Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur Prediction: Hosts to get back on track

Manchester City will hope to end their four-game losing streak in all competitions when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday (17:30, Sky Sports Main Event). The Citizens will feel the international break came at the right time for them, so we are expecting to see a response over the next few weeks.

Spurs have had joy in this fixture in recent years but they suffered a surprising home defeat against Ipswich Town last time out. Read on for my Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction, accompanied by the latest match odds and team news.

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur Odds

Man City are 1/2 to win this encounter, which gives them a theoretical chance of 66.7%. Tottenham are valued at 5/1 to take the three points, giving them an implied probability of  16.7%. The draw is available at 4/1 (20%).

Both teams to score can be backed at 4/9 and over 2.5 goals is on offer at 1/3.

Football Odds

Team News

Rodri remains the hosts' long-term absentee with an ACL injury, while Oscar Bobb is also in the treatment room with a leg fracture. Mateo Kovacic is the latest admission into the medical bay, and he is set to be out of action for three to four weeks.

After signing a new contract in the week, Pep Guardiola will be hoping to have more options at his disposal for the weekend.

Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden have all been involved in training this week and will be assessed ahead of kick-off, as will Ruben Dias, Jeremy Doku, Nathan Ake and Matheus Nunes.

If fit, you would expect Stones and Akanji to come back in at centre-back, which should see Josko Gvardiol move over to left-back. Guardiola must decide whether to deploy Kyle Walker or Rico Lewis at right-back.

Haaland is expected to lead the line once again and he returns with some much-needed confidence, having scored four goals while on international duty with Norway. Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are also likely to feature.

Spurs are without midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur due to the seven-game ban he has been handed for inappropriate comments surrounding teammate Son Heung-min.

Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert are sidelined with hamstring injuries, while Cristian Romero is struggling with a foot problem, so Ange Postecoglou is going to be without his main centre-back pairing.

Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies will likely partner up in defence as a result, while Yves Bissouma could come in for Bentancur in the middle of the park. He should be joined by Dejan Kulusevski and one of Pape Matar Sarr or James Maddison.

The front three of Son, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson should remain intact.

Man City and both teams to score @ 13/10

I must admit that I think this is a bold selection. Spurs have been somewhat of a bogey team for Guardiola over the years, as Man City have lost more Premier League games (six) and have conceded more Premier League goals (22) against Tottenham than they have against any other side during his tenure.

Although, I do think the Spaniard can avoid another slip-up against the visitors on Saturday. Guardiola will be hoping that his players will be determined to show their quality after a disappointing run before the international break, and what better way to do that than against a team who have a habit of nicking points off them.

City will be boosted by the news of Spurs missing their main two centre-backs, which will be music to the ears of Haaland as he bids to become as prolific as he was at the start of term.

With De Bruyne back in the fold, this will also aid the Norwegian in front of goal, with the Belgian often finding Haaland's runs better than anyone else in a City shirt. This link-up is needed for the hosts if they are to get back on track in their title defence.

Then when you add the potential returns of Grealish and Doku, the Citizens have a lot more options in attacking areas that can cause the visitors some problems, and should help them bounce back with a bang.

I am expecting this to be a fascinating contest between these two sides, as goals are to be expected when these two play, so I have boosted this selection by adding both teams to score. This has been a winning selection in three of the last five league meetings between them, while it has landed in four of City's five home games already this season.

Additionally, there have been goals at both ends in three of Spurs' five matches on the road.

Erling Haaland first goalscorer @ 9/4

After a positive international break in which he netted four goals, Haaland will be itching to translate that form back into the Premier League with Man City. The striker has 12 goals in the top flight so far, while he also boasts three in four league appearances against Tottenham.

I think he's a sensible selection to get on the scoresheet this weekend, but I've gone for him to open the scoring as it offers better value. Haaland has scored the opening goal in five matches this season, so he does have a habit of being the one to get the show on the road.

Offers

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