Tottenham v Man City: Where to watch, match odds, form, stats and verdict

Premier League: Tottenham v Manchester City

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 4.30pm Sunday

Match odds

5-1 Tottenham, 8-15 Man City, 7-2 draw

Form

Manchester City reached the first domestic final of the year by edging past Manchester United in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday. They lost 1-0 at the Etihad, but progressed 3-2 on aggregate to set up a Wembley date with Aston Villa.

However, while they are long odds-on to retain that trophy, City's grip on the title is virtually over with the champions 19 points behind Liverpool.

Inconsistency has dogged Pep Guardiola's side, who have not managed to win more than three league games in a row this term and this current five-match unbeaten sequence in the league is City's longest run without a top-flight loss in 2019-20.

Tottenham have not been able to keep pace with the top four, never mind the big two, and have not had a particularly good start to 2020 with just two wins (at home to Norwich and Middlesbrough) in seven matches.

Team news

Harry Kane and Moussa Sissoko remain sidelined for Spurs, who are soon expected to welcome Ben Davies back into the fold. New Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn could make his debut for the hosts after his switch from PSV Eindhoven.

Leroy Sane has returned to full training for City but lacks match fitness. Guardiola said on Wednesday that Aymeric Laporte, Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy were doubts for this clash.

The tactical battle

Jose Mourinho used a narrow defence in Tottenham's recent 1-0 defeat to Liverpool and he could adopt a similar approach given City's attacking weapons. On that occasion Serge Aurier was stuck in midfield with youngster Japhet Tanganga at right-back.

The full-back positions have been an area of concern for Spurs fans but Guardiola came up with a novel idea at the start of Wednesday's derby with United when he played without any in a 3-4-3 box midfield shape which bamboozled most observers.

Given Spurs have a key weapon in Heung-Min Son operating off the left wing, expect something more standard from Guardiola in north London.

Verdict

There is a big gulf in class between the teams but City have thrown in enough dodgy results this term to swerve them at short odds for what is still a difficult contest.

Liverpool struggled to a 1-0 win at the new White Hart Lane and they were priced at 4-6 on January 11, so City can be taken on at much shorter quotes.

The last five meetings have not seen a winning margin of more than one goal and Spurs are backable plus one goal on the Asian handicap. Draw 1-1.

Key stats

• Tottenham's four league games of 2020 have produced just five goals
• Only Arsenal (57 yellows and three reds) have a worse disciplinary record than Tottenham's 52 yellow cards and three reds
• Man City have scored in their last 21 away matches - their last blank on the road came at Spurs
• City have three clean sheets in 11 games against top-half teams and two of those were against Sheffield United.

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