A familiar test awaits Manchester City against Tottenham | OneFootball

Manchester City take on Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow night in a Premier League fixture they simply must win. Pep Guardiola’s side travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium desperate for three points to keep their Champions League qualification destiny in their own hands. They also enter the game off the back of back-to-back defeats to Real Madrid and Liverpool. Manchester City will be facing a team that has given them issues when they were at their peak. A tough test awaits City against Ange Postecoglou’s side, who have come to life in recent games.

For whatever reason Manchester City have always seemed to struggle against Tottenham. Spurs always seem to go up a level when they play Pep Guardiola’s side. We have seen that during seasons past when Manchester City were conquering England and Europe, Spurs would seemingly always get one over on the world champions. Manchester City will need to control the game to prevent Spurs getting at them. We saw how Ange Postecoglou’s side got at City earlier this season when they beat them at the Etihad 4-nil. It is expected that Ange Postecoglou’s side will use a similar blueprint tomorrow night.

Son Heung-Min, James Maddison Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson do loom over tomorrow night’s match. They all played well in Spurs recent 4-1 win over Ipswich Town. The quartet all have the technical ability and pace to get in behind Pep Guardiola’s side and take full advantage of the space City’s high defensive line does afford. It’s a threat Manchester City must contain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. If they don’t they could be in for a long night. Defensively, Spurs can be exploited so you do feel that the midfield battle will be key to tomorrow night’s match. If Nico and Manchester City’s midfield can win that battle they could set Pep Guardiola’s side on their way. But they must be on their game to prevent Tottenham from profiting from Manchester City’s known frailties.

Speaking during his pre-game press conference Pep Guardiola knows the quality that Tottenham possess. Despite Ange Postecoglou’s side sitting 13th in the Premier League table Guardiola knows they’re a quality opponent on their day. Speaking about Tottenham Guardiola said: “They’re a fantastic team, with individual quality. The rhythm they play and intensity they do, incredible runners in the transitions but I think lately they have a few more extra passes. They can do it especially when James Maddison plays. The results dictate one thing, but the opinion of the team is the opposite.”

Manchester City did beat Tottenham twice at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season. You do feel that they will need to again tomorrow night to keep their hopes for a top four finish in their hands. But a tough test awaits and it’s one City know all too well. They will have to be at their best to beat a team that are built to exploit Manchester City’s frailties and have done so in seasons past and earlier this season to devastating affect.