Manchester City and Tottenham will have some scores to settle when they both lock horns in the Premier League on match day 12 of the 2024-25 season. The Citizens remain the team to beat in the title race, while the visitors are slowly working their way back into top-four contention.

As of the time of writing, Manchester City are second on the log with 17 points – five wins and two draws, while Spurs find themselves in 9th with just 10 points to their name from three wins, one draw, and three defeats.

During the summer transfer window, the champions did not make a lot of changes to their squad. One of the teams in the Premier League, alongside Arsenal, that made minimal signings. Pep Guradiola’s side lost Julien Alvarez to Atletico Madrid – a major departure at the club. Others including several Academy products left the Etihad for playing time across several Premier League teams. In came enterprising youngster Savinho and Ilkay Gundogan returned to the club after a season at Barcelona. 

Manchester City have stayed glued in the title race with those minimal changes. However, the loss of Rodrigo to injury until the end of the season and Kevin De Bruyne’s constant injury concerns could derail their title defence. Since then, the likes of Jeremy Doku and Matteo Kovacic have stepped up with some brilliant performances. The Citizens got a fine result at Chelsea to open the campaign, while Arsenal held them to a 2-2 draw at home weeks after. As usual, Manchester City have been shaky at the back and many believe this is the best time to beat them, but as of the time of writing, they are still unbeaten in the Premier League.

On De Bruyne’s recent absence from the squad back in October, Guardiola said; “It’s not a big issue, but he still doesn’t feel good, we’re managing his fitness issues. It’s better, less minutes, but the players don’t say that. They want to play every single game. That’s nice. That’s fine. But sometimes the body sends warnings.

“I’m here, so we have to [be careful], because they are human, a lot of games, a lot of years, many years injured, and the consequences are here. The same car, when it goes to do something, it’s not the same car. There is something a little bit worse. It’s not the same as when you go to buy a car. It’s normal,” the Spanish coach explained. 

As of the time of writing, Tottenham has been poor and this has raised a whole lot of concerns among the fans and followers. The North London club have already suffered three defeats in their opening seven games of the season. Before the start of the campaign, many complained about the lack of marquee signings and that might be the issue even as the season progresses. 

Their summer signings include midfielder Archie Gray who arrived from Championship side Leeds United for €41.25m, and Lucas Bergvall (18) also came in from Sweden for €10.00m. Both players are still teenagers, and while their talent might be huge, people do not think In terms of exits, defender Joe Rondon left for Leeds United, Eric Dier joined Bayern Munich on a free transfer, while Ryan Sessegnon, Tanguy Ndombélé, Ivan Perisic, Japhet Tanganga, and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg left for Fulham, Nice, HNK Hajduk Split, Millwall and Marseille respectively.

Spurs were top of the Premier League after ten match days last season, but they could not sustain the momentum as they eventually missed out on a place in the Champions League. This term, they have started poorly and they need some strong results to get back on track. Ange Postecoglou was also furious about the lack of trophies and fight in the club as a whole, before going ahead to boast about his track record. 

“In my 26 years of managing, I’ve had success and most of that has come in the second year, not all of it. Sometimes it’s happened in the first year, sometimes in the third year,” the Australian manager said in September.

“I don’t see why that puts extra pressure. It doesn’t put extra pressure on me because I love the fact that I’ve done that. It’s what I want to do here. I’d like to think that just saying the truth is the way to go forward but I think sometimes that’s too confronting for people, they’d much rather I didn’t,” he concluded. 

Here is a big match to test his side’s readiness once again. Spurs might have beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford, but they lost to Arsenal at home and cannot afford another defeat against the biggest team in the league. 

Since 1995, the two teams have met 57 times. Manchester City have 22 wins, Tottenham have 22 wins and nine have ended in draws. Meanwhile, the last meeting at the Etihad ended in an entertaining 3-3 draw, and it is not something many would envisage based on the current form of the two teams. 

Match tickets

This highly anticipated match at Etihad Stadium in Manchester kicks off on Saturday 23rd November 2024, at 18:30 UK time. 

The magnificent 53,400-capacity stadium is the place to be for this clash between the defending champions and the North London club.

Getting tickets for the Manchester City v Tottenham tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels. 

Team news

Line-ups

The champions have Rodrigo out until the end of the season, while Kevin De Bruyne has been struggling with some injury problems as well and Oscar Bobb is not expected back until the new year. Midfielders Gundogan and Kovacic should continue their partnership, while Haaland will be expected to lead the line if he is fit.

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Kyle Walker, Ruben Diaz, Matteo Kovacic, Gundogan, Silva, Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden.

Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur, known for their possession-heavy style of football, have been poor in Premier League matches this season. The team for this trip will have to be on their toes from start to finish if they want to walk away with at least a point from the Etihad. All the players sidelined at the moment could be back before this clash in late November. 

Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bissouma, Bentancur, Johnson, Kulusevski, Son, Solanke.

Prediction

Manchester City are still the team to beat in the Premier League this season and the opposition are fully aware of that. They have been tested on some occasions at the Etihad this season and Spurs will be looking to do that when they take to the pitch for this encounter.

The Citizens did not win this fixture at home last season, but the visitors are not in the same shape and form at the time of writing this article. Based on that, Guardiola’s men still retain the upper hand in this tie, and they should take all three points at the end of the game.

Manchester City 3-1 Tottenham