Manchester City will look to continue their positive start to the 2025/26 Premier League season this weekend with a win over Tottenham.
Pep Guardiola’s men host Spurs at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and getting three points against Thomas Frank’s men would be a positive marker to put down for the upcoming season, as Tottenham have been a bogey team for City in the past.
This is the first time Guardiola will face a Tottenham team without Son Heung-min or Harry Kane, and the legendary coach will be confident given how his players performed last weekend at Molineux.
Man City fans will be excited to welcome their team back to the Etihad Stadium, and here is how Manchester City News think Guardiola will line up against Tottenham.
Pep Guardiola during Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Manchester City team news ahead of Tottenham
Man City were without several big stars for their opening weekend clash with Wolves, but that has changed slightly for Tottenham’s visit to Manchester.
Speaking to the press on Friday, Guardiola stated that Phil Foden and Rodri are available for selection, while Ederson also returns from illness to face Tottenham, despite uncertainty surrounding his future.
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Savinho missed Man City’s trip to Wolves and remains out for this weekend’s match, with the Brazilian joined on the sidelines by Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Marcus Bettinelli.
None of the returning trio are expected to start against Tottenham, but it is a big boost for Guardiola to have the option of calling them off the bench, if that is required at any stage throughout the 90 minutes.
Jeremy Doku to drop to the bench as Pep Guardiola has a goalkeeper decision to make
Guardiola stated during his press conference that he will decide who starts in goal for Man City on Friday evening, as there has been a lot of talk around the position in recent weeks.
James Trafford impressed against Wolves on his debut, and with Galatasaray pursuing Ederson, there is no need to risk taking the Englishman out of the side; therefore, the 22-year-old should start against Tottenham.
With Man City only playing one game a week until after the international break and with Gvardiol still unavailable for selection, Guardiola is likely to name an unchanged back four for Tottenham’s visit to the Etihad Stadium.
This means Rico Lewis will start at right-back, with Rayan Ait-Nouri on the opposite flank. John Stones will remain at centre-back and will be partnered by Ruben Dias, who will be full of confidence heading into Saturday’s match, having just signed a new contract at Man City.
Manchester City's predicted XI for Tottenham match.
Man City predicted XI to play Tottenham.
Tijjani Reijnders was the star of the show against Wolves, with the Dutch midfielder providing a goal and an assist during the 4-0 win and would have been the first name on the teamsheet heading into gameweek two.
The 27-year-old will be partnered by Nico Gonzalez in the middle of the park against Tottenham after putting in an assured display at Molineux in the absence of Rodri.
Man City fans were impressed with Oscar Bobb last weekend, and it would be unfair if the Norwegian was left out of the team against Tottenham, which is why he starts.
Bernardo Silva will be alongside the youngster in the ten role, who will have Omar Marmoush to his left, which is the only change Guardiola might make.
Jeremy Doku failed to impress against Wolves following a positive summer for the winger, and this week, Paul Merson admitted that he is not a fan of the Man City winger, stating that he “does not make things happen often enough.”
There is no doubting who will lead the line for City this weekend as Erling Haaland made a flying start to the 2025/26 season with a brace against Wolves.
The Norwegian superstar will look to repeat the trick against Tottenham, a club he has scored four times against in the past.
Manchester City predicted starting XI vs Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Reijnders, Gonzalez; Bobb, Silva, Marmoush; Haaland.