Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping that their two-game winning streak in the Premier League stretches to three after they face Manchester City.
However, it will be easier said than done for Ange Postecoglou to mastermind a league double over Pep Guardiola — who himself will be aiming to bounce back from a two-game losing run after their defeats against Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Guardiola claimed Tottenham are more conservative nowadays and do not rush to create attacks like they generally have done under Postecoglou — which is a sign of how much he is studying his opponents as well.
But whether it is during their 4-0 battering of Manchester City in November or in previous years, Tottenham have pulled off shock results against the Premier League champions on multiple instances.
With Spurs hosting City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as well, it would be justified for there to be an optimistic outlook heading into the contest within the dressing room.
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Both Tottenham and Manchester City are far from flawless, which makes the potential result of the fixture anybody’s guess.
However, Sutton admitted that the much-awaited affair is a difficult one to call.
While David Seaman expects the clash between Tottenham and Manchester City to end up as either a 2-2 or a 3-3 draw, the Arsenal legend claimed the Lilywhites will win if Erling Haaland does not start.
The retired goalkeeper said on his Seaman Says podcast: “2-2 or 3-3. This has got goals, hasn’t it, all the time? It’s just which team, for both sides, which team set turns up? We don’t know. No idea. No idea.”
“I mean, if Haaland plays, I don’t think he’s going to be, that looked nasty, that knee injury [against Newcastle United].
I was surprised to see him on the bench in the game against Real Madrid.
He didn’t come on anyway but I feel like maybe he was just there as a kind of threat, wasn’t even part of the squad at the weekend.
So if he doesn’t play, I would have chosen Tottenham.”
Pep Guardiola will be hoping that David Seaman’s prediction about a draw is proven wrong and that Haaland leads his Manchester City side to a victory.
Pep Guardiola provided Erling Haaland injury status ahead of Tottenham vs Man City
The Norwegian striker has a healthy goalscoring record against Tottenham, scoring thrice and assisting one goal in his five appearances against them in all competitions.
However, Haaland’s presence has not meant Manchester City have breezed past the North Londoners in their previous meetings — as he has won and lost two games apiece while drawing one.
Pep Guardiola did reveal that the 24-year-old feels much better than he previously did but he will only know whether the two-time Premier League winner is ready to start on Wednesday.
Guardiola said via Manchester City’s official YouTube channel: “Tonight, we will know after the training, hope so but I don’t know yet.”
“Feels better but the last two games, could not play, we will see tomorrow.”
As desperate as Ange Postecoglou will be to witness Tottenham beating Manchester City, the former Celtic boss would perhaps also like his players to compete against the visitors with Haaland starting from the off.
