Ruben Dias and midfielder Rodri are both expected to be fit for Man City; Tottenham will be without Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso; follow Man City vs Tottenham on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm
Saturday 13 February 2021 15:39, UK
Team news and stats ahead of Man City vs Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm.
Defender Ruben Dias and midfielder Rodri are both expected to be fit as leaders Manchester City host Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday.
Dias missed the midweek FA Cup win at Swansea through illness, while Rodri limped off late in the game but both have recovered well.
Sergio Aguero continues to build up his fitness in training after a spell out with Covid-19 but may not return this weekend. Kevin De Bruyne, Nathan Ake and Fernandinho remain on the sidelines.
Tottenham will definitely be without Sergio Reguilon (muscle) and Giovani Lo Celso (hamstring).
Harry Kane is expected to return to the starting XI after his substitute appearance at Everton in midweek, while Gareth Bale will need to be assessed.
The Wales forward sat out the FA Cup defeat after "not feeling comfortable" but scans showed no injury, while Serge Aurier (calf) is likely to be part of the travelling squad.
Man City vs Tottenham is live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event from 5pm; Kick-off 5.30pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
Don't get carried away with recency bias in this one. Manchester City's four-goal jamboree at Anfield is not a return to the sexy City of yesterday and Spurs' madcap 5-4 with Everton is not Jose Mourinho finding himself after years of defensive-focused football. Pep Guardiola's men will remain playing controlled, even rather workmanlike, football with an emphasis on not allowing their backline to be exposed while Jose will be checking tyres of that bus.
All their key metrics point to a change in style for Manchester City this season. They are averaging fewer expected goals, fewer shots and fewer shots on target than previous seasons but that is counter-balanced by a sky-rocketing defensive output that is proving the backbone to winning this Premier League title. Since losing to Spurs in November, City have conceded just three goals in 14 games.
It's been a masterstroke from Pep. City have won their last 15 games in all competitions, setting new English record of successive wins in all competitions by a top-tier team. It's phenomenal. With fewer dangerous attacks up their sleeve this could prove an evening where patience is key against a team like Spurs that will set up to frustrate. Guardiola will be aware how City were ripped open by the Spurs counter in the previous fixture and will not be allowing that to happen again.
Harry Kane has only scored two goals in his previous 11 appearances vs City, so that does not bode well for those thinking Spurs can breach the City defence. In terms of a correct score, a 1-0 or 2-0 City victory certainly looks an avenue to consider. Nine of City's 15 Premier League wins this season have been via either of those two scorelines, which is a very unusual winning Guardiola scoreline.
This game has all the hallmarks of a cagey and tactical affair most probably settled by one or two moments of inspiration by a City player. That player could be Joao Cancelo.
He has rapidly become an integral part of Guardiola's strategy at Man City - as my colleague Adam Bate wrote this week, his creativity when stepping into midfield from his full-back role has been crucial to City's success. His importance increases when coming up against a low-block defence.
In such games, he revels in the space afforded to him just outside the box and becomes a live runner in terms of his shooting threat. In recent fixtures at Burnley and West Brom, Cancelo fired four shots at goal from outside the box, with the one hitting the target resulting in a goal. Mourinho will employ similar ultra-defensive tactics which should see Cancelo move into those areas from where he likes to strike from. I like the 5/2 that one of those shots hits the target.
JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 1-0 or 2-0 (11/4 with Sky Bet)
BETTING ANGLE: Joao Cancelo to have a shot on target from outside the box (5/2 with Sky Bet)
In this week's Pitch to Post Preview Podcast Peter Smith is joined by Sky Sports News reporter Paul Gilmour and Sky Sports feature writer Nick Wright to look ahead to Saturday's clash between Pep Guardiola's Man City and Jose Mourinho's Tottenham, with the league leaders' imperious form and Gareth Bale's continued absence from the Spurs XI on the agenda.
We also hear from Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith on Arsenal's inconsistency, how Mikel Arteta is building for a better campaign next season, and whether Leeds striker Patrick Bamford can make it into England's squad for the Euros.
Plus, Nick Wright delivers his verdict on why Manchester United should be ready for a title tilt, Sam Allardyce's struggles to turn things around at West Brom, and shares his Pitch for what will happen in the Premier League this weekend.
Listen to the Sky Sports Pitch to Post Podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
