Pep Guardiola Man City’s decision has irritated Premier League rivals ahead of Tottenham clash
welcome Tottenham to the Etihad Stadium looking to get their season back on track
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola greets Tottenham Hotspur’s Ange Postecoglou
Manchester City welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad Stadium this evening looking to get their season back on track.
City lost four successive games in all competitions heading into the international break and find themselves five points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
But they will be buoyed by the news this week that manager Pep Guardiola has penned a contract extension until 2027 and that new found certainty should help things pick up on the pitch.
That will hopefully begin with the visit of Ange Postecoglou’s side and it has certainly been reflected in the predictions of three prominent Premier League pundits.
Chris Sutton
The former Celtic and Blackburn forward told BBC Sport: “It’s safe to say Pep Guardiola has severely irritated the rest of the footballing public by agreeing his contract extension with Manchester City.
“You can just imagine the groans from Liverpool, north London and the red half of Manchester, because they know how dominant City have been under him.
“City are not playing well at the moment, which is why they are on this run of four straight defeats in all competitions. People have been looking at them as if the wheels are coming off, but they are still second and only five points off the top.
“I do think Pep’s new deal will give them a boost, and I am expecting them to bounce back. Tottenham have also been described as a ‘crisis club’ this season but they are still only three points off third place.
“The table is so congested that anyone in mid-table who wins a couple of games in a row is going to be right up there, but I don’t see Spurs getting anything at the Etihad Stadium.
“There will be goals in this game, because Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou will not change his approach. He has already beaten City once this season, in the Carabao Cup, but I think Pep will come out on top this time.”
Sutton’s prediction: Man City 3-1 Tottenham
Mark Lawrenson
The former BBC Sport pundit told Paddy Power: “Manchester City playing Tottenham at home feels like a banker. We know that Spurs might score but they’ll get beat on the road, they always seem to do so.
“With Pep Guardiola signing his new contract that could breathe life into them, I know they’ve lost four in a row but only two of those were in the league. City’s post-Christmas charge might start early this year.”
Lawrenson’s prediction: Man City 2-0 Tottenham
Paul Merson
The former Arsenal star told Sportskeeda: “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.”
Merson’s prediction: Man City 2-1 Tottenham
Harry Redknapp
The former Tottenham manager told Bet Victor: “What a game this could be. Two sides who can score plenty, but two sides who’ve been sloppy at the back.
“I can’t believe Manchester City’s form right now; it shows how much they miss Rodri. I don’t care how good he is, a side with this talent should manage to survive. I think they’ll improve as the season goes on, particularly because I think they’ll be busy in the January window.
“I can’t make this Tottenham side out either, it’s unbelievable. They get a fantastic win at home to Aston Villa and then go and lose at home to Ipswich the next week! I like Ange Postecoglou, but there’s a lot of pressure on him now.
“It sounds like Pep Guardiola has agreed a new deal and that’s bound to give everyone a lift. I think City win this.”
Redknapp’s prediction: Man City 3-1 Tottenham
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