Spurs v Manchester City 2nd February, Sunday 4.30pm

With a host of new players joining us, hopefully, we will hit the road running. This is a game we need to win (aren’t they all?). A defeat would set us back, while a victory will mean another rung up the ladder.

Our chief nemesis (United & Chelsea) also have tough opponents this weekend, as well. We’ve got a good chance of getting that bit closer to 4th spot if the results go our way. Chelsea face Leicester City, away, while United are at home and face Wolves.

City have had a rocky season and are struggling to recreate their Championship form of last season. Entirely focused, I believe we can win, and I am going for a 2-1 result for us.

TEAM NEWS

Steven Bergwijn will be involved for Tottenham following the winger’s £26.7m move from PSV Eindhoven. Injured trio Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko and Ben Davies remain out.

Manchester City will monitor Fernandinho, who has missed the last two matches through injury. Centre-back Aymeric Laporte, who recently returned from a lengthy lay-off, missed the midweek derby against Manchester United because of fatigue and will also be assessed. Leroy Sane is not yet ready to feature, while Benjamin Mendy is again set to miss out.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Tottenham are winless in six Premier League games against Manchester City (D2, L4), with their last victory coming at White Hart Lane in October 2016.

City have lost three of their last five league and cup away games against Spurs, but have won their last five Premier League away games in north London (versus Arsenal and Tottenham) – as many as they had in their first 40 such games in the competition (D10, L25).

Spurs have claimed 23 Premier League victories versus City – the only team they have a better record against is Everton (26 wins).

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs have claimed just one point from a possible 18 this season against teams above them in the table prior to the weekend’s matches.

Defeat would ensure Tottenham become the sixth club to lose 400 top-flight home matches.

They have lost two of their six home league matches under Jose Mourinho, as many defeats as in their final 15 home games under Mauricio Pochettino.

Spurs have kept just two clean sheet in 17 league and cup games under Mourinho.

This will be the 23rd meeting between Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in all competitions. Mourinho has lost 10 of those encounters (excluding one defeat in a penalty shoot-out) – four more than he has against any other manager.

Dele Alli has had a hand in nine goals in 16 games under Mourinho in all competitions (scoring six and assisting three), which is three times as many as he recorded in 10 appearances under Pochettino this season.

Manchester City

Manchester City have won 11 of their last 12 Premier League matches in London, with the exception a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea in December 2018.

City have scored in each of their last 23 Premier League away games, the third longest such run in the competition’s history.

Aymeric Laporte has ended on the winning side in 42 of his 49 league appearances for City; he can become the first player to win 43 matches in his first 50 Premier League games.

Kevin de Bruyne averages an assist every 180 minutes in the Premier League – the best such ratio in the competition’s history (minimum 20 assists).

COYS

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