Premier League: Victory Imperative for Both in North London

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City

Well, if this Premier League clash is half as exciting as their meeting just over two weeks ago, then football fans could be in for a treat.

The hosts need the points to boost their chances of a top four finish, and the visitors need the points to keep alive their title aspirations.

Cynics may suggest that, with Arsenal top of the table, some Spurs fans would even accept losing to Manchester City if it means the reigning champions can see off their arch-rivals in the race for the title.

Yet, on the whole, both sets of supporters will be keen to roar their sides on to what could be a crucial victory in the final reckoning.

Talking Points

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to cement their place in the Premier League when they face Manchester City — Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane celebrates scoring their first goal against Fulham

Spurs go into the contest on the back of two away victories.

At Fulham, a solitary Harry Kane strike took him level with the late, great Jimmy Greaves as the club’s all-time top scorer.

They followed that up with victory at Preston in the FA Cup, a potential banana skin overcome in impressive fashion.

It was a match in which Son Heung-Min, last season’s joint top scorer in the Premier League, rediscovered his shooting boots.

Eight goals in 27 appearances is still a paltry return for the 30-year-old South Korean hero and with just under half of the season remaining (17 league matches), Son’s show in Lancashire may yet kickstart a late surge.

He was joined on the scoresheet by debutant Arnaut Danjuma, on loan from Villarreal, who could be in line for his first start.

With the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski on their way back to full fitness, this could be the strongest Spurs squad manager Antonio Conte had been able to select from for a while.

On saying that, Brazilian forward Richarlison missed that encounter and could be a doubt, as he has been limited to only three substitute appearances since the World Cup as he struggles with a hamstring problem.

While Spurs have been active in the transfer market this month with Danjuma joined this week by Pedro Porro, City have been saying farewell, and one was a major surprise.

The emergence of promising youngster Rico Lewis has clearly affected Joao Cancelo’s game time but no one genuinely thought the Portuguese full-back, arguably the best in the top-flight last season, would be allowed to leave.

An unused substitute for three of the past five league games – and taken off at half-time in one of the others – Bayern Munich swiftly snapped him up on loan with an option to buy this summer.

The Premier League champions sanctioned the move after Cancelo told manager Pep Guardiola he wanted to depart.

Whether it proves a masterstroke or a major loss remains to be seen but surely any team would miss a player whose versatility, great feet, and impressive vision mark him out as a special talent.

Putting all this to one side, the fact Spurs may not have their manager in the dugout after Conte had surgery to remove a gallbladder will prove decisive to me.

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History

Historically, this rivalry could barely be closer.

Following a thrilling comeback by the reigning champions barely over a fortnight ago – they won 4-2 after trailing 2-0 at the break – City have 66 victories and Tottenham 65 (a further 36 matches have been drawn), which shows you how well matched they have been over the years as they have each enjoyed their own periods of glory.

Two seasons ago, it was Vintage Mourinho in North London as Tottenham ran out 2-0 winners in a game City dominated for long spells, yet it didn’t matter because of a Jose Mourinho managerial masterclass.

However, City then got the better of Tottenham in the return at the Etihad with a 3-0 triumph before a late Aymeric Laporte goal won them the League Cup Final – made easier by the fact Mourinho had been foolishly dismissed by Tottenham just days earlier.

Last season, Tottenham got a modicum of revenge with a league double of their own.

In London, a Son goal separated the sides on the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign. Then a 95^th minute Kane winner settled a five-goal thriller in Tottenham’s favour in Manchester in February.

City have won 14 of the last 24 meetings with Tottenham in the Premier League.

Arguably the best game I have reported on in recent years involved these clubs in 2019 in the Champions League quarter-finals – an epic encounter with which words struggled to do justice, so barely credible were the events which unfolded.