Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City preview: Stones set to be recalled

By Ric Turner, Sun 02 October 2016 11:33


Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City preview: Stones set to be recalledPep Guardiola expecting a difficult game against Mauricio Pochettino's side

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 2.15pm, Sunday 2nd October 2016

Venue: White Hart Lane, North London

Referee: Andre Marriner Assistants: S Beck, A Garratt Fourth Official: J Moss

Odds: Spurs 2/1, Draw 5/2, City 6/4. See Big Free Bet free bets for some great offers.

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Sky Sports

Tottenham Hotspur

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino

Squad (from): Lloris, Vorm, Lopez, Walker, Rose, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Trippier, Wimmer, Carter-Vickers, Davies, Heung-Min, Lamel, Dier, Dembele, Alli, Eriksen, Carroll, Wanyama, Janssen, Sissoko, Winks, Onomah, Nkoudo

Injured: Kane

Doubtful: Rose, Dier, Dembele, Sissoko

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWWDW

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Caballero, Gunn, Adarabioyo, Angelino, Clichy, Kolarov, Otamendi, Sagna, Stones, Zabaleta, Fernando, Fernandinho, Garcia, Gundogan, Navas, Sane, Silva, Sterling, Aguero, Iheanacho

Injured: Kompany, Delph, De Bruyne

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Nolito

Form guide: WWWWW

Vincent Kompany, Fabian Delph and Kevin De Bruyne are absent once again as City travel to North London hoping to record a seventh successive league victory this season. Yaya Toure remains unavailable following the dispute between his agent and manager. Bacary Sagna and John Stones are likely to be recalled in defence, having been benched for the midweek Chmapions League tie with Celtic, whilst Fernando could replace Ilkay Gundogan in midfield.

Spurs have started the season well, and Pep Guardiola is expecting a difficult game against Mauricio Pochettino's team.

"The big teams are more difficult to play against because they have better players," he said. "That's how football works. I've told the players all along that it doesn't matter if we play Tottenham or a Conference team, the points are the same. Every game brings its own complications, whatever the level of your opponents."

"It is so difficult. I have seen my players so exhausted in the dressing room after matches they could not speak," the manager said. "Before I came here I was told the Premier League was the toughest in the world, everyone can beat anyone. Now I accept it. It is not easy. I want to give credit to my players for the way they have worked."

City's last away league game at White Hart Laneended in a 4-1 defeat with Kevin De Bruyne opening the scoring for City before the Blues were comprehensively beaten by Pochettino's side. Overall City have won 58 of the 151 games played against Spurs, with 34 draws and 59 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Bravo, Sagna, Stones, Otamendi, Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, Silva, Sane, Sterling, Aguero

Score prediction: Spurs 2 City 1