The Premier League title race is under the spotlight for the second night in a row on Thursday as the champions Manchester City play host to Tottenham Hotspur in a match which has the potential to make the picture a little clearer.
After falling eight points behind leaders Arsenal this feels like a match City can’t afford to lose if they are going to retain their crown. Tottenham aren’t going to let them have it all their own way though as they need the points in the race for the top four.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League channels with the build-up to the match beginning at 7pm and the kick off at the Etihad at 8pm.
Manchester City
You would have to suggest that this has been a rocky spell back from the World Cup break for Manchester City. Even when they have won they have not really convinced and you just wonder whether the exertions of having everyone away combined with the relentless nature they play at has just caught up with everyone. In the seven matches they have played since the World Cup, City have lost two and drawn another which is unlike them.
The big concern is that they are suddenly looking vulnerable at the back. They have stopped keeping clean sheets and having been their swashbuckling stylish selves going forward. It might be that the games are catching up with them and it might be the pressure which Arsenal are piling onto them. Whatever it is they need to find a pretty quick improvement else the upcoming double header with Arsenal won’t matter in the title race.
Tottenham Hotspur
If the recent form of Manchester City has been something of a mystery then the results of Tottenham Hotspur probably all season have been. I think most expected Antonio Conte to turn them into something of a winning machine by now. That hasn’t really happened and the less than pleasing style of play that he adopts means that the Italian is a sitting duck for criticism. Tame defeats like the one they had against Arsenal at the weekend do nothing for his long-term future either.
Tottenham have won just one of their four Premier League matches since the World Cup break but they big problem they have is they seem unable to perform in the first half of a game. They are better after the break but that isn’t really saying much and quite often games are irretrievable by that point. Spurs will know they won here last season but it is going to need a whole lot more from them if they are going to repeat that here.
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Team News
Manchester City are expected to be boosted by the availability of defenders John Stones and Ruben Dias after they have recovered from injury. Kevin de Bruyne will also be available for what is a must-win game for the champions.
Tottenham are hopeful that midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will be fit to feature in the match after finally recovering from the injury he picked up at the World Cup. Richarlison came off the bench on Sunday and could be in line to start here.
Betting
Both these teams go into this match off the back of losing in a derby at the weekend so both will be eager if not desperate to respond with three points. I don’t think the Tottenham counterattack is quite the threat that it was last season so I would imagine Man City will be happy to camp in and look to really take the game to Spurs. I’m still a little wary about the champions at the back though although everything tells us to expect a home win.
This is a big match and generally in the big matches Pep Guardiola releases Ilkay Gundogan to play a lot further forward and I think he can find the target in this match. He is a similar player to Martin Odegaard who found the net against Spurs on Sunday but even if he plays a little deeper the holding midfielder for Arsenal smashed the post against Tottenham on Sunday. Gundogan is no stranger to finding the net at the Etihad and if Spurs defend deep it could be down to the German to fire something on target. At even money I think he’s a fair bet to hit the target.
Tips
Back I.Gundogan – Over 0.5 shots on target for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with Boylesports
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