Tottenham Hotspur - Manchester City predictions and free betting tips [14/05/2024]

On Tuesday, May 14, as part of the postponed 34th matchday of the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur will host Manchester City. Ange Postecoglou’s charges sent Burnley back to the Championship following a 2:1 victory last weekend, while the Citizens continue their title race having dispatched Fulham away (0:4).

Predicted Lineups

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Emerson; Bissouma, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Johnson; Son.
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Guardiol; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Doku, Haaland, Foden.

Tottenham Hotspur

Currently sitting fifth in the Premier League table, four points adrift of the top four, Tottenham Hotspur still harbours slim hopes of participating in the Champions League. The London side cannot afford any mistakes, as any setbacks in the remaining two rounds would signal a fifth-place finish. The Spurs narrowly overcame in-crisis Burnley (2:1) last weekend, ending a series of four consecutive defeats (against Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool). Jakob Bruun Larsen opened the scoring in the first half, but Ange Postecoglou's pupils quickly responded courtesy of Pedro Porro, followed by Miki van de Ven's comeback on the 82nd minute. This triumph means that the Spurs have already picked up 25 points this season while trailing during matches, playing second fiddle only to Liverpool in the Premier League. 
It’s worth noting that the metropolitan team ranks sixth overall in terms of points gathered at home (39 from 18 home matches, 38 goals scored, 25 conceded). Tottenham’s squad is depleted due to the absence of key attacking players Richarlison (11 goals and 4 assists) and Werner (2 goals), wide defenders Udogie and Davis, Sessegnon and Solomon, as well as reserve goalkeeper Forster, all due to injuries. Captain Son (17 goals and 9 assists) is expected to feature in the attack from the start, supported by Maddison (4 goals and 8 assists), Johnson (5 goals and 9 assists), and Kulusevski (6 goals and 3 assists). After a couple of matches with Emerson on defence, Postecoglou experimented with Oliver Skipp at left-back last weekend. However, the Brazilian is likely to return to his natural position on Tuesday.

Manchester City

Manchester City are striving for their fourth consecutive Premier League title this season. The Citizens' destiny lies in their own hands as they currently sit second in the Premier League table, with a game in hand and a one-point deficit to Arsenal. Pep Guardiola's side has been unfaltering since early December, not tasting defeat in the national competition (17 wins and 4 draws). The Sky Blues sequentially defeated Aston Villa (4:1), Crystal Palace (2:4), Luton (5:1), Brighton (0:4), Nottingham Forest (0:2), Wolverhampton (5:1), and Fulham last weekend (0:4). Guardiol bagged a brace at Craven Cottage, with further goals from Phil Foden and Julian Álvarez. City, who have reached the FA Cup final, will face Manchester United in a decisive clash in a couple of weeks. 

Few will be surprised to learn that the Sky Blues are the strongest away side in England: they've gathered 41 points in 18 away fixtures, with 43 goals and only 18 conceded. Manchester City will be without ailing Grealish, but aside from this, there are no personnel losses. The attacking leaders Haaland (25 goals and 5 assists) and Foden (17 goals and 8 assists) will almost certainly make the starting lineup. Rodri (7 goals and 9 assists), De Bruyne (4 goals and 9 assists from 16 matches) and Bernardo Silva (6 goals and 7 assists) will be responsible for midfield creativity, while Croatian central defender Guardiol will be on the wings of defence alongside Walker. The aforementioned Álvarez and the speedy Doku might be called upon to bolster the attack in the second half.

Head-to-head

In the first round of the current season, Tottenham clawed a draw from Manchester City at the Etihad (3:3). At the end of January, the Spurs lost to the Citizens at home in the FA Cup's round of 16 (0:1).

Match prediction: Tottenham - Manchester City

Beset by defensive issues and not having kept any clean sheets at home since October, the Spurs will attempt to aid their archrivals - Arsenal - in the title race. However, chances of success for Postecoglou's lads will be slim: City do not falter at the closing stages of the season and are methodically moving towards their fourth consecutive Premier League title. I'm not expecting any surprises here and I'm backing the Citizens with a -1 handicap.