A wounded Tottenham head to the Etihad this weekend but Manchester City know what threat they pose | OneFootball

Manchester City take on Tottenham this Saturday at the Etihad Stadium. The Premier League fixture between the two teams could be an enthralling match based on how the two teams play. For Pep Guardiola’s side, the match could potentially lay down a marker for what lies ahead. Ange Postecoglou’s side have been inconsistent so far this season. They will also come to the Etihad wounded by the absence of several key players. But despite this, Manchester City will know all too well the threat posed by Spurs.

Tottenham will enter Saturday’s match without their two best centre-backs. Mehdi Gokal has relayed quotes from Ange Postecoglou for CaughtOffside that Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero will miss Saturday’s clash with Manchester City. Postecoglou had this say about the availability of his two best defenders for Saturday’s match: “Happy for Cristian and his wife on the birth of their baby girl. He is still not 100 percent so he is a doubt definitely for the weekend. Everyone else from the internationals got through well. Micky is still a couple of weeks away. He is on the grass training but he is still a couple of weeks away. We’re hoping by the middle of December he is back and available to play.”

Despite missing their best two centre-backs Tottenham will still pose a dangerous threat to Pep Guardiola’s side. So far this season, the world champions have had a susceptibility to quick counterattacks. Most of City’s issues have been caused when the champions lose possession. This is a strength of Ange Postecoglou’s side. They press high and often and their ability on the counter can prove to be devastating. That ability was on show when they eliminated Manchester City from the Carabao Cup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month.

Although they have been inconsistent this season Tottenham’s weapons up front could pose major issues for Manchester City. City’s chief tormentor in seasons past, Son Hueng-Min, will be a constant threat. Especially if Spurs are given space on the break to exploit. Dominic Solanke has begun to show that he is adjusting to life at Spurs. On his day he is a quality striker and will also need to be contained. Timo Werner, while his finishing can be shaky is a threat with his pace. He showed that in the Carabao Cup tie between the two teams last month. Brennan Johnson is another player who could thrive if Manchester City give Tottenham the space they crave on the counter.

Defensively Tottenham will enter Saturday’s match with a wounded defence. That could provide openings for Manchester City. But the champions will know the threat posed by Ange Postecoglou’s side. It is one they have struggled to contain during their past four defeats to Tottenham, Bournemouth, Sporting CP and Brighton. If City leave space behind and are sloppy in possession Spurs could prosper. That factor may well decide Saturday’s massive fixture at the Etihad