Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Tottenham (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City take on Tottenham Hotspur this weekend as they embark on their first home game of the brand new 2025/26 Premier League season.

Pep Guardiola’s men started the campaign away at Molineux, in a highly-emotional match for the hosts with the occasion used as the first opportunity to pay tribute to former Wolves star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva following their tragic passing this summer.

In competitive action, Manchester City scored four without reply thanks to a brace from the ever-present Erling Haaland, as well as Premier League debut goals for both Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki.

Last season, at the Etihad Stadium, Tottenham shocked many with a 0-4 win. However, the most recent duel between the two sides – played in London – saw Haaland scored the only goal and secure all three points for Manchester City.

Speaking to the media ahead of the weekend’s match-up, Pep Guardiola confirmed that all of Phil Foden, Rodri and Ederson would be available for the contest, while a quartet of Marcus Bettinelli, Savinho, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are all ruled out.

Ahead of the first real blockbuster occasion for Manchester City of the brand new season, here is how we predict Pep Guardiola will line-up his side for their Etihad Stadium homecoming!

Predicted XI

After being left out of the squad against Wolves, Ederson is now fit and should come back to the first eleven to retain his spot as Manchester City’s starting goalkeeper, as previously revealed by the Catalan manager.

Rico Lewis is close to extending his contract at the club until 2030 in a significant boost following recent transfer rumours, and his display in the first game of the season proves he wants to fight for the badge.

Having just signed a new contract with the club himself, Rúben Dias also started the season in good shape, and we predict that the Portuguese international will lead the defensive line for the club. John Stones will join him in order to maintain and re-establish an iconic duo.

Rayan Ait-Nouri was impeccable as a left-back when Manchester City traveled to Wolverhampton on the opening weekend, meaning he should retain his spot at left-back in the squad.

Nico González should play as Manchester City’s number six, especially if he keeps the form he showed last week. This is also considering that Rodri is only able to feature for a couple of minutes coming on from the bench.

After being named Player of the Match in the opening game of the 2025/26 campaign with a goal and an assist to his name, Tijjani Reijnders is already loved by Manchester City fans and easy to pick in a team prediction.

Versatile as always, club captain Bernardo Silva is certainly a man of Pep Guardiola’s trust. The number 20 could show why he was chosen by the manager himself to become the team’s leader for this campaign.

Rayan Cherki has already impressed with his quick feet and skills. Getting his name on the scoresheet as a substitute against Wolves might be the reason behind the Frenchman’s first shot at the starting line-up – this time, as a right winger.

After coming on as a substitute against Wolves, Omar Marmoush may be given his first start of the season in the left-wing position.

Erling Haaland finds his best form every season in August. Therefore, he should be the main man in front of goal once again for Manchester City, and with this tactical setup, the Blues could attack using an inverted pyramid – a 2-3-5 – while defending in a classic 4-4-2.

Starting XI: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Stones, Ait-Nouri; Nico, Reijnders, Bernardo; Cherki, Marmoush, Haaland.

Substitutes: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Aké, Rodri, Gundogan, Doku, Foden, Bobb.