Can Spurs ‘Mean Machine’ stifle free-scoring City ?

League-leaders Manchester City travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday to face second placed Tottenham Hotspur and it promises to be an intriguing encounter.

Spurs boast the league’s meanest defence, having conceded just 3 goals from their opening 6 games, while visitors City are the division’s top scorers.

Both sides return to Premier League action, having had indifferent results in the Champions League. City were held to a 3-3 draw in Glasgow, while Spurs took maximum points from a difficult trip to Moscow.

Goal projections – Spurs 1.24 Man City 1.66

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Team news & predicted starting line-ups for Spurs v Man City

A growing injury list has forced Mauricio Pochettino’s hand in Spurs’ latest two matches, with the Argentinian coach straying from his regular 4-2-3-1 formation.

He deployed a 4-3-3 set-up for the win at Boro, while he utilised Victor Wanyama in the holding role when playing the in-vogue 4-1-4-1 in Moscow.

His Spanish counterpart, Pep Guardiola, has been using the latter to devastating effect this season and it is possible that both sides could opt for a 4-1-4-1 formation on Sunday.

Spurs fantasy player to watch

With Harry Kane sidelined, Vincent Janssen needs to seize his chance. The Dutch striker, who possesses an enviable record from the penalty spot, is still searching for his first English Premier League goal, although he did find the net in the 5-0 EFL Cup win over Gillingham.

Spurs team news

All eyes will be on Pochettino, when he addresses the media to give an update on the injury situation.

Kane is definitely out but Danny Rose and Eric Dier could be involved, while new signing Moussa Sissoko and  fellow midfielder Mousa Dembélé also have an outside chance of featuring.

Predicted starting line-up for Spurs

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Man City fantasy player to watch

Bacary Sagna is expected to start at right-back, replacing Pablo Zabaleta, who featured in the 3-3 draw with Celtic.

Guardiola places huge demands on his full-backs but Sagna is likely to have his hands full defensively, as he attempts to keep tabs on Europe’s most in-form player Son Heung-min.

The South Korean International is available at a tempting 7/1 to be the WhoScored ‘Man of the Match’.

This match-up could determine how the points are shared.

Man City team news

Kevin De Bruyne travelled to Barcelona with club captain Vincent Kompany for treatment on his injured hamstring and both players have been ruled out of the trip to White Hart Lane.

Fabian Delph is edging closer to a return but Yaya Touré will still not be considered due to an ongoing disciplinary matter.

Nolito is suspended for the visitors.

Predicted starting line-up for Man City

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Can Spurs show their defensive resilience again and throw the title race wide open or will Pep Guardiola’s City side show their class again?