Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: 'I respect Tottenham Hotspur'

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has suggested that he is paying little attention to Tottenham Hotspur's current position in the Premier League table.

Spurs have responded from four games without a win to record back-to-back victories over Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion, but Mauricio Pochettino's team only sit in fourth place in the standings.

However, despite trailing City by a margin of 18 points, Guardiola has heaped praised on the North Londoners ahead of their showdown at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.

The 46-year-old told reporters: "Spurs are a top team. It doesn't matter where they are now, for me they are still a top team.

"The results are the results. I see what they do - not their position. I have a lot of respect for Tottenham and what they do. The basis on the England team is from Tottenham. They are a very, very good team. I like to watch them play."

City head into the fixture having won their last 15 matches in the top flight.