Home of football statistics and historyInconsistent Tottenham Hotspur could fall as many as nine points outside of the Champions League places this weekend as they place host to in-form Manchester City in their new stadium on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho’s side ended a four-game winless streak with a late victory over Norwich City in their last Premier League game, leaving them six points behind Chelsea, who sit in fourth.
Their West London rivals face a tough game themselves this weekend when they visit Leicester City in Saturday’s lunchtime kickoff.
With just 14 games to go, Jose Mourinho needs to find some form if Tottenham are to qualify for the Champions League for a fourth successive season.
They face a tough task to get back on track this weekend as they come up against the team who had the shortest odds to win Premier League at the start of the season.
Mourinho took charge of last season’s Champions League runners-up back in November when they were in the bottom half of the table, 12 points off the top four. A winning start got Spurs fans excited of their chances of replacing Frank Lampard’s side in Europe’s elite club cup competition next season.
However, just one win since Boxing Day has handed them a huge blow. Drawing 2-2 at Norwich City, losing 1-0 at Southampton, and being held 0-0 at Watford were games that Spurs fans were probably all expecting to win.
They would be forgiven for thinking their team won’t be picking up three points this weekend. Visitors Manchester City may be out of the title race, but they are doing all they can to at least try delay Liverpool’s crowning.
The defending champions have won four of their last five, scoring 13 during this run since their 3-2 loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers just after Christmas.
Manchester City had dominated the first meeting between these two back in August but ended up drawing 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium. You could argue that Spurs have only declined since.
Pep Guardiola’s side don’t have the best defensive record but often they don’t allow the opponent much possession at all. What’s more, Spurs are without Harry Kane. Relying on goals from Dele Alli and Son Heung-min just isn’t the same.
Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva shouldn’t have a problem creating chances in this game, whilst Sergio Aguero has scored in each of his last four Premier League outings, including a hat-trick versus Aston Villa and a brace against Crystal Palace.
Tottenham will have a difficult time cutting out opportunities for the Argentine superstar, particularly with how leaky their own defence has been this season. They have kept just three clean sheets in their 24 Premier League matches so far this season, and just one in their last eight at home.
The bookmakers have Manchester City’s odds as short as 1/2 to win away to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
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