Tottenham need to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.
Tottenham raised a few eyebrows after securing a top-eight finish in the Champions League this season. As a result, the Lilywhites confirmed their place in the Round of 16 of the competition, winning five of their eight group-stage matches along the way. Their victory against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night ensured that the North Londoners finished fourth in the standings.
However, the stark contrast between Spurs’ European success and their Premier League struggles has piled further pressure on Thomas Frank. The Danish tactician is finding it difficult to strike the right balance to deliver positive results in domestic competitions, placing his job at N17 in increasing jeopardy. Tottenham are currently languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, having won just seven of their opening 23 matches.
Tottenham face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Tottenham face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
To make matters worse, the Lilywhites have picked up only three points from their last five league outings in January, despite facing West Ham, Burnley, Bournemouth, Brentford, and Sunderland. There is a growing belief among supporters that Frank has lost his way at N17 and is struggling to get the best out of his players. This poor run of form has also left Spurs staring at the possibility of being dragged into a relegation battle in the coming months.
Tottenham face a tough test against Manchester City in the Premier League
Tottenham’s upcoming Premier League fixtures do not make for encouraging reading either. The Lilywhites are set to face Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Arsenal in their next four league matches, making it difficult for fans to see where the much-needed points will come from as Frank’s side look to avoid a relegation scrap.
Their next challenge comes against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The Cityzens have endured a dip in form in the Premier League recently, suffering a defeat to Manchester United away from home that dealt a significant blow to their title ambitions. Spurs, meanwhile, also dropped points in their previous league outing, settling for a draw against newly promoted Burnley on the road.
Chris Sutton, however, believes Manchester City will secure a vital victory when they travel to N17 on Sunday. Writing for the BBC, Sutton said,
“I spoke earlier about Arsenal getting nervous, but for that to happen City need to really put their foot down and keep the pressure on. So this is a big game for them and while I do not think it will be easy – Spurs are a bit of a bogey team for them – Guehi will make them much more solid at the back.”
The pundit added, giving a surprising reason why City might get a result
“Tottenhams’s unhappy home fans might help City get a result, too. You can imagine the first misplaced pass by Spurs, they will blame it on Frank, and those grumbles will only grow as the game goes on. 0-2 to City.”
Sutton feels that Manchester City could benefit from the toxic atmosphere at N17. Thomas Frank will be under pressure to deliver a positive performance as Spurs look to return to winning ways, but that pressure could play into Guardiola’s hands. City would aim to put the Lilywhites on the back foot early and maintain control throughout the game, with Sutton predicting a 2-0 away win for the visitors.
Recent meetings between the two sides have produced mixed results. Spurs have enjoyed success against Manchester City in recent times, winning three of their last four encounters against Guardiola’s side. The Lilywhites also defeated the Cityzens earlier this season in August, claiming a 2-0 victory with Joao Palhinha and Brennan Johnson on the scoresheet.
Fans will now be hoping that history repeats itself and Tottenham can deliver a positive result in what is shaping up to be a must-win fixture. Only a victory would significantly ease the pressure on Thomas Frank and help him stave off the threat of being sacked in the coming weeks.