Manchester City V Tottenham – Sunday, 22 January 2012 (LIVE on SKY SPORTS)

Manchester City V Tottenham Hotspur

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 22 January 2012 – 13:30 GMT

Venue: Etihad Stadium

Preview

A mammoth afternoon of Premier League action this Sunday begins with third-placed Tottenham going to table-topping Manchester City, with Spurs set to have their title credentials examined by a team whom many believe are strong favourites to clinch their first league title for almost half-a-century.

In truth, this is a clash between the genuine contender – Man City, who are perched three points clear at the summit – and quite possibly the pretenders. Only on Sunday, upon the completion of this match, will we know whether Tottenham’s title claims are genuine.

A point would keep Harry Redknapp’s side in the hunt, still five points behind the Citizens but close enough to remain in the reckoning. A win or a loss, however, and it will either be game on or game over.

Spurs have been victorious on nine of their fourteen visits to Man City in the Premier League. Make that ten and they’ll move within striking distance of the long-time leaders, two points to be precise, and possibly above Manchester United into second should Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges come unstuck against Tottenham’s arch rivals Arsenal later that afternoon.

However, victory for the hosts, who have a perfect record at home this season with ten wins from ten, would not only strengthen their own claims for a first Premier League crown, they would effectively eliminate Tottenham from the running in the process. In this scenario, Spurs would end the weekend lagging eight points off the pace – and they’ve already used up their game in hand.

If anybody can stop an imperious Man City at home, Spurs can…

In many ways, Harry Redknapp could not of wished for a better time to face Roberto Mancini’s superstars. As while the Citizens boast an incredible record in their own backyard in the league this season, winning all ten fixtures there whilst averaging three goals per game, they will host this crucial encounter on the back of consecutive home defeats – in the FA Cup to Man Utd and in the Carling Cup to Liverpool.

Furthermore, Tottenham arrive in Manchester in pristine shape. They’re unbeaten in their last seven league games, winning four and drawing three, during which 40-year-old custodian Brad Friedal has shipped a miserly three goals, keeping four clean sheets. It all bodes well ahead of their visit to the most prolific outfit in the top flight.

Nobody has been able to withstand the offensive prowess of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this season, not even Liverpool, who at the time of their 3-0 loss there at the beginning of year, boasted the strongest defence in the Premier League. David Silva is also back fit, which is a massive boost for City chief Mancini, who may also decide to call upon Edin Dzeko, the Bosnia who netted his first goal for three months in last week’s 1-0 win at Wigan.

Team News

However, Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya are both away on international duty with the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations. The pair of them have been sorely missed, surprisingly even Kolo – more so in fact – as with captain Vincent Kompany currently serving a domestic suspension, Roberto Mancini has been left with little alternative but to pair Joleon Lescott with the exposed Stefan Savic in the centre of defence.

There is at least some good news for the Italian, who has Micah Richards and Mario Balotelli available for Sunday’s game with both having missing last Monday’s nervy win over Wigan.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has no option but to tinker with his team, as striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who is on loan from Manchester City, is ineligible due to the terms in his loan deal. Jermain Defoe is a worthy deputy though, and the England striker will play just in front of Dutch ace Rafael Van der Vaart. Ledley King is a huge doubt, along with the combative Sandro, while William Gallas is out injured.

Match Pointers

- Last August saw Manchester City thump Tottenham 5-1 in the north of London, with Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko accounting for four of their goals.

- Manchester City have won the previous two league meetings with Spurs, this after the latterly mentioned had won four of the previous five (from 2008 – 2010).

- Tottenham have been victorious on nine of their previous fourteen visits to Man City in the Premier League (W9 D2 L3).

- Roberto Mancini’s Citizens have won fifteen on the spin at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League (from March 2011 to present) – ten without even conceding a goal – and are unbeaten in the league at home in thirteen months (W19 D1).

- City have racked up 31 goals in ten home Premier League games so far this season (3 a game on average), but yet have conceded a miserly 4 at the other end.

- Man City have conceded one goal in their last six Premier League games, keeping clean sheets against Arsenal, Liverpool, Stoke, West Brom and Wigan.

- Tottenham are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games (W4 D3), but have won only one of their previous three away fixtures.

- Spurs haven’t conceded more than a solitary goal in a single Premier League game since they were beaten 2-1 by Stoke at the Brittania on 11 December – they’ve conceded just three times in seven since, keeping four clean sheets against Everton, Norwich, Sunderland and West Brom.

Betting

Prediction: Manchester City to WIN @ 10/11 PaddyPower

Tottenham head to Manchester in cracking shape, without defeat in seven and in the knowledge that their record away to City in the Premier League is exceptional. You could argue they’ve gone slightly stale over the festive period, scoring just nine times in their last seven league games, but they have kept four clean sheets and conceded just three times in that spell, which bodes well as they’ll need a resolute rearguard if they’re to achieve anything at what has fast become the most formidable venue in the land.

Roberto Mancini’s charges have been awesome on their own patch this season, often brushing teams aside – take their comprehensive 3-0 win over Liverpool a fortnight ago for example. They dominate teams; they encounter few problems creating chances, have scored goals for fun at times, whilst concessions of their own have been kept to a premium thanks, in the main, to the goalkeeping excellence of Joe Hart.

There aren’t too many teams who are even capable of going to Man City and winning. But while no-one has managed the feat in the league so far, outside of the Premier League both Liverpool and Manchester United recently demonstrated just how to exploit the costly voids of captain Vincent Kompany and midfield supremo Yaya Toure. They’re still a formidable outfit, but they aren’t quite as untouchable without the aforementioned duo on the team-sheet.

We’d all love nothing better than a Tottenham win here. It would blow the title race wide open. I just don’t see it happening, though. City blew Spurs out of the water at White Hart Lane back in August, winning 5-1 at White Hart Lane, and although Spurs have matured no end since that fateful afternoon, I expect Manchester City’s class to shine through once again – though it will be far closer than their previous encounter, make no mistake about that!

Value Bet: Over 3.5 Goals @ 2/1 Bet365

Contests between the two are usually close, especially in Manchester, but Tottenham are reportedly heading to Eastlands in the mindset of winning this fixture. That means they cannot afford to rest on their defensive laurels, which have served them so well of late. With the electric pace of Bale on the flank, the vision of Modric and the eye for a goal Rafael Van der Vaart possesess, Spurs definitely have a goal or two in them, even at fortress Etihad, while City haven’t failed to net at home in the league for fourteen months.

Match Odds

Manchester City – 10/11 PaddyPower

Draw – 11/4 Bet365

Tottenham – 17/5 BetVictor