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.
Darren Plant
