Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur lock horns at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime seeking to build on their opening-weekend victories in the 2025-26 Premier League.
While the Citizens eased to a 4-0 away win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Spurs kick-started life under new head coach Thomas Frank with a**3-0 home success** over Burnley.
Match preview
Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders celebrates on August 16, 2025
Just over six weeks after suffering a surprise early exit at the FIFA Club World Cup to Al-Hilal, Man City began the new Premier League season with a statement victory at Molineux and had one of their new summer signings in particular to thank.
Indeed, midfield maestro Tijjani Reijnders grabbed the headlines as he scored and assisted during a superb man-of-the-match display on his debut in English football, while Erling Haaland made the net ripple twice and Rayan Cherki - another new recruit - added a fourth to secure City’s second-largest opening day win in the division after a 5-0 success over West Ham United in August 2019.
Despite watching his Citizens side win in dominant fashion and show promising signs of a revival following a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, manager Pep Guardiola has reiterated that the size of his squad is “not healthy” and “it will be difficult to sustain the vibe of the team” if it is not trimmed in the remaining days of the transfer window.
Sitting top of the Premier League table on goal different - albeit after only one match - Man City have picked up from where they left off towards the end of last season and have accumulated more points than any other top-flight team since the start of April (26). They are also the only ever-present team to remain unbeaten (W8 D2), boast the most clean sheets (seven) and have faced the fewest shots per game (7.6) of any side in the division in that time.
Man City’s recent record against Tottenham leaves a lot to be desired, though, as they have won only four of their last 12 Premier League meetings with the North Londoners (D2 L6). Guardiola, meanwhile, has lost nine times against Spurs across all competitions in his managerial career, only losing more against Liverpool (10).
Richarlison celebrates scoring for Tottenham Hotspur on August 16, 2025
Just three days after watching his side suffer a late collapse and lose on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, Thomas Frank made the “dream start” as Tottenham boss in the Premier League last weekend when the Lilywhites secured a convincing three-goal win at home to newly-promoted Burnley.
A rejuvenated Richarlison scored either side of half time, including a stunning bicycle kick, and both goals were assisted by new signing Mohammed Kudus, before last season’s top scorer Brennan Johnson added a third to seal Spurs’ joint-biggest opening day victory in Premier League history, alongside their 4-1 success over Southampton in 2022-23.
Frank and co are understandably in high spirits, though some Spurs supporters have been left disappointed by the news earlier this week that North London rivals Arsenal have hijacked their move for Eberechi Eze. Frank has confirmed that Spurs are “definitely in the market” for new players, with Man City’s Savinho believed to be one of their leading targets.
Tottenham head into Saturday’s clash with Man City seeking to win their first two Premier League matches in a season for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign and will also be bidding to end a run of 11 games without a top-flight victory against non-newly promoted teams (D2 L9) which began in February.
Following their surprise 4-0 victory in their last visit to the Etihad Stadium in November last year, Spurs are looking to claim consecutive away wins against Man City for the first time since 2010 - the Lilywhites have won two of their last four Premier League trips to the Etihad (D1 L1), more than they managed in their previous 11 visits combined (D2 L8).
Manchester City Premier League form:
W
Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:
W
Team News
Manchester City's Savinho on August 8, 2025
Man City will be without injured trio Mateo Kovacic, Kalvin Phillips (both Achilles) and Savinho (unspecified) due to injury, while Rodri (groin), Ederson (illness), Phil Foden (ankle) and Josko Gvardiol (knock) have all taken part in training this week after missing the win at Wolves and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Both Rodri and Ederson - who has been linked with an exit - are unlikely to feature, though, and James Trafford could retain his spot in goal at the expense of the latter after keeping a clean sheet on his debut last time out.
Guardiola will weigh up whether to recall Gvardiol at left-back or centre-back in place of Rayan Ait-Nouri or John Stones, while a midfield trio of Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Reijnders could remain intact - Reijnders is bidding to become the first Man City player to score and assist in his first two PL appearances.
Should Reijnders be given licence to roam forward once again, Foden may be forced to battle with Oscar Bobb for a start on the right flank, while Erling Haaland - who has scored 48 goals in 48 PL home games for the Citizens - is expected to lead the line.
As for Tottenham, James Maddison (ACL) - who scored twice for Spurs in the 4-0 win at the Etihad last season - Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, Bryan Gil (all knee) Manor Solomon (calf) and Kota Takai (foot) are all sidelined due to injury.
Yves Bissouma (unspecified) and Destiny Udogie (knee) both missed the win over Burnley due to injury, but both players could be fit to return to the matchday squad this weekend and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
After using a back four against Burnley, Frank will consider switching to a five-man defence against Man City, with Kevin Danso in contention to start alongside Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven at centre-back, while Pedro Porro and Djed Spence could be deployed as wing-backs.
Rodrigo Bentancur will be pushing for a recall in centre-midfield where both Joao Palhinha and Pape Sarr are likely to continue, while Kudus and Richarlison are expected to retain their partnership in attack. Johnson is another attacking option, but he could be one sacrificed if Frank switches to a back five.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Nunes, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Gonzalez; Bobb, Reijnders, Marmoush; Haaland
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Bentancur, Palhinha, Spence; Sar, Kudus; Richarlison
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We say: Manchester City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
The last four Premier League meetings between Man City and Tottenham at the Etihad have produced 21 goals (nine for Man City, 12 for Spurs) and the away side have netted at least twice in each of those, so an entertaining, end-to-end contest could well be in store once again this weekend.
Spurs certainly have the tools to cause Man City problems and have a manager in Frank who has previously guided his former club Brentford to victory at the Etihad. However, Guardiola’s men sent out a statement to the rest of the league with their impressive win at Wolves and they should have enough to edge past the visitors on home soil.
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