Manchester City host Tottenham in the early kickoff on Saturday as both teams look to keep their winning momentum going after big victories in their opening Premier League games.
While City dismantled Wolves 4-0 at Molineux last weekend, Spurs hammered Burnley 3-0 at home. Now, both teams take on each other in a major early-season test.
While City enter the game as favourites on paper, it is worth noting that Spurs have become a banana skin for Pep Guardiola’s team. City have won only six out of the past 15 encounters with the Lilywhites across all competitions, and they were thrashed 4-0 in this same fixture last season.
Though City go into the game as favourites, Spurs will also fancy their chances against them as they are now under the management of Thomas Frank, who will want to give a good account of himself in his first big test at his new club.
The Danish manager got off to a strong start last weekend as two brilliant goals from Richarlison and one from Brennan Johnson sealed a convincing win against Burnley. Frank will be hoping that new signing Mohammed Kudus is on song again as he was the architect of Spurs’ win against the promoted side. The Ghana international will have his work cut out on Saturday as he looks to inspire Spurs to a win against Guardiola’s well-organised defensive unit.
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Meanwhile, City are hardly short of match-winners themselves as their talisman, Erling Haaland, hit the ground running with a brace against Wolves last weekend. The big Norwegian striker has a good goal-scoring record against Spurs and will look to add to it when he comes up against them on Saturday.
Along with Haaland, the two other players who impressed the most for City are new signings Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders. Both marked their City debuts with well-taken goals against Wolves, and both would relish opening their accounts at the Etihad against Spurs.
Man City vs. Tottenham lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Rayan Cherki comes in for his full Premier League debut for Manchester City after scoring off the bench against Wolves last week. Club captain Bernardo Silva drops to the bench as a result, while Omar Marmoush replaces Jeremy Doku in Pep Guardiola’s only other alteration from Molineux.
That means James Trafford retains his place in goal despite Ederson returning to the bench alongside fit-again duo Rodri and Phil Foden. Their inclusions mean Ilkay Gundogan and are not in the matchday squad.
Josko Gvardiol remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a knock. Meanwhile, Savinho — a reported transfer target for Tottenham — is expected to return only after the international break as he too recovers from an injury.
Mateo Kovacic, too, is expected to return from an Achilles injury only after the international window next month.
Man City starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Trafford (GK) — Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri — Cherki, Nico, Reijnders — Bobb, Haaland, Marmoush
Injured: Gvardiol (knock), Savinho (knock), Kovacic (Achilles)
Suspended: None
Thomas Frank sticks with the back four that saw off Burnley last week instead of deploying the back three that worked so well for most of the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain.
Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and Palhinha all start in a robust midfield three, with Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson flanking the in-form Richarlison in attack.
In defence, Radu Dragusin and Destiny Udogie continue to be long-term absentees for the club. Attacking midfielders Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are out for the foreseeable future with knee injuries.
Tottenham starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Vicario (GK) — Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence — Sarr, Palhinha, Bentancur — Johnson, Richarlison, Kudus
Injured: Dragusin (knee), Udogie (knee), Maddison (ACL), Kulusevski (knee), Solomon (calf)
Suspended: None
Man City vs. Tottenham match details
- Date: Sunday, August 23, 2025
- Kickoff time: 12.30 p.m. local / 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT
- Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester (England)
- Competition: Premier League
- Referee: Peter Bankes
- VAR: Andy Madley
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