As the 2025/26 Premier League season starts kicking into full flow, Manchester City host Tottenham Hotspur in their first home game of the campaign. Both Spurs and their new manager, Thomas Frank, have a notoriously good record against Pep Guardiola’s team, but the Catalan will be buoyed by the Cityzens’ display against Wolverhampton Wanderers last week. Here is our Manchester City predicted lineup vs Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup vs Tottenham Hotspur
How Manchester City Have Lined Up Recently
It has been a summer of change at the Etihad Stadium, with five new players arriving in Manchester, as well as Sverre Halseth Nypan. On the first day of the season, three of these new signings made their Premier League debut in Sky Blue. Due to Ederson reportedly suffering from illness, though there has also been intense speculation about his future, James Trafford started in goal against Wolves.
The second league debutant was Rayan Ait-Nouri, who lined up on the left-hand side of defence. City’s treble-winning centre-back partnership, John Stones and Ruben Dias, were reunited at the heart of the defence for the first time in over six months. City Football Academy graduate Rico Lewis started the game at right-back.
Read More:Galatasaray Speaking to ‘Perfect’ Manchester City Star Ahead of Potential Transfer
In midfield, Nico Gonzalez played in a slightly deeper role, making his second Premier League start since late April. He was joined in the centre of the pitch by the third league debutant, Tijjani Reijnders, who produced one of the best debut displays in City history, and the Cityzens’ new club captain, Bernardo Silva.
Guardiola’s attacking trio consisted of Jeremy Doku on the left wing and Oscar Bobb on the right. The 22-year-old is looking to make up for lost time after he essentially missed the entirety of last season due to injuries. Unsurprisingly, Erling Haaland led the line for City, and he once again found the back of the net on the opening day of the season.
Manchester City’s Recent Form and Tactics
Although there has only been one gameweek, the Cityzens currently sit top of the Premier League table after an impressive 4-0 victory over Wolves. When including this summer’s Club World Cup and the end of last season, Guardiola’s side have lost just twice since March 8.
Read More:Manchester City Have ‘Made Contact’ to Sign ‘Sensational’ Player – Deal Depends on Outgoings
After Guardiola ended last season operating with much more caution, he seems to have taken the new campaign as a chance to start afresh and play slightly more adventurous and aggressive players. The former Barcelona man repeatedly played the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden towards the end of last season, knowing that they were experienced players who would not give the ball away in bad positions. However, the inclusions of the likes of Bobb, Doku and Nico show that he is now looking to refresh City’s starting XI.
Manchester City Injuries to Consider
Guardiola offered injury updates on a number of City’s first-team players who have been struggling for fitness recently.
There was positive news for City fans regarding Foden and Rodri. The duo, who were key players during City’s last title-winning season, are once again fit and available for selection against Spurs. The 54-year-old has repeatedly mentioned that he will carefully manage the fitness of Rodri due to the severity of the injury, which kept him out for so long.
Read More:Manchester City Set to Lose ‘Special’ Young Attacker Following Surprise Player Decision
Ederson has also recovered from the illness which ruled him out on the opening day of the season, though the Brazilian is not guaranteed a place in the starting XI, with a decision being taken in the next few hours.
There are four City players who will be unavailable for selection against Spurs due to injury. Croatian duo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol, as well as Savinho and Marcus Bettinelli, have not recovered from their respective injuries. The central midfielder had surgery, which ruled him out of the Club World Cup, and he is still working his way back to full fitness, whilst the other injuries are not thought to be serious.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup Vs Tottenham Hotspur
GK: James Trafford
RB: Rico Lewis
CB: Ruben Dias
CB: John Stones
LB: Rayan Ait-Nouri
DM: Nico Gonzalez
CM: Tijjani Reijnders
CM: Bernardo Silva
RW: Oscar Bobb
LW: Omar Marmoush
ST: Erling Haaland