Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City: Predictions, Preview, Team News, Betting Tips

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The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host a mouthwatering contest on Sunday afternoon, as the champions Manchester City head to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Man City will be looking to defend the title that they reclaimed last term, while Spurs will be aiming to push closer to the top four in 2021-22, having finished a disappointing seventh in the top flight last season.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Tottenham vs Manchester City is scheduled for a 4:30pm BST kick-off on Sunday, August 15, 2021.

The match will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a full crowd in attendance.

Where to watch Tottenham vs Man City

Photo: InsideSport

TV channel: The match will be televised live on Sky Sports’ Premier League and Main Event channels, with coverage beginning at 4pm - after Newcastle vs West Ham has concluded.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the website or Sky Go app.

Match preview

Now under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo, it will be fascinating to see what Tottenham achieve this season, and as expected, talk of Harry Kane has dominated the build up to this contest; the England captain trained alongside his teammates on Friday, but Nuno has refused to reveal whether the striker will play against the side that are desperate to sign him in the current market.

Spurs have managed to boost their squad this summer with the arrivals of Bryan Gil, Pierluigi Gollini and Cristian Romero, but it would be a monumental blow to the North London club if they were to lose Kane, who is thought to be valued by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy in excess of £160m.

Whether or not Kane plays this weekend, Tottenham have bigger fish to fry, with the team desperate to make a positive start to the season. Last term, the club claimed seventh, but they were only five points off the top four, and Nuno will certainly be looking to move closer to the Champions League spots this season.

Not too much can be read into pre-season, but Spurs impressed in their most recent friendlies against Chelsea and Arsenal, drawing 2-2 with the Blues before beating the Gunners 1-0 on August 8, and there was plenty for the fans to be positive about in the two contests earlier this month.

Tottenham have a busy end to August, meanwhile, as they will take on Pacos Ferreira in a two-legged contest in the Europa Conference League, in addition to facing Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford in the league.

Man City's 2021-22 campaign officially started last weekend, with the Citizens suffering a 1-0 defeat to Leicester City in the Community Shield, but it was an understrength side that took to the field.

Pep Guardiola's side certainly had their problems during the 2020-21 campaign, but a record of 27 wins, five draws and six defeats from 38 matches saw them collect 86 points, which left them 12 points clear of second-place Manchester United, showing the gap that potential challengers need to make up this term.

Man City have broken the British transfer record this summer to sign Jack Grealish, while they are still said to be actively pursuing Kane, despite Guardiola refusing to discuss the England captain when questioned on the situation during Friday's pre-match press conference.

The Citizens will believe that a positive result on Sunday would set them up nicely for back-to-back home matches against Norwich City and Arsenal to end the month, and it is vital that the likes of Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea manage to cling onto the champions in the early months of the season.

Man City were impressive in their last league clash with Tottenham, recording a 3-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium, but Spurs won this particular fixture 2-0 last season, and it would be some story if Kane inspired the home side to an opening-weekend success here.

Team News

Photo: Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo could be unable to call upon the services of Argentine centre-back Cristian Romero, left-back Ryan Sessegnon and young Spanish winger Bryan Gil. Star striker Harry Kane has been heavily linked with Manchester City and it remains to be seen whether he features.

Injured: None

Doubtful: Bryan Gil, Cristian Romero, Ryan Sessegnon, Harry Kane

Suspended: None

Manchester City

Meanwhile, Manchester City will be without England international Phil Foden and Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. There are doubts over the availability of centre-back Aymeric Laporte, as well as England's Euro 2020 stars John Stones, Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling. Goalkeeper Ederson Moraes and forward Gabriel Jesus represented Brazil at Copa America 2021, and it remains to seen whether they are fully fit for this game.

Injured: Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne

Doubtful: Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Gabriel Jesus, Ederson Moraes

Suspended: None

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City Predicted XI

Tottenham Hotspur Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hugo Lloris, Matt Doherty, Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, Sergio Reguilon, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Giovani Lo Celso, Steven Bergwijn, Dele Alli, Lucas Moura, Son Heung-min

Manchester City Predicted XI (4-3-3): Zack Steffen, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Benjamin Mendy, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, Ferran Torres, Jack Grealish

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City Head-to-Head

In 34 head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Manchester City hold the advantage. They have won 17 games, lost 14 and drawn three.

The two clubs last faced each other earlier this year in the final of the EFL Cup, with Manchester City beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0. A late second-half goal from centre-back Aymeric Laporte secured the win for Manchester City.

Tottenham Hotspur form guide in the English Premier League: yet to play

Manchester City form guide in the English Premier League: yet to play

Betting tips

City to kick off with three points

Manchester City begin the defence of their title at one of only two away grounds where they were beaten in the league last season, against a new-look Spurs side now managed by former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

City will have a number of key players missing after their involvement in Euro 2020 and the Copa America, with Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne just two of those expected to be out of the fixture.

New signing Jack Grealish should be ready to start while the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Ferran Torres will provide genuine potency in front of goal.

Spurs are without main man Kane, although do have Heung-Min Son in a forward position and will be buoyed by a recent friendly victory over north London rivals Arsenal.

With the attacking players on show, there should be goals this weekend, but Tottenham’s defensive worries won’t be resolved overnight and we expect City to come away with the victory.

Tip: Man City to win and both teams to score @ 5/2 with Sky Bet

Hojbjerg set for tough afternoon

Spurs know they have to be wary of Grealish, who was the most fouled player in the Premier League last season.

The midfielder is a fabulous dribbler and Spurs will have their work cut out stopping him, especially with the type of quality that is now around him in this City side.

One man who will have the task of doing everything he can to stop Grealish is Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and the Denmark midfielder has proved a good signing since arriving from Southampton last year.

He had a strong Euro 2020 and will be looking to take that form into a new campaign in which his physicality in the challenge will be important to Spurs’ game plan.

Hojbjerg isn’t shy of a big tackle or a yellow card and he actually picked up a booking for a foul on Grealish in Tottenham’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa at the back end of last season.

That was one of nine yellow cards in the previous Premier League campaign and we expect to see him receive one in this opening fixture against the champions.

Tip: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to be booked @ 5/2 with Sky Bet

Mahrez can continue to shine

Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez has constantly improved during his time at City and he’s expected to play a big role again this season.

The forward has looked sharp throughout his side’s warm-up games and with players such as Gabriel Jesus and De Bruyne expected to be missing at the start of the campaign, Mahrez knows he must step up in their absence.

He scored nine league goals last season and played a pivotal role in the club’s Champions League run. Up against Sergio Reguillon this weekend, he will look for space behind the Spurs left back, which could lead to a few opportunities on goal for Mahrez.

Tip: Riyad Mahrez to score at any time @ 13/8 with Sky Bet

Tottenham vs Man City Odds

Tottenham are 9/2 to win on Sunday, with Man City 3/5 and the draw priced at 3/1.

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