Manchester City vs. Tottenham: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
The 2014-15 Premier League season will resume after the international break with a top fixture between Manchester City and Tottenham on Saturday, as both clubs look to continue their strong form.
The hosts have won their last two—Spurs are unbeaten during the same span. City need a solid result to keep track of league leaders Chelsea, while the visitors could crack the top five with three points at the Etihad Stadium.
The international break often results in key players missing time due to injuries and late returns to their clubs, adding an extra element of surprise to Saturday's fixture.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Date: Saturday, Oct. 18
Time: 12:45 p.m. BST/7:45 a.m. ET
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
TV info and live stream: The match will be broadcast on BT Sport 1 (for UK viewers) and NBCSN (for US viewers), with mobile coverage available via the BT Sport app and NBC's Live Extra.
Preview
Both clubs have some real question marks regarding key players coming into this fixture. Yaya Toure hasn't been as dominant as he was for the Citizens in the 2013-14 season, and via Purely Football, he may not be playing on Saturday:
Hugo Lloris and Nacer Chadli will both likely be match-time decisions for the visitors, via Le Parisien's Julien Laurens and Purely Football:
The defending champions will be the strong favourites going into this match, and Spurs know they'll need all the help they can get. Both Chadli and Lloris have been in excellent form so far this season, and losing one or both for the match against City could spell disaster.
Ben Davies knows the schedule looks daunting, via the club's official Twitter feed:
The Citizens thrashed Tottenham 6-0 at the Etihad last season, but TV pundit Kevin Kilbane foresees a different kind of match this time around. He told the Premier League's official website he believes Spurs can hurt City on the counter-attack, providing they find a way to contain their explosive attacking third:
"The key will be how Spurs stop City creating chances. They have enough threat themselves going forward: Erik Lamela has been in decent form, Emmanuel Adebayor is a threat, Christian Eriksen is a good player, so it's how Tottenham Hotspur's defence copes with City's attack. If they can contain City, Spurs have got enough to hurt them on the counter-attack.
"
That's easier said than done, of course. The hosts are the second-highest scoring team in England, via WhoScored.com, and Edin Dzeko showed Jan Vertonghen exactly what kind of form he is in by scoring for Bosnia-Herzegovina against Belgium during the international break.
As much as the form of players like Chadli and Christian Eriksen can be decisive for Spurs, this match will ultimately hinge on how their defence can overcome City's talented attack. David Silva once again looked great for Spain on international break—as long as he's pulling the strings, the hosts will be a threat.
The attacking trio of Dzeko, Sergio Aguero and Stevan Jovetic is just too much to overcome for a good, but not great, Spurs back four. Don't expect a repeat of last year's blowout, but do expect a City win.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham
