Manchester City will be buoyed by Arsenal’s defeat to Everton on Saturday with a win over Tottenham taking them within two points of the Gunners.
Last month’s meeting between the pair saw City come back from 2-0 down at half-time to win 4-2. Pep Guardiola, though, was less than impressed with his team and sent a stark warning to improve their mentality as they try to catch up with Arsenal.
This time, Spurs could be without Antonio Conte who had an emergency operation to remove his gallbladder this week. Nevertheless, Guardiola will be expecting a tough test from Tottenham, who are trying to keep themselves within touching distance of the top four.
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The Blues will have to do without John Stones who has been ruled out through injury. As a result, Aymeric Laporte could start a second consecutive Premier League match with Manuel Akanji by his side.
Nathan Ake kept Bukayo Saka uncommonly quiet in the triumph over Arsenal and amid Joao Cancelo’s high-profile exit, he could be tasked with keeping Dejan Kulusevski, and perhaps later Arnaut Danjuma, muted at left-back on Sunday.
Kyle Walker has struggled to get a look-in since Rico Lewis’ breakthrough but Guardiola may hand the right-back his first start since the clash with United so he can deal with the threat of Heung-min Son, who netted twice in Spurs’ 3-0 FA Cup win over Preston.
A midfield trio of Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan could form the midfield and quell the movement of Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Riyad Mahrez produced a second-half masterclass in January’s 4-2 win and so will fancy his chances against Tottenham again.
He grabbed two goals in the match and will likely be given the nod again this weekend. Phil Foden is back from an ankle knock but it would be surprising to see him start after missing the victories over Wolves and Arsenal.
Therefore, Jack Grealish could be handed his 11th league start of the season with 31-goal Erling Haaland expected to make the cut.
Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Ake; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish.
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