Tottenham – Manchester City: the showdown, the doubt and revenge 
Sunday, north London hosts one of the Premier League’s trickiest games to call. Tottenham welcome Manchester City — Spurs itching to notch a tenth league double over City, while Guardiola’s side arrive with one thing on their mind: take control back and settle the score.
Tottenham — good in Europe, a mess in the league 
It’s complete contrast. Like Ange Postecoglou’s second season, Spurs hide their domestic cracks behind much stronger European displays. The 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League bought breathing space, but it doesn’t paper over the Premier League hole.
Since January arrived, Spurs haven’t won in the league: three draws, two defeats and that maddening 2-2 at Burnley which left everyone flat. Again the centre-backs did the heavy lifting — Micky van de Ven opened the scoring and Cristian Romero grabbed a last-gasp equaliser.
Even so, Tottenham sit stuck in 14th. Doubts are spreading into the stands. The moaning at Turf Moor was loud. Still, the board backs Thomas Frank — convinced he can steady the ship.
For now, Europe has rescued them. Qualifying for the Champions League last 16 off the Frankfurt result extended a three-match unbeaten run and bought the manager some welcome time.
Manchester City: maximum pressure, mission revenge 
At City the tone is different. Pep Guardiola, rarely rattled, now faces one of his toughest opponents. Statistically, Tottenham have handed him more Premier League defeats than any other side.
The sting from the first meeting is still fresh — City lost 2-0 at the Etihad in August. Yet they travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with confidence: two straight league wins there recently. A third in a row at Spurs would be unheard of.
Form-wise it’s looking up. Back-to-back 2-0s — against Wolves and then Galatasaray in the Champions League — have steadied the ship. The European win also sealed their last-16 spot, helped by that crazy Benfica-Real Madrid finish.
The league victory over Wolves ended a four-game winless run and cut the gap to Arsenal to four points after the Gunners slipped against Manchester United.
Before kick-off Arsenal can push the gap again if they beat Leeds. So a chunk of London will secretly be hoping City do Arsenal’s work for them tonight.
Likely line-ups
Tottenham Hotspur :
Vicario ; Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie ; Palhinha, Gallagher ; Odobert, Simons, Kolo Muani ; Solanke
Manchester City :
Donnarumma ; Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly ; Rodri ; Cherki, Bernardo Silva, Reijnders, Semenyo ; Haaland
Football Prediction Tottenham vs Manchester City
Over 2.5 goals
Tottenham have been a real thorn for Guardiola, but their league wobble contrasts with City’s regained control. Even if City miss some explosive profiles, they still have the tools to exploit space and a jittery home side. Expect an open, fast-paced game — goals look likely.
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