Attentions turn to the pursuit of Premier League points for English football’s most famous teams following a midweek spent flying the flag in European competition. The UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League provided fans with some exciting games, but they now return to their bread and butter: the Premier League. Saturday’s schedule brings seven games from the top-flight of English football, opening with a mouth-watering meeting at the Etihad Stadium.
Defending Premier League champions Manchester City brings the curtain up on the round with a home game against title challengers Tottenham Hotspur, who travel from their north London headquarters determined to claim another big EPL scalp. Ange Postecoglou’s team impressed during the opening exchanges, but have suffered a dip in results and know a quick-fire response is required to catapult them back into the picture. Will Spurs win on the road, or will the champions make home advantage count and bank a crucial three points? Keep reading as our team of football content writers preview the game, offering their predictions.
Champions take control
Man City won the treble last season, defending their Premier League crown before adding the FA Cup and Champions League to their already packed trophy cabinet. Pep Guardiola’s men started the season as the pundits’ pick to win another league crown, moving to four in a row since losing the title to Liverpool during the COVID-ravaged 2019/2020 season that spilled over into summer. The Light Blues haven’t had things all their way during the early exchanges of their latest defence, but they are in control of the division and looking like a team capable of defending their honour.
City are in a much better position than they were at this time last year, and they went on to lift the trophy. They prepare for this home game before a packed Etihad Stadium, knowing the value of three points in their quest to finish in pole position. They won’t win the league on Saturday but know a home win would deliver a blow to Tottenham’s chances of challenging, taking the legs away from Spurs and further knocking their confidence. City boasts recent wins over United in the Manchester derby, Brighton and Bournemouth but drew 4-4 at Stamford Bridge last month.
Spurs seek a vital win
Tottenham was the most impressive team in the Premier League during the early exchanges. New boss Ange Postecoglou repaid the faith shown in him by the Tottenham board, who brought the Australian to London from Scottish champion Celtic in pre-season. The gaffer and his players enjoyed their strong start, and they hit the top of the league earlier in the campaign. But the Tottenham squad was experienced enough to know they must take the rough with the smooth, and their boss ensured everyone at the north London club kept their feet firmly on the ground. And that has proven to be the right approach, with Spurs suffering a mixed bag of fortunes recently.
Bet hereDespite their strong start and eye-catching early season form, Spurs dropped from first to fourth following back-to-back defeats in autumn. They were going great guns before running into Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday 6th November. In a remarkable game, Spurs had two players sent off, ending the game with nine men. Despite those dismissals, Ange continued to play pressing football and was made to pay the price, with the team from Stamford Bridge winning 4-1. A surprise 2-1 defeat at Molineux against Wolverhampton Wanderers followed, Lemina scoring a 97 minute winner.
Man City v Tottenham prediction
This promises to be a thrilling encounter, and we could be treated to a plethora of goals. Man City is unforgiving in attack, but they’ve never been exactly reliable in defence. Spurs are a typical Ange Postecoglou team who love to go forward, piling in the pressure and hoping to smash their opponent’s resolve. But they are open to counter-attacks, and that’s where Chelsea hit them the hardest.
We could see an end-to-end game, and you won’t want to take your eyes off this fixture as the winner of this game could be the eventual winner of the 2024 Premier League title. Man City’s defence is slightly better than Tottenham’s backline, especially at home, and that could make all the difference on Saturday afternoon. If Man City are anywhere near their attacking best, they should win the three points.
Premier League odds
New and existing members of the 22bet sportsbook gambling site can wager on all this weekend’s Premier League games, including the one at the home of the champions. Which side do you expect to win Saturday’s early afternoon start? You can back Manchester City to claim the points at odds of 1.296 or try the draw at 5.95. Fancy Spurs to win and blow the title race wide open? Back Tottenham using your 22bet account at 8.9.
If you prefer to avoid picking sides, 22bet offers over 100 pre-match and in-play gambling markets. You can seek value in the specials, including the scorer of the game’s first goal, half-time/full-time, both teams to score, handicap, anytime scorer, and more. There’s a bet to suit every football fan and odds that appeal to every budget.
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