vs
Manchester City
White Hart Lane, London
3rd May, 2015; 15:00 GMT
*****
When the fixture list was drawn up earlier this season Manchester City fans would have been dreaming about how crucial this match would be in deciding the outcome of the Premier League title. On the other hand, Tottenham fans would perhaps be thinking that if their team won against their more fancied rivals then a top 4 finish might be on the cards.
But in reality the situation has turned out to be quite different for both teams as neither are City challenging for the title nor are Tottenham fighting for a top 4 place. Instead both of these teams come into this fixture to build some form which could perhaps be carried over to next season.
For City their feeble title challenge might also be mathematically over by the time they take the field in White Hart Lane with Champions elect Chelsea at home in the lunch time kick off against Crystal Palace. While for Tottenham and Mauricio Pochettino, fifth place is seemingly within reach but with the Europa League changing its qualification rules even the 7th placed side in the league has a chance to make it.
But despite the feeling that this match is a dead rubber it has quite a lot to offer. Firstly, the two leading marksmen of the Premier League this season in Sergio Aguero & Harry Kane will be going head to head and looking to have a positive impact to help their respective sides. Secondly, their promises to be a lot of goals with the defences of both the sides not having a particularly good time of late. Lastly, both these clubs have at their helm two managers who believe in free flowing football.
Team News & Tactics
Tottenham Hotspur
Pochettino will be wary of this fixture because he knows that his side have a recent history of losing heavily to City with 15 goals conceded in the last three matches. He will thus hope that Danny Rose overcomes his hamstring problems and is fit to start especially because of the shoulder dislocation suffered by Ben Davies in the 2-2 draw against Southampton.
Upfront the Argentine will continue to rely on Kane to provide the firepower like he has been doing since November.
Behind Kane creative linchpin Christian Eriksen will need to have a huge impact on proceedings if the Spurs are to get anything out of this game.
Probable Starting Eleven (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose; Bentaleb, Mason; Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli; Kane
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Manuel Pellegrini knows that with the investment being done by the owners of the club a trophy less season just does not cut it, especially one which is in danger of petering out. He probably realises that the only chance he has of keeping his job next season is if City can finish the season on a high and manage to wrest 2nd place from Arsenal.
But for that to happen the Chilean will have to manage without the two stalwarts of the City side over the last few years in Yaya Toure who has a hamstring injury and Vincent Kompany who is still nursing a groin strain. Pellegrini will also have to decide between starting with James Milner or playing the like minded Fernando and Fernandinho at the base of midfield.
Upfront Aguero will be looked upon to continue where he left of the last time these two sides met when he scored all 4 of Citya s goals.
Probable Starting Eleven (4-4-2): Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov; Navas, Fernando, Fernandinho, Silva; Dzeko, Aguero
Player to Watch Out For: Harry Kane
The Tottenham hitman has certainly announced his arrival on the Premier League stage this season in a grand manner scoring 20 goals since November. What has been more impressive is the fact that he has risen in the big games like the ones against Arsenal & Chelsea and dona t bet on him not joining the party this Sunday too.
Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Manchester City
Tottenham have been irresistible this season at times especially against Arsenal & Chelsea and you would trust Pochettino to fire up his team to have a real go against a side who seem to be going through the motions.