"Tottenham are Premier League title contenders"

Darren Ambrose believes Jose Mourinho can get one over on Pep Guardiola when Tottenham take on Manchester City at White Hart Lane in Saturday's heavyweight Premier League clash.

Spurs have made a flying start to the season to sit second in the table and will go top if they topple odds-on favourites City, an outcome Ambrose predicts is more likely than the odds suggest.

Speaking to the Racing Post's Different League show in association with Betfred, former Ipswich, Newcastle, Charlton and Crystal Palace man Ambrose told presenter Scott Minto: "I said before the West Ham game that I think they can win it and the previous day I filled out two A4 bits of paper as to why. Even after that 3-3 draw I really believed they were title contenders."

Ambrose reckons that the manager could be the difference in turning nearly men Spurs into trophy winners and added: "Jose is a big reason for my confidence behind Spurs. He is famous for getting the best out of a team in the second season and nobody is better at grinding out results.

"Look at the way they recovered from the West Ham draw with two 1-0 wins at West Brom and Burnley and 2-1 over Brighton. Not many teams in the Premier League can grind it out - Mourinho can and I can see why Spurs fans are giddy at the moment.

"They have two fantastic players for each position, although this run coming up with City, Chelsea and Arsenal will tell us much more about where they are this season."

Admitting that City will be "there or thereabouts at the end of the season", Ambrose also believes this is the "perfect time to play City" with Sergio Aguero still feeling his way back to full fitness.

He said: "We only think they are off form because of the standards they set previously but they need to start turning the draws into wins and I just don't quite think Gabriel Jesus can step into Aguero's boots on a regular basis.

"This is a tough game for City and I really feel Spurs can nick it with Harry Kane scoring first too."

In terms of his top pick for the weekend, Ambrose was heading back to one of his former clubs and he is backing Palace to continue Burnley's miserable season when the teams meet at Turf Moor on Monday.

Ambrose said: "Palace are comfortable out of possession and the difference this season is they are winning more matches thanks to their fantastic forward players.

"Everyone knows about Wilf Zaha and he has come out firing this season with more goals and assists than last season and Jordan Ayew is underrated, while the boy Eberechi Eze from QPR is brilliant.

"A very, very good talent who can help Palace to a comfortable win, maybe even to nil."

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