Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City: Match Preview, Projected Lineups & Predictions

The prodigal Son. Tottenham Hotspur were boosted by their new South Korean starlet last Sunday, as Son Heung-Min scored Tottenham's game winning goal against Crystal Palace. The win marked two consecutive league victories for Spurs, moving the team into 9th place--just three points off of fourth place. The team has shown staunch defensive performances of late, as the centerback combo of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld have led Spurs to three consecutive clean sheets in league play. They will certainly need a performance like that with one of the Premiership's best attacks coming to town...

In the way Saturday is a visit from Manchester City, sitting in 1st place with 15 points through six games, two points ahead of second place Manchester United. City has been led by a dynamic and diverse attack, with ten different goal scorers in their six league matches so far. But the Citizens are still led by their old guns, as Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Jesus Navas, and Yaya Toure will all make a massive test for the newly resilient Spurs' backline. Spurs will have a tough test with a City defense that has allowed just two league goals so far, as goalkeeper Joe Hart is in fine form with stud centerback Vincent Kompany likely to be a massive impediment.

Can Spurs slow down a tough Manchester City attack at home?  We shall see.

How to Watch

Date/time: Saturday, September 26, 12:45 p.m. (UK), 7:45 a.m. ET (USA)
Venue: White Hart Lane, London, UK
Official: Mark Clattenburg
TV: NBCSN (USA), BT Sport 1 (UK), TSN5 (Canada), Fox Sports 4 (Australia), other listings at livesoccertv.com
Streaming: NBCS Live Extra (USA)
Radio: Audio streamed at tottenhamhotspur.com, also BBC Radio London and TalkSport

Projected Lineup

This could be a very exciting lineup for Spurs today, as Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-Min look to start together for the first time. We expect that Erik Lamela will join the attacking midfield as right winger, while the duo of Eric Dier and Dele Alli will be the central midfield pairing again.

Prediction League

As for the Prediction League, Mechanick dropped a second consecutive perfect prediction last week, moving him into first place. The rules remain the same in the Prediction League -- one point for a correct prediction and a bonus point for getting the score correct. Here are the current standings:

Michael Caley: City are, like, lots better than us. 2-0 City

Bryan A.: Aguero is very good and he always destroys Spurs. I think that trend continues. 3-1 City

GN_Punk: I haven't picked against the boys yet, but while City didn't pull a result against West Ham last week, I watched that match in terror realizing what City are absolutely capable of. If they're on, then we're toast. If they're off, then we have a chance. The problem is that they've only been off once in the league, and they're probably pretty pissed off about it. 3-1 City

Mechanick: Vertonghen and Alderweireld are Spurs' best centerback duo since---Ledley King and not yet broken Kaboul? Either way, I think they can slow this City attack down--somewhat. On the other end, look for a Son to Kane goal that gets Spurs supporters dreaming. 1-1 Draw

Ed F.: 3-1 City.

Skipjack: 2-1 City. Lamela continues to confound my narrative.

Dustin Menno: City is stupid good, and thanks to the #narrative gods we happen to catch them a week after they lost to West Ham. I like how well Spurs are playing right now, but I don't feel confident about this match at all, even at home. In the immortal words of Mr. Horse, No sir, I don't like it. 3-1 City.

Brett Rainbow: We're good, we're playing at home, and I hate picking against us. 3-2 Spurs

Ben Daniels: Man City have a lot of injury problems right now and we've been in pretty good form lately. Now's as good a chance to take something off of them as any. 2-1 Spurs. Man City in crisis.

Kevin McCauley: TBD

55thVin: I'm sure City will be out to prove a point, but we are good. Can't believe that we fail to create chances against a City team eager to get on the front foot. Also, can we bring back Roberto Soldado? Seems we need one jinxed striker on the roster at all times, doesn't it? Oh yeah, 2-2 Draw.

Earl of Shoop: Several years ago I resigned myself to the inevitability that City would be very good in the near future. At that same time I decided that I was okay with that, and that they were by far the lesser of all available evils to top the chart. That's still mostly true, though our encounters with them over the past couple of seasons have made it very difficult to not wish terrible things upon them. We've barely registered a pulse during several of our last four PL fixtures against the Citizens (that's 0-6, 1-5, 1-4, and 0-1 for all you masochists out there), but the losses have gotten less embarrassing and I think we've got enough of a spark this season to keep this one competitive. Maybe a little free-kick magic from Eriksen, Harry back on the score sheet - whatever it is, we'll grab a lovely consolation goal in a hard-fought but not-at-all-another-traumatizing-blowout loss. Life and the season continue. 2-1 City

Luke Zimmerman: Prediction: pain. Of the ‘more of’ variety. This week continues its slow dissent into the crapper with City soundly dismissing Spurs. 3-0 City

Salmon Chase: Yea, money is hard. 3-2 City

Matthew Pachniuk: The degree of difficult was always going to be high with this one.  With a few key players injured, and others logging an incredible amount of minutes within the last week, this fixture is tough.  Yet with Eriksen back, Son a sensation, and Lamela heating up; I really like our front 3 going forward.  Everything says a loss, but I think somehow, someway we get a point out of this. 2-2 Draw