Five things to look out for – Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester Metropolis return to Premier League motion on the Etihad Stadium in opposition to Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur.

Metropolis are high of the desk after one week because of an emphatic 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Spurs are slightly below them in third place after a 3-0 win in opposition to newly promoted Burnley.

The primary story away from the pitch comes from the Lilywhites at present chasing Metropolis winger Savinho as their precedence switch goal, with the Brazilian anticipated to not participate within the sport after lacking coaching classes for the previous week with a reported harm.

Listed here are 5 issues to look out for in Metropolis’s first house match of the marketing campaign:

Who begins on the left of assault?

In a largely implausible efficiency final week in opposition to Wolves, Jeremy Doku stood out as having an below par sport by his requirements.

Such is the extent of competitors within the Metropolis aspect, I very a lot anticipate Doku to drop out, by which case he’d in all probability get replaced by Omar Marmoush or the match once more Phil Foden.

Nonetheless, I’d prefer to see new signing Rayan Cherki positioned on the left, with the license for him to roam inside and let left again Rayan Ait-Nouri push ahead to supply width.

Ideally he’d be taking part in as an out and out ten, however Tijjani Reijnders was so good in opposition to Wolves he deserves to maintain his place because the central attacking midfielder.

The abundance of high quality is obvious, and that’s with out including both Savinho or his potential alternative Rodrygo to the combo.

The final time Ruben Dias and John Stones began collectively within the Premier League earlier than final week’s sport was really the 2-1 win away to Wolves final season, the place Stones scored a final minute winner.

They’re each fine quality centre backs, with their solely subject – significantly Stones – being availability.

Notably with Josko Gvardiol’s harm conserving him out of this sport, I anticipate Stones and Dias to begin once more on the coronary heart of Metropolis’s defence, the place they’ll be centered with the duty of conserving Richarlison quiet.

One other deep block for Metropolis to penetrate

Frank has had earlier success with Brentford in opposition to Metropolis, thanks largely to taking part in a deep, slim defence and fast ahead passes on the assault.

The brand new Spurs boss lined up with a 5-3-2 and managed a 2-2 draw in opposition to European Champions PSG, and I believe he’ll use the identical system in opposition to Metropolis.

That is when the current recruitment of the Blues comes into useful; there are such a lot of completely different choices accessible that supply one thing distinctive in opposition to a deep block.

Cherki has the flexibility in tight areas to pick a go, Reijnders assaults area within the field, Marmoush has a terrific shot on him and Doku and Oscar Bobb’s one vs one capacity creates area in extensive areas.

I feel Spurs will each look a menace on the break and sit deep, however in the end Metropolis can have an excessive amount of high quality for them in each bins.

Return of Rodri and Foden

Returning again to the matchday squad (as confirmed by Pep Guardiola) might be Rodri and Foden.

Comfortably the 2 greatest gamers of the 2023/24 season, their absence final season (when it comes to Rodri’s harm and Foden’s poor kind) took its toll on the group as an entire.

Each have began this season with knocks, however are actually accessible once more to not less than be part of matchday squads, and if Metropolis can get them each again into high kind they’ll be again as an elite group this marketing campaign.

The final time we see a couple of membership legends

It’s vital to notice as nicely, as the ultimate house match earlier than the top of the window, that this could possibly be the final time we see a couple of iconic Metropolis gamers seem on the Etihad Stadium.

Ederson has been always linked with a transfer to Galatasaray, who’re digging their heels in over their €10 million valuation of the Metropolis goalkeeper.

They’ve since agreed a £15 million payment with Metropolis for Manuel Akanji, who’s but to resolve his future with reported different provides from golf equipment.

And like with Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan has been of gentle curiosity to some golf equipment this summer time, together with as soon as once more Galatasaray.

MLS sides have additionally reportedly been circling across the 34-year-old, who Metropolis are rumoured to be content material to let depart.

If it’s the final time we see them play on Saturday, then we will say it’s been a privilege to see them contribute so enormously to profitable Metropolis sides, and any fan needs them nothing however the perfect for the longer term.