Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur; Premier League
Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance54,551.
Manchester City 1
- K Iheanacho (74th minute)
Tottenham Hotspur 2
- H Kane (53rd minute pen)
- C Eriksen (83rd minute)
Man City v Tottenham preview: Vincent Kompany and Dele Alli back in contention
Sunday 14 February 2016 16:16, UK
Vincent Kompany could be back in contention for Manchester City as they host title challengers Tottenham on Super Sunday.
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli is also expected to be back in the Spurs starting XI for the trip to the Etihad, where Mauricio Pochettino's second-place side face fourth-place City.
Just a point separates the two going into Sunday's crucial clash, while leaders Leicester, five points clear of Spurs, travel to Arsenal earlier in the afternoon.
Live Ford Super Sunday
Spurs won the first fixture at White Hart Lane 4-1 in September in a game that saw Harry Kane score his first Premier League goal of the season.
He has gone on to score another 17 in all competitions this term, while Spurs have won nine of their last 12 in all competitions.
Team news
Captain Kompany is back in contention for Manchester City for Sunday's crucial clash against Tottenham.
Kompany has played just nine minutes of City's last 20 games because of a calf injury and his return coincides with news that playmaker David Silva has shaken off an ankle problem.
On the downside, midfielder Fabian Delph (Achilles) faces six to seven weeks out and right-back Bacary Sagna (knee) is also missing this weekend. Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Jesus Navas and Kevin De Bruyne are also sidelined.
Alli is expected to be recalled by Tottenham after starting the win over Watford on the bench due to illness. Defender Kevin Wimmer will continue to deputise for the injured Jan Vertonghen (knee).
Opta stats
The last nine Premier League games between these two sides have seen 41 goals scored.
Manchester City have won eight and lost two of the last 10 Premier League meetings with Spurs, including victories in the last five in a row at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City have not beaten any side currently in the top six of the Premier League table this season (D3 L4).
Sergio Aguero has scored 10 goals in eight Premier League appearances against Tottenham.
Aguero has scored the most goals from outside the box this season in the Premier League (four) despite only hitting the target seven times from long range.
Aguero's minutes per goal rate of one every 108.2 minutes is the best of any player with at least five goals scored in Premier League history.
Merson's predictions
If I'm being honest, I don't see Spurs winning this game. They haven't got pace on the counter like Leicester have so I'm unsure how they'll hurt Manchester City.
I don't see them losing the game though, they'll get a draw which is still a great result ahead of a favourable home game against Palace next week.
Spurs have conceded 10 goals in their last two trips to the Etihad but this Tottenham team is a completely different animal under Pochettino, this is one of the best sides they've had in years.
Manchester City will no doubt cause Spurs problems too but I don't see either side running away with a game which is relatively well matched.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
Betting
Second plays fourth in the late kick off on Sunday as Tottenham (12/5) visit Man City (21/20). Spurs hammered City 4-1 earlier this season, while City won by the same margin when Tottenham visited the Etihad last season. Tottenham to win with both teams scoring is 9/2, while City to win by exactly two goals is 5/1.
Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp and Matt Le Tissier are both backing a 22/1 scorecast - Sergio Aguero to score first in a 1-1 draw. Man City are also one of the picks in Sunday's Soccer Special Price Boost. Back the City, Arsenal and Liverpool all to win at 8/1 (was 5/1). Click here to check out all the latest odds
