Amid a series of unexpected results, football fans will be hoping for a thrilling encounter, but could a surprising outcome be on the cards? Paul Merson has given his thoughts on what could unfold in this intriguing clash between Man City and Tottenham.
Manchester City, who have dominated English football in recent years, find themselves in uncharted territory after a series of disappointing results. After an unexpected 2-1 loss to Brighton on matchday 11, City will be looking to regain their swagger when they host Tottenham this weekend.
The defeat to Brighton marked a stark contrast to their usual dominance, and it was another reminder of how much the team is missing the crucial presence of Rodri in midfield. His absence has left a gap in City’s game, with their usual rhythm disrupted, which has prevented them from overwhelming teams like they used to.
Tottenham Hotspur, on the other hand, are no strangers to inconsistency. In typical Spurs fashion, they suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town, handing the Tractor Boys their first-ever Premier League victory of the season.
The defeat at home against Ipswich has left fans wondering if this side can turn their fortunes around in the face of a difficult task away at the Etihad. With key defenders missing due to injuries, Tottenham’s chances seem slim, but the unpredictability of Spurs could make this match a difficult one for City.
Paul Merson didn’t hold back when offering his prediction for this crucial encounter. Speaking ahead of the match as relayed by Sportskeeda, Merson highlighted Manchester City’s recent slump while underscoring Tottenham’s ability to surprise even the most dominant opponents.
He said: “If someone would have said to me at the start of the season that Manchester City would lose four games in a row, I would have said never in a million years! Yet, here we are. It doesn’t get any easier for them this weekend, Tottenham are a tough opponent.
“But then again, Tottenham are Spursy. Who would have thought they would get beat by Ipswich? Still, it wouldn’t shock me if Spurs get a result here simply because Manchester City have not been Manchester City for a while now.
“Since the draw against Newcastle, barring the wins over Slovan Bratislava and Sparta Praha, City have not wiped the floor with anyone like we are used to seeing. I just can’t imagine them losing five in a row, that’s why I’m going for a City win here. But I can assure you it won’t be an easy win.
“Tottenham have history of getting results against City, it goes back a long time. I remember them getting a result under Harry Redknapp to qualify for Europe, thanks to a goal from Peter Crouch. So it’s a tricky game. There is no pressure on Tottenham this week and if they click, I think they have a chance. That’s why I say I wouldn’t be shocked if Spurs get a result
“Manchester City not being their usual self is entirely down to Rodri’s absence and not because Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are firing. Rodri moves the ball quickly and that opens up space, City are missing that now. But I certainly think Gundogan looks nowhere near the player he was before, he is struggling.”
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur.
As Merson noted, while it’s hard to imagine City losing five matches in a row, the unpredictability of the Premier League always leaves room for surprises. With both teams looking to bounce back from disappointing results, Saturday’s encounter promises to be anything but straightforward. It’s a game that could go either way and one that fans of both clubs will be watching with bated breath.
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