey Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski breaking into space. They often give City a good game and will be hopeful of points here.

Man City vs Tottenham Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Man City:

Might Not Play: Dias, Stones, De Bruyne

Will Not Play:

Tottenham:

Might Not Play: Bentancur

Will Not Play: Moura

Possible Lineups

Man City: Ederson; Cancelo, Ake, Akanji, Lewis; Rodri, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Grealish, Haaland, Mahrez

Tottenham: Lloris; Lenglet, Dier, Romero; Perisic, Hojbjerg, Bissouma, Doherty; Son, Kane, Kulusevski

Man City vs Tottenham Prediction Analysis

Midfield Battle

The midfield contest will be vital in this game. De Bruyne is a doubt for City, but coach Pep Guardiola says he is confident he will start. Still, the Belgian has been in poor form in recent weeks and has often given possession away. He can still produce magic moments, as we saw from Grealish’s goal at Old Trafford. However, he is not dominating games in his usual imperious fashion, which is likely affecting the service to Haaland too. In midfield, though, City will likely dominate the ball in this match, and Conte will be more than happy with that as it will leave spaces open for Tottenham to hit on the break. Rodri and Bernardo (or Gundogan) will try to hold onto the ball in midfield and receive it from the centre-backs in an attempt to play through Tottenham.

This situation is where Hojbjerg and Bissouma must put in lots of hard work in their usual industrious, combative manner. They must attempt to close down the spaces which may appear between the Tottenham defence and midfield lines. They must keep Bernardo or De Bruyne from finding gaps in these areas, as they can then spread the play wide and add intensity and pressure to the game. However, City have been playing very slowly and ponderously in recent weeks. Tottenham hope this will continue as it will allow them to maintain their shape and not be dragged out of position in crucial areas.

Attacking and the Wide Areas

Of course, both these teams are strong in attack and consist of dangerous forwards. Both have scored 17 in their last ten league matches, which is a little less than we’d have expected. It is still a decent return, though, so we anticipate chances being created. As stated, City will seek to find De Bruyne, and if he can improve his form and inject pace, urgency and dynamism into the game, he is the man who can make City tick. His crossing is always a good weapon with Haaland in the box. The youngster Lewis may come into the team at right-back for Walker. Lewis offers more in the build-up play, and Guardiola will likely want that. However, as with Rashford at Old Trafford, Son presents a pacey and tricky opponent wide on the left. Cancelo has been in modest form for a while now, but he will likely get the nod at left-back. He did look better against United. His dribbling can create confusion and open spaces in the Tottenham defensive line, so Doherty and the midfielders must be mindful of this.

Mahrez will likely start, and his trickery will be necessary. He must return to his form before the United game and exploit any spaces Perisic might leave if the Croatian plays. Grealish may be rewarded with a start after a good cameo on Saturday. He has been playing better this season than given credit for, and his dribbling in tight spaces and ability to create in the box might be helpful. If Grealish doesn’t perform, Foden or Palmer can replace him. Haaland is expected to score goals, but he has to start doing more to help link the play outside the box, as we feel City are suffering in this respect. They are just not controlling games as they were.

For Tottenham, Kane can drop deep into the spaces in the midfield and set Son and Kulusevski away in those left and right channels. Ake and Akanji have struggled in recent games, so the Spurs men will fancy their chances of coming inside the City full-backs and attacking these two. They can both play their way into the box or cut inside and shoot, so they will keep City guessing. At other moments, Kane will play on the shoulder, and his occupying of the centre-backs will give Perisic and Doherty a target to hit with their crosses. Richarlison might be match-fit for this one, too. The Brazilian provides a physical option up front and is a deceptively tricky player. Indeed, Tottenham will try to use their pace on the counter to upset the City rhythm as United did.

Beat the Bookmaker Man City vs Tottenham Prediction

We would generally predict that City win this fixture, despite Tottenham being a tactical nightmare for them. However, given City’s issues with form and laborious play, Tottenham can get a result in this game. City likely will return to their old selves at some point, and Tottenham haven’t been fantastic recently either. However, big games away from home suit Tottenham and Conte will likely have a game plan to absorb pressure with three at the back and breaking away on transitions. Much of City’s possession in recent games has been sterile. We see them controlling the game and scoring a goal or two, but Tottenham can find joy on the counter. We predict a score draw, largely because City don’t look themselves right now. Tottenham will take heart from the countering blueprint United successfully employed. This plan allowed them chances on City’s goal on Saturday, in the first half especially, and Conte will likely play similarly.

Man City 2-2 Tottenham

Beat the Bookmaker Man City vs Tottenham Prediction – Draw Odds: