Premier League: Injury-Hit Spurs Face Acid Test at the Etihad

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

It’s second versus fifth in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. This is a meeting between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, who have enjoyed some real ding-dongs in recent seasons.

This time around, one team is severely disadvantaged by absences which gives the other an even bigger advantage.

Yet it should be remembered, the away side have upset the apple cart in this fixture, and this is a contest capable of producing Premier League 2023 highlights since it has happened on more than one occasion.

Talking Points

It is Spurs who are plagued by injuries, most notably summer signing Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Ivan Perisic, and James Maddison.

The list of those on the sidelines lengthened further when Rodrigo Bentancur was ruled put for up to 10 weeks with an ankle problem, sustained just half an hour into the Uruguay midfielder’s first start since February last weekend.

At least they can welcome back Yves Bissouma from suspension for the visit to the Etihad Stadium, although Cristian Romero will serve the final match of his own ban.

After being unbeaten in the league in their first 10 matches, the North Londoners went down to their third successive league defeat at home to Aston Villa last time out, although as manager Ange Postecoglou pointed out, the way they played was hardly the display of a side lacking in confidence.

Confidence is something City are rarely without and, even in a game they didn’t need to win in midweek, they showed their mettle.

Trailing 2-0 at home to RB Leipzig in the Champions League, they produced a stirring second half display to win 3-2 and seal top spot in their group.

It was a match which highlighted the depth of their squad with Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku, and Julian Alvarez all summoned from the bench and making a difference.

After letting Liverpool off the hook last weekend straight off the back of a thrilling 4-4 draw at Chelsea, City will be in no mood to drop more points at home and now appears an ideal time to entertain Spurs who reportedly want to sign a centre-back and a central midfielder in January.

Injuries have certainly highlighted a lack of depth in defence and midfield this month, as Postecoglou started four full‑backs in defence versus Villa.

City have no such requirements with brilliant Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne due back in the New Year, and they will be keen to ensure they remain top or thereabouts by the time that arrives.

Their focus and greater resources should see them through this with something to spare, even against such spirited opposition.

History

Historically, this rivalry could barely be closer, standing at 66 wins each.

There was a thrilling comeback by the reigning champions in January as they won 4-2 after trailing 2-0 at the break before Harry Kane’s status as a Spurs great was further cemented in North London a few weeks later.

A further 36 matches have been drawn incidentally, which shows you how well matched they have been over the years as they each enjoyed their own periods of glory.

Of their most high profile encounters in recent seasons, City got the better of Spurs in the 2021 League Cup Final via a late Aymeric Laporte goal, made easier by the fact Jose Mourinho had been foolishly dismissed by Spurs just days earlier.

Spurs got a modicum of revenge in the 2021/22 campaign when a Son Heung-Min goal separated the sides on the opening weekend in London before a 95^th minute Kane winner settled a five-goal thriller in Spurs’ favour in Manchester.

City have won 14 of the last 25 meetings in the Premier League.

Arguably the best game I have reported on in recent years involved these clubs in 2019 in the Champions League quarter-finals, an epic encounter with which words struggled to do justice, so barely credible were the events which unfolded.

Betting Tip

A home win is strongly predicted with the SBOTOP Premier League 2023 betting odds.

The injury-hit visitors are available to tip both 1X2 @ 7.00 and Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 2.09.

City are on offer 1X2 @ 1.28 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.04 and -2.00 @ 2.35.

The 1X2 Draw is available @ 5.60.

There’s only been two goalless draws in their numerous meetings over the past decades which could partly explain why Total Goals 0-1 is available @ 6.40, compared to 2-3 @ 2.28 and 4-6 @ 2.25.

If City repeat last season’s 4-2 triumph, Correct Score will pay out @ 32.00.

Likewise, a repeat of that scenario with Half Time Full Time Away Home is an option @ 22.00.

 

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