Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City match thread: Here we go

Welp, this has the potential to get ugly very quickly.

Today, the battling Spurs travel to the Etihad to face a Manchester City side that's managed to be both kinda lousy and kinda brilliant all at once since the start of the season, languishing in third place and failing to make much progress in their Champions League group while also managing to stay unbeaten in the Premier League. In any case, the reappearance of David Silva after an injury layoff today, coupled with the deployment of a Tevez-Aguero pairing up front, should give Tottenham the heebie jeebies regardless of the wider context of this match. The deployment of Kolarov seemingly on the left wing is a particularly interesting decision by Roberto Mancini- a sign that Aaron Lennon is starting to be recognized as a serious attacking threat by other League managers, perhaps?

Luckily for my blood pressure, AVB has put out an impressive-looking lineup to counter City's formidable threat today. Resisting the urge to play the often toothless and passenger-esque Jermaine Defoe after his hattrick against Maribor, the Portuguese is throwing Emmanuel Adebayor out against his former club for his first League start. Even more fortunately, Sandro appears to be fit again after the injury he sustained vs. Southampton, and AVB is using him in a double pivot with the growingly impressive Tom Huddlestone. Also, he's starting Brad Friedel over Hugo Lloris because he's a massive troll.

This match will be available to watch on Sky Sports 1 at 1:30 GMT. I don't know anything about US sports channel schedules or timings so I can't fill you in there I'm afraid- maybe a commentariat member across the pond could put those details in for us?

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Vertonghen; Sandro, Huddlestone; Lennon, Dempsey, Bale; Adebayor

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy; Y. Toure, Barry; Silva, Tevez, Kolarov; Aguero.

COYS!