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Premier League football is back this weekend after the UEFA Super Cup concluded on Wednesday night. Champions League winners Liverpool emerged vitorious over Europa League winners Chelsea in a closely contested encounter.
The most exciting encounter this weekend is at the Etihad, where Manchester City take on Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester City have started this season right where they left in 2018/19, topping the Premier League table with 3 points and a goal difference of 5 after they thrashed West Ham away at the London stadium. City forward Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick in the rout.
Meanwhile, Tottenham were 3-1 winners against Aston Villa, where star striker Harry Kane scored 2 late goals to secure 3 points in a match which was heading for a 1-1 draw.
It will be a big game for both sides tomorrow night, as Pep Guardiola would be looking to delight the City fans with a home win against a top 6 club as the Citizens play their first home match tomorrow. On the contrary, Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to spoil the party as Spurs look to build on their good start.
Today we take a look at the top 3 things Tottenham need to do against Manchester City so that they can secure a positive result against the champions.
#3 Stop City’s attacks from the wings
It has been City’s primary tactic for the past few seasons to begin the attack from the full-back position using their pacy wing-backs and wingers while defending the opposition attacks from the middle using strong defensive midfielders.
Tottenham’s main strategy should be to stop the attack from Kyle Walker, Oleskandr Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez as these 4 players combine really well on the right and left wings respectfully to penetrate the opposition defence.
Danny Rose and Kyle Walker-Peters will most likely be the busiest men tomorrow night and if they fail to contain the City wingers, it will be goals galore for City like it was last weekend.
Pochettino should focus on forcing City to play through the middle and not on the wings so that the impact is less.
#2 Go all-out attack
A team cannot simply expect an equal contest against Manchester City if they cannot match their work rate and their offensive style. Just parking the bus against City is a failed tactic, as the champions probably have 7-8 goal scorers who can punish the slightest error on the field.
If Tottenham are to beat City or even bring a point home, they need to play an open game tomorrow night where they unleash their attack with a motive to score and not just to stop City from scoring.
Even if City might be one of the best-attacking teams in Europe right now, Tottenham have also been one of Europe’s top attacking teams which was proven last season when they reached the Champions League finals.
If they can go in with a do or die approach like the Champions League semi-final last season, they might just get the same or better result against City tomorrow night.
#1 Break City’s second defensive wall in their midfield
The reason why Manchester City don’t concede many goals, apart from their great defensive lineup, is the fact that their defensive work starts right from central midfield.
It started way back since the time of Yaya Toure, it was succeeded by Brazilian Fernandinho, and now City have signed probably one of the best young defensive midfield talents in the world – Rodri Hernandez.
Tottenham have also made an equally impactful midfield signing in Tanguy Ndombele and already have Frenchman Moussa Sissoko in their lineup. Both these players have the quality and strength to break that defensive organization of City, which begins in the centre of the park.
Harry Kane against Laporte and Stones would be another interesting battle which could be decisive as the English striker has already broken his August curse to score 2 goals last weekend, and will be eager to add to his tally tomorrow.
What do you think about Tottenham’s chances against City tomorrow night?
[Sportskeeda]
