Before kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was asked to explain his decisions to omit Kevin De Bruyne from the starting line-up and leave Phil Foden out entirely against Spurs.
The reigning champions have failed to win all four previous visits to Tottenham's home ground since moving there in 2019 - once in the Champions League and three times in the Premier League. Therefore, it came as a shock to many to see two huge names not involved from the off.
Guardiola is of course known to regularly tinker with his team, particular in recent weeks after going in hard on his own players following the meeting between these two clubs last month at the Etihad Stadium as he challenged them to rediscover the "fire" he feels they have lost this season.
