Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for tonight's Premier League clash between
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Wembley!
The final match of gameweek 10 is a cracker between two of the top five, with just two points separating them in the table after nine games. Tonight's encounter - which comes just a day after an NFL match on the same pitch - could have a major impact on the top four, so we should be in for a cracker here.
Let's start by looking at the team news...
SPURS STARTING XI: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Sissoko, Lamela, Lucas; Kane
SPURS SUBS: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Walker-Peters, Winks, Eriksen, Alli, Son
MAN CITY STARTING XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy; Fernandinho, Bernardo, Silva; Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero
MAN CITY SUBS: Muric, Kompany, De Bruyne, Sane, Otamendi, Jesus, Foden
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, there are interesting selections from both managers, but we will start with the hosts as manager Mauricio Pochettino surprisingly leaves Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min out of his starting lineup for this one.
Alli has missed the last four games due to a hamstring injury so his exclusion is not as big a surprise, while Son has also struggled to hold down a regular place in the team this season, but Eriksen's absence is a major shock for the hosts.
The fact that the creative Dane is on the bench suggests that it is not an injury problem, but rather a tactical decision from Pochettino as he leaves the man who scored both of Tottenham's goals against City last season out.
Even more emphasis will be put on the goalscoring prowess of Harry Kane this evening, then, with the England international looking for his first Premier League goal in exactly a month this evening.
Eriksen's absence may also be in part down to the form of Erik Lamela, who has made himself almost undroppable with a string of fine performances now that he is back and fully fit.
The Argentine has been directly involved in four goals from his five league games this season, which is the same number as he managed in 25 appearances last term. He has also scored seven and set up another three in his last 10 games for the club across all competitions.
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There are two changes to the team which started against PSV in midweek as Lamela and Sissoko replace Eriksen and Son, while the only switch from last weekend's win over West Ham is Winks making way to be replaced by Dembele.
Danny Rose and Jan Vertonghen remain sidelined for the hosts, while captain Hugo Lloris will be keen to bounce back from his costly red card in the Champions League last week.
As for Man City, the headline news is that Kevin De Bruyne is once again forced to settle for a place on the bench this evening, having made his first start of the campaign in the Champions League in midweek.
The Belgian playmaker has returned ahead of schedule from a serious knee ligament injury, but Guardiola is understandably being cautious about his recovery and sees no need to risk him for this match with so many other midfielders in such fine form.
Bernardo Silva and David Silva are amongst those, with both getting on the scoresheet during the win over Shakhtar last time out to continue a brilliant run of form on both counts.
Further forward Riyad Mahrez continues in the team having seemingly usurped Sane in Guardiola's plans for now, with the summer signing having scored for City in last weekend's win over Burnley to bounce back from his missed penalty at Anfield before the international break.
The main goal threat will come from Sergio Aguero, though, as he returns to the side tonight after being kept back in midweek in favour of Gabriel Jesus.
Aguero is one short of 150 Premier League goals, but he has failed to score in his last five appearances against Tottenham, having found the back of the net 10 times in his first seven Premier League meetings with tonight's opponents.
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Raheem Sterling is another to watch for this Tottenham defence, though, having scored three times against Spurs last season. Today the winger becomes only the fifth player to make 200 Premier League appearances before his 24th birthday.
There is a return for fit-again Walker in the starting XI after he came off the bench against Shakhtar in midweek, replacing Otamendi in the backline as John Stones switches back inside the centre-back.
There is plenty of talent on show in both sides, then, but Spurs go into the game as surprisingly big underdogs considering they have made their best-ever start to a season.
Tottenham's tally of 21 points from their opening nine games has never been matched by the club in a Premier League era, and a draw tonight would ensure that they equal their best-ever tally after 10 games - 22 set in 2011-12.
Despite making their best-ever start, Spurs still come into this match sitting fifth in the Premier League table, with all but Manchester United from the top six having also made very encouraging starts to the season.
It is all very tight at the top, though, and a win tonight would see Pochettino's side leapfrog both Arsenal and Man City into third place, level on points with Chelsea and just two adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Spurs began the campaign with three successive wins before back-to-back defeats at the hands of Watford and Liverpool, which at the time looked very costly indeed. However, they have since recovered to win their last four league outings, ensuring that they remain right in the mix for what is shaping up to be a thrilling top-four race.
It will only get more exciting if Spurs do win tonight, and that would also see them win seven of their opening 10 fixtures of a top-flight campaign for only the third time in their history - and the first since 1963.
Tottenham's success so far has largely been built on a strong defensive unit, with only Man City and Liverpool having conceded fewer this season. Indeed, a clean sheet this evening - however tough it might be against this City side - would see Spurs keep four consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since April 2017.
It is at the other end where Spurs do not fare as favourably against the teams around them in the table, with no team in the top nine having scored fewer than Pochettino's side this season.
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Things are going fairly well domestically, then, but it is another story entirely in Europe and last Wednesday night saw their hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League all but ended.
Spurs lead 2-1 against PSV in Eindhoven, but a sending-off for Lloris allowed PSV to equaliser and earn a draw. As a result, Spurs have just one point to their name from the opening three games, while Inter Milan have six and Barcelona have nine. It will take an almighty recovery for them to ensure that they will be playing Champions League football after the turn of the year.
Things have not gone too well off the pitch either considering that their new stadium will now not be ready until 2019, but Wembley has not been an awful temporary home for them and they come into this match having lost just two of their past 21 Premier League outings here.
One of those defeats did come at the hands of Man City in April, though, while their only home wins inside normal time this season have come against newly-promoted duo Fulham and Cardiff.
Man City represent a much stiffer test that those two relegation battlers, of course, and for all of Pochettino's good work since he took over, he does not have the best record in these big games.
Since he took charge in 2014-15, only Arsenal have accumulated fewer points in games between the established top six than the 54 earned by Spurs. Tonight's match also kicks off a frantic run of fixtures for the hosts, which sees them play five times in the space of just 12 days.
That intense run of fixtures is perhaps one of the reasons why Pochettino has rested some key players tonight, but Spurs will likely need to be at their very best against a City side that have quickly picked up where they left off this season.
The difference this time around is that other teams are matching City's results, and while last season was a procession to the title, this time around it looks as though Pep Guardiola's side could face some much stiffer opposition.
Indeed, City have dropped just four points so far this season and tonight could make it 10 games unbeaten from the start of a top-flight season for only the fifth time, yet they still come into this match sitting in third place.
Big wins for Liverpool and Chelsea over the weekend have put the pressure back on the champions, who need a win to regain top spot from Liverpool on goal difference. A draw would lift them back above Chelsea into second, but defeat would leave them fourth in the table with more than a quarter of the season gone.
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Three of City's previous four occasions in which they have started a top-flight campaign by going 10 matches unbeaten have come in the past eight seasons, so they are very much used to being in this position early on now.
Unlike Spurs, their form has also been impressive in other competitions too, with City winning 11 and losing just one of their 14 games this term. City are unbeaten in seven since that solitary defeat - to Lyon in the Champions League - and they have only conceded one goal in that seven-match streak.
Including the tail end of last season, City's loss to Lyon is their only one in their last 20 outings across all competitions, and they have scored eight goals without reply in their last two.
The most recent of those came last Tuesday when City ran out 3-0 winners in the Champions League, becoming the first English club to win away at Shakhtar Donetsk. If anything, the scoreline flattered the hosts too, with City hitting the woodwork three more times in a result Guardiola ranked as one of the best of his tenure.
In the Premier League alone City are now unbeaten in their last 15 games, winning 12, drawing three, scoring 42 and conceding just six since their title-postponing 3-2 defeat at Manchester United in April.
It is an impressive array of statistics, but perhaps the most impressive is their defensive record and another clean sheet this evening would see them equal the club record of six in a row in the Premier League.
City are also on the brink of another small slice of history tonight, having won their last four Premier League away games in London. Victory here would see them become the first non-London team to win five consecutive Premier League games in the capital.
Indeed, you have to go back to January for City's last away defeat in the Premier League, winning eight of their 11 games on the road since their 4-3 defeat at the hands of Liverpool at Anfield.
City also appear to have the edge in the dugout, with Guardiola losing just two of his previous 13 managerial meetings with Pochettino, winning seven of those and drawing three.
Guardiola could win three in a row against the Argentine for the first time tonight, although Pochettino also has some history to draw on in that personal duel having recorded his first competitive match, first competitive defeat and first competitive win as a manager in separate games against Guardiola's Barcelona in 2009, while he was in charge of Espanyol.
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PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Wembley, which means that it is time for a prediction!
These matches are always full of entertainment and goals, and right now City are in brilliant form. Spurs have the players to hurt City, but it is hard to back against Guardiola's side in any match at the moment and I can see them doing some damage tonight.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Spurs 1-4 Man City
A surprising prediction maybe, but City have form in this fixture having won both fixtures last season by an aggregate scoreline of 7-2 - including a 4-1 win in December at the Etihad Stadium.
The most recent meeting between the two sides ended in a 3-1 win for City here, and that was a result which proved to be enough for them to clinch the title as Manchester United lost to West Brom the following day.
City have now won 10 of their last 15 Premier League games against Spurs, losing just four in that time. It is a major turnaround in form from the previous record between the two sides, which saw Tottenham losing just three of their first 27 games against them in the competition.
One thing we do seem to be guaranteed is goals, with this fixture having produced a Premier League-high 59 since the beginning of the 2011-12 season.
This match also usually ends up going one way or another, with only two of the last 28 league meetings ending as a draw.
Spurs actually hold the better record over that slightly extended history, with 15 wins to City's 11, but tonight City could win consecutive Premier League away games against Spurs for just the second time.
Right, we're almost ready to get going in this match! A quick reminder of the team news before we do get started...
SPURS STARTING XI: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Sissoko, Lamela, Lucas; Kane
MAN CITY STARTING XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy; Fernandinho, Bernardo, Silva; Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero
A minute of silence is impeccably observed at Wembley - both for Remembrance Day and in memory of the Leicester City chairman following yesterday's tragic news.
KICKOFF: Tottenham get us underway for the first half on what looks like a horrible pitch with the NFL markings still very clear.
BREAKING NEWS: Some breaking news to bring you away from this game as Real Madrid have sacked manager Julen Lopetegui. Spurs boss
Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with the post, although Antonio Conte is the favourite.
This match has started at a decent tempo, but neither side have been able to grab a hold of it in the opening exchanges as they battle for possession.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 0-1 MAN CITY (RIYAD MAHREZ)
GOAL! What a start for the visitors! They take the lead after just six minutes from Wembley as Mahrez - who must have been affected by the news from Leicester yesterday - breaks the deadlock!
It is poor from Trippier and he doesn't deal with a long ball forward, allowing Sterling to dart behind. The winger stands Trippier up and then beats him inside the area before cutting it back for Mahrez, who are left with a simple finish.
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SHOT! City immediately pour forward in numbers with Sterling again leading the charge before dropping the ball back to Aguero, who can only fire his effort into the side-netting.
CLOSE! Spurs respond by coming close themselves as Kane collects the ball around 25 yards from goal and is given space by Stones.
Ederson is off his line and Kane puts his foot through it to hammer it towards goal early, but his effort cannons against the stanchion behind the goal.
SAVE! Spurs threaten again as first Trippier's low cross is cut out by Laporte and then Alderweireld gets his head to the resulting corner, although his glancing header is easy for Ederson to collect.
Now it is City's turn to come forward in this frenetic opening to the match! Aguero and Silva play some delicious one-touch football to release Sterling in, but Alderweireld makes a timely block to deny the winger.
Here is the opening goal of the game, with Trippier's mistake being ruthlessly punished...
More good football from City, who look dangerous every time they come forward at the moment. Aguero, Mahrez and Sterling are all involved in a move which ends with Bernardo seeing an effort deflected wide for a corner.
Spurs have been overrun a few times when City attack in these opening 20 minutes or so. There have been ominous signs for the hosts already.
Spurs have been overrun a few times when City attack in these opening 20 minutes or so. There have been ominous signs for the hosts already.
Spurs have the chance to break forward as Sissoko does well to win the ball back before releasing Lamela. The Argentine cuts inside before being brought down by Fernandinho, who escapes a yellow card for his foul.
CHANCE! Big chance for Spurs to level things up as Mendy's mistake allows Sissoko to race through down the right flank. The winger has all the time in the world to pick his pass, but he is caught in two minds and his eventual ball inside is cut out by Fernandinho. Poor from Sissoko, but that was really good play by Fernandinho.
PENALTY APPEAL! Shouts for a penalty from the Wembley crowd as Lamela goes down after a slight tussle with Stones, but there was nowhere near enough in that to warrant a spot kick.
Spurs have shown glimpses of being able to trouble this City defence too, and the latest of them sees Lamela and Sissoko drive forward before Trippier is brought down by a backtracking Aguero.
OFF THE POST! Mahrez is close to a second as David Silva dribbles into the box, keeping his composure before nudging the ball out to the goalscorer. He works a yard before powering an effort towards the near post, but Lloris makes a crucial reaction save to tip the ball against the post.
The opening half an hour of this game has flown by here. It is not quite as frantic as the opening stages anymore, but it is still a captivating encounter at the moment.
City have not got as much joy coming forward in the last five or 10 minutes, with Tottenham dealing with them a lot better now - largely because they are seeing more of the ball themselves.
CHANCE! Brilliant goalkeeping from Ederson to prevent Spurs an equaliser! A mistake from Laporte gives the ball to Lamela, who in turn pushes it out wide for Kane. The striker only has the keeper to beat, but his touch just shows enough of it to Ederson, who races off his line and makes a superb tackle to win the ball inside the area.
Ederson was hurt when making that crunching challenge and requires treatment, but it looks as though he will be OK to continue.
SAVE! David Silva works his way inside and drills an effort towards goal, but it is straight at Lloris, who gathers it at the second attempt.
Mendy is again caught in possession here as Trippier wins the ball off him and fires a cross into the box, but Walker is there to clear the danger.
Tottenham's belief will have grown more and more as this half has worn on. They were on the back foot during much of the opening exchanges, but are now looking arguably the more likely to get the next goal.
City win a free kick in a good crossing position which Silva whips into a dangerous area, but Spurs deal with the initial danger. City keep the pressure on, but Bernardo's vicious delivery is nodded back into the arms of Lloris by Sanchez.
YELLOW CARD! The first card of the evening is shown to Lucas for a dive after Fernandinho had pulled out of his tackle.
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY
That opening 45 minutes flew by in the blink of an eye, and it is Man City who have the lead in this top-five battle against Tottenham.
City have by no means had everything their own way, though, and some more clinical play by Spurs in the final third could well have seen them go into half time at least level in this one.
The only goal of the game so far came after only six minutes when Riyad Mahrez scored for the second successive Premier League match, dedicating his goal to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha - the Leicester owner who tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash on Saturday.
It was a mistake from Trippier which initially led to the chance as his header released Sterling down the left, and he then skipped to the byline before pulling it back for Mahrez to tuck home a simple finish.
There have been chances at both ends of the field aside from that opening goal, with Mahrez hitting the post and Aguero firing an effort into the side-netting shortly after the opener.
Spurs could well be at least level in this game, though, having seen Kane, Alderweireld and Sissoko all fail to make the most of presentable chances during that first 45 minutes.
Spurs are still very much in this game, but the next goal could be crucial. The hosts need to be more clinical when City gift them chances - as they have done on a few occasions already - as that is the difference between the two sides so far. City have punished Tottenham's mistake, but Spurs haven't done the same at the other end.
KICKOFF: Manchester City get us back underway at Wembley!
Spurs showed enough in that opening 45 minutes to suggest that they can get themselves back into this match. City will feel that they need a second goal!
Poor from Lloris as his goal kick goes straight to Aguero, who turns down a shot before being brought down by Dier right on the edge of the box.
Silva takes on the free-kick duties but clips his tame effort straight into the wall, which also blocks his follow-up strike.
It looks as though Kane might be clean through on goal as Lucas produces a defensive-splitting pass, but the linesman's flag was up. That was a close one!
YELLOW CARD! Laporte picks up a yellow card for a clear bodycheck on Sissoko.
CHANCE! Oh how has this one stayed out?! City look certain to double their lead and are queuing up to do so, but Spurs escape!
Walker slides a pass inside for Bernardo, who reaches the byline before playing a low pass back into the box. David Silva collects it but is just a little off balance and so turns down a shot from inside the six-yard box, instead giving the ball to Sterling. The winger takes a touch before going for goal, but his effort is blocked just in front of the line!
Walker is not having the best night against his former club at the moment, and he has just completely missed the ball when going for a first-time volley on the edge of the box. The Spurs fans enjoyed that one!
Another moment for Walker to forget as he races forward but then puts too much on his pass for Aguero to waste a really good opening.
Here is that golden chance for City inside the six-yard box which went begging. Trippier with the crucial block!
YELLOW CARD! Fernandinho goes into the book for a sliding challenge.
More than an hour gone in this match now and it is still all to play for. Guardiola was furious after his side missed that chance earlier in this second half, and that gives an indication of how finely he believes this match is poised.
CHANCE! City should have a second as Silva gives the ball to Aguero, who cuts inside but then puts his finish far too close to Lloris. You would expect him to do better from there!
SAVE! Aguero draws another save from Lloris here as he takes a shot early which the Spurs skipper needs to parry away.
TOTTENHAM SUB: Spurs make their first change of the night as Harry Winks replaces Dier.
We could be about to see Kevin De Bruyne for a 20-minute cameo as Guardiola looks to give the fit-again playmaker such much-needed minutes. Not a bad sub to be able to bring on!
MAN CITY SUB: There is the change as Aguero is replaced by De Bruyne.
Just over 15 minutes remaining in this match now and it has just entered a comparative lull, which is not good news for Spurs. They need to up the tempo again here and begin putting the visitors under pressure.
SHOT! De Bruyne is caught in possession inside his own area and Lamela subsequently wriggles into a shooting position, but his effort goes well wide.
TOTTENHAM SUB: Dele Alli makes his return for Spurs as he replaces Dembele.
City began this match in ominous form and it looked as though they might blow Spurs away in the early exchanges, but that sort of performance has not arrived. Spurs have done well to quell their threat for the most part.
Aguero's departure means that David Silva is now leading the line for City, by the way. Not exactly a big target man!
CHANCE! Huge, huge chance for Tottenham to equalise! Alli nicks the ball off Mahrez while the goalscoring is wrestling with Lucas, and he advances before playing the ball perfectly into the path of Lamela.
The Argentine only has the keeper to beat from inside the area, but he blazes his effort over the crossbar when he simply had to score!
Blame the pitch, Erik!
TOTTENHAM SUB: A third and final change for the hosts as Christian Eriksen replaces Lucas.
Lamela may well be able blame the pitch for that miss after all - the ball was bobbling along as it arrived to him and he hit it with his ankle.
Here is that glaring miss from Lamela...
Just three minutes remaining in this match now and, as things stand, the story of the game is one of missed opportunities for Spurs. They could have got something out of this game.
MAN CITY SUB: A defensive change for City here as Vincent Kompany replaces Silva.
There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match.
MAN CITY SUB: Another change for the champions as Gabriel Jesus replaces Mahrez, who looks like being the match-winner at the moment.
FULL TIME: TOTTENHAM 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY
It is all over at Wembley as Man City hold on for all three points against Tottenham Hotspur, with Riyad Mahrez's early goal proving decisive and sending City back to the top of the Premier League table.
Spurs had their chances to get something out of this game, but City also squandered a number of openings and continue to look like championship material, even if they weren't at their best on a dreadful pitch this evening.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Man City regain top spot in the Premier League courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
