Man City vs Tottenham preview, team news and predicted lineup

Manchester City and Tottenham meet with both camps juggling absences and late fitness checks, setting up a selection chess match as much as a football one in this weekend's Premier League action. The champions managed without several regulars in their last outing, while Spurs arrive considering a change of shape for one of the toughest away days in the division.

The Citizens eased through Wolves 4-0 away at Molineux to kick off their Premier League campaign while Spurs started life brightly under Thomas Frank with a 3-0 win at home against newly-promoted Burnley . City will be looking to get one over their bogey team just six weeks after bowing out of the Club World Cup.

Spurs look rejuvenated just days after letting a lead slip against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup with notable performances from Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus in Tottenham's newly-refined attacking lineup. They still have a few question marks in the squad including looking at a possible replacement for James Maddison who will be out for the majority of the season.

City will again be without Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips, both sidelined by Achilles issues, while Savinho also misses out. Rodri, Ederson, Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol have trained after various knocks and illness and will be assessed close to kick off. Even so, Rodri and Ederson are viewed as unlikely to feature, which could see James Trafford keep the gloves after a clean sheet on debut.

Pep Guardiola must decide whether to reintroduce Gvardiol at left back or centre half, potentially at the expense of Rayan Ait Nouri or John Stones. In midfield, Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders formed a functioning trio last time and could be retained, with Reijnders chasing a notable landmark as he bids to become the first City player to register a goal and an assist in each of his first two Premier League appearances. If Reijnders is again encouraged to surge forward, Foden may find himself competing with Oscar Bobb for the right sided berth. Up front, Erling Haaland, with 48 goals in 48 Premier League home games, is the obvious focal point.

For Spurs, James Maddison (ACL) is among several absentees, joined by Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski and Bryan Gil (all knee), Manor Solomon (calf) and Kota Takai (foot). Yves Bissouma and Destiny Udogie missed the win over Burnley but could return to the squad pending late checks.

After using a back four at the weekend, manager Frank is weighing a switch to a back five at the Etihad. Kevin Danso is in contention to line up with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, with Pedro Porro and Djed Spence operating as wing backs. Rodrigo Bentancur is pushing to start in midfield, where Joao Palhinha and Pape Sarr are expected to keep their places. In attack, Kudus and Richarlison are tipped to continue their partnership, while Brennan Johnson offers an alternative if Spurs stick with a front two rather than reinforcing the defence.

Man City: Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez, Reijnders; Marmoush, Silva, Doku; Haaland

Tottenham: Vicario; Romero, Danso, Ven; Porro, Bentancur, Palhinha, Spence; Sarr, Kudus; Richarlison

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