Raheem Sterling should be fit to start while Serge Aurier and Phil Foden will return for their respective sides when Tottenham face Manchester City on Saturday.
Tottenham and Manchester City face off in the marquee Premier League fixture this weekend, with the two sides locking horns at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening. And, Jose Mourinho has one fresh roster issue to contend with ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Matt Doherty is unavailable after testing positive for coronavirus while on Republic of Ireland duty. In his absence, Serge Aurier is expected to fill in at right-back for Tottenham. Apart from Doherty, Erik Lamela and Harry Winks miss out against Manchester City as well. However, there is some good news, as Steven Bergwijn is fit and available.
Mourinho provided an update on Bergwijn during his pre-match press conference, saying, “He went to the international team injured. He was not involved in our match against West Brom, not even on the bench, because that week he was injured.”
“Even so, he reported to the national team, they had their medical team analysing him and they decided they didn’t want to keep him there, because he wouldn’t be ready for the next match. So he stayed here for the last two weeks, and in that time he has managed to recover, and he’s ready for tomorrow.”
Bergwijn, though, is unlikely to start, with Gareth Bale taking his place on the right flank, while Son Heun-min is a certainty on the left-wing. Harry Kane will lead the line for Tottenham against Manchester City, with Tanguy Ndombele starting in the hole.
The midfield double pivot will comprise of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Moussa Sissoko while the rest of the defence, bar Aurier will remain unchanged. Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier and Sergio Reguilon will, therefore, join Aurier in the backline that will provide cover to Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham Predicted XI: Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Bale, Ndombele, Son; Kane
In the visiting dugout, Pep Guardiola, like Mourinho, will also have do without three first-team players. Fernandinho is out with a stomach problem while Nathan Ake is sidelined with the hamstring issue he sustained during the international break. Benjamin Mendy is the third absentee as he continues his battle to regain match fitness.
Guardiola provided clarity on Fernandinho’s issue during his pre-match presser while giving positive updates on Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero. The Manchester City manager said, “Fernandinho is not fit. He has a bit of gastroenteritis, something in his stomach. Sergio trained this week. Raheem trained for the first time today with the team.”
Given the importance of the match, Guardiola should give the go-ahead for Sterling to start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Gabriel Jesus is expected to pip Aguero to the central striker’s berth. The Manchester City attack will be completed by Ferran Torres, who comes into this match on the back of a stunning display for Spain against Germany this week.
In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are certainties, with Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden battling it out for the third spot. Foden should get the nod for that place, taking his place on the left of the three-man midfield.
The Manchester City defence, though, should remain unchanged, with former Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker joining Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo at the back. Ederson Moraes picks himself in goal.
Manchester City Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Foden; Torres, Jesus, Sterling
