[ad_1]
Manchester City look to get their Premier League title charge back on track as they host Tottenham at the Etihad tonight. Pep Guardiola’s side are eight points behind Arsenal after a defeat to Manchester United, and cannot afford to give up more ground to the Gunners.
It would be a third defeat in a row for Man City should they slip up against Spurs, after a shock Carabao Cup defeat to Southampton preceded that derby defeat. They had just one shot on target across those two matches, with Erling Haaland on a rare quiet run. He starts alongside Julian Alvarez, with Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva on the bench.
Tottenham are not exactly full of confidence themselves, Antonio Conte’s side having been comfortably beaten by Arsenal on Sunday. They have though come out on top in their last two matches against Man City. Rodrigo Bentancur returns for the visitors, while Richarlison is again named among the substitutes. Follow alll the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below, featuring expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick at the ground.
Live updates
Dan Kilpatrick at the Etihad
A game of fouls and crunching tackles so far.
Grealish earned an ovation for racing back and clattering Son a few minutes ago but he’s just had a taste of his own medicine after a magnificent sliding challenge from Romero. Feisty.
31 mins: Ake with a wonderful challenge and here come City, Grealish is away in behind.
Heavy touch to try and cut across Romero, but the defender throws himself at it and it’s superb defending. Had to get that right or he was off.
Lewis is down yet again, he’s been caught a few times by Hojbjerg and Bentancur already. And the referee decides that’s enough – yellow card for Hojbjerg.
29 mins: City starting to pin Spurs back, a couple of corners in quick succession after Lewis shows great feet.
Swung in again into the Tottenham box, Emerson there at the near post to volley it away before Kulusevski completes the job. Spurs could do with a bit of possession.
27 mins: That’s superb from Ake. Perisic cuts inside onto his right foot, clips a great ball into the box. Kane free at the back post and looks set to volley that home, but Ake does so well to just flick it away from him.
Corner worked short, comes to Royal 25 yards out and he goes for goal. Woeful, to put it mildly.
25 mins: Another City corner, another Spurs break.
Davies boots it up the pitch and Son is away, City have left themselves exposed here. Poor touch from Son though, gets the ball stuck under his feet and Grealish gets back brilliantly to slide in and halt the break. Celebrated like a goal in the stands.
Dan Kilpatrick at the Etihad
The best of both sides in one passage of play: City with some intricate stuff ending in Dier throwing himself in front of Alvarez’s shot, then a quick Spurs counter ends with a Mahrez tactical foul on Kulusevski.
That’s the game in nutshell.
23 mins: Bentancur avoids a yellow card as he brings Alvarez down, and the roars from the crowd start again as Romero fouls Akanji.
This time the referee gives the home fans what they want, Romero is into the book. Long time left for him to have to manage that.
20 mins: Grealish takes Royal on, gets to the byline but his cross is charged down. Will be another corner for City.
Headed out to Gundogan, can’t get the shot away but plays it wide to Alvarez. City work it nicely, cut back into the box where Alvarez has made the run… Dier with a brilliant block.
And now Mahrez is into the book for stopping the Spurs counter, Kulusevski did well there to bring the ball forward.
18 mins: City win it back high up the pitch, Gundogan plays a ball over the top towards Haaland.
He’s made the run in behind, goes down claiming he’s been tripped by Romero. Doesn’t get the decision and rightfully so, judging by the replays.
16 mins: Bentancur slides the ball through to Kane, who looks a fair way offside.
Gets the shot away, hammered into the side-netting. And then the flag does go up, wouldn’t have counted anyway.
[ad_2]
Source link