Manchester City will aim to reduce the five-point deficit to Premier League leaders Liverpool when they host Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City

Tottenham

Match Stats

Manchester City's recent 2-1 loss to Brighton marked their fourth consecutive defeat, a first under Pep Guardiola in his career, and their worst run of losses since 2006 when they suffered six straight defeats under Stuart Pearce. After back-to-back league defeats, including a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth, City have dropped five points behind Liverpool at the top of the Premier League after 11 games. Despite this tough patch, it’s too early to rule out the reigning champions as contenders for a fifth consecutive title, but they can’t afford to fall further behind.

The international break has lifted the mood at the club with the announcement of Guardiola’s two-year contract extension and the return of key players from injury, which should bolster their squad as they face a tough upcoming stretch of eight games before Christmas, starting with Tottenham on Saturday. City will be eager to turn their form around at home, where they have not lost in 52 matches across all competitions, including a 35-game unbeaten Premier League run.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are struggling with consistency this season, sitting 10th in the table after winning five, drawing one, and losing five of their first 11 matches. Despite their patchy form, Spurs are only three points behind Chelsea in third and have reason for optimism, especially after a 2-1 victory over City in the EFL Cup three weeks ago. Their recent record against City has been strong, scoring at least twice in their last three visits to the Etihad, including a thrilling 3-3 draw last season.