Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Stones and Kovacic return from injury

By Ric Turner, Fri 01 December 2023 16:49


Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Stones and Kovacic return from injuryGuardiola looking forward to clash against Postecolou's side

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 4.30pm, Sunday 3rd December 2023

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Simon Hooper Assistants: A Holmes, S Long Fourth Official: A Taylor VAR: P Tierney

Odds: City 1/4, Draw 5/1, Spurs 9/1

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Sky Sports

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Gvardiol, Akanji, Lewis, Phillips, Kovacic, Grealish, Rodri, Silva, Gomez, Foden, Bobb, Haaland, Doku, Alvarez

Injured: De Bruyne, Nunes

Doubtful: Kovacic

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDDWW

Tottenham

Manager: Ange Postecoglou

Squad (from): Lloris, Vicario, Forster, Emerson, Dier, Porro, Davies, Phillips, Udogie, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Bissouma, Lo Celso, Kulusevski, Sarr, Son, Richarlison, Gil, Johnson, Veliz

Injured: Perisic, Bentancur, van de Ven, Maddison, Sessegnon, Solomon

Doubtful: Sarr, Richarlison

Suspended: Romero

Form guide: LLLWW

John Stones and Mateo Kovacic are available again after injury, and will be in the squad for the visit of Spurs. Matheus Nunes and Kevin De Bruyne are the only absentees.

Ange Postecoglou's side have lost their last three games after an impressive start to the campaign, and Pep Guardiola is looking forward to what should be an exciting match on Sunday.

“I’ve said many times that I am a manager but also a spectator, I enjoy a lot the way they play,” he said at Friday's press conference.

“The approach they have, and all the Spurs and fans in England can see they’ve been really good.

“He’s already there in the short time, even the games they didn’t win lately.

“I’m impressed in many things they do and the chances they create, how aggressive they are in all departments. He came here and in a few months he recognises his team perfectly.”

City won their last game against Spurs at the Etihad 4-2, with gaols from Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez (2). Overall City have won 66 of the 168 games played against the Lilywhites, with 36 draws and 66 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodri, Bernardo, Foden, Alvarez, Doku, Haaland

Score prediction: City 3 Spurs 2