Notebook - Spurs vs Man City

After last Saturday's progress in the FA Cup with victory at Preston North End, our Premier League campaign resumes this afternoon as we play host to Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (kick-off 4.30pm UK).

Here's a look at all of the game's key points of note...

1 - An early opportunity to amend

With this game coming so soon after our recent defeat to Manchester City at the Eithad, we have the perfect chance to avenge that result this afternoon. Having fallen 4-2 to the reigning Premier League champions a fortnight ago in Manchester (19 January), we will be looking to set the record straight against the Citizens today. We had led 2-0 at the break in that clash with goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal putting us in control, however we then endured a difficult second half as Pep Guardiola's side fought back, hitting four goals without reply to claim all three points.

Highlights: Man City 4-2 Spurs | 2022/23 

2 - City's success

Manchester City's victory in that clash at the Etihad Stadium was a further enforcement of just how impressive Pep Guardiola's side can be on the pitch. Over the last decade, City have become one of the dominant forces in English football and, under Guardiola, it would be fair to say they have been the dominant force, winning four of the last five Premier League titles. This season, while they haven't perhaps been as dominant as in previous years, they are still very much a title contender, sitting second, five points off top. It perhaps goes without saying, but we will have to be at our absolute best this afternoon if we are to claim all three points.

3 - A perfect record at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

That said, this is a fixture we have very much enjoyed since the opening of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In our four meetings to date with City at our world-class home, we have come out on top in all four, keeping a clean sheet in each.

9 April, 2019 - Spurs 1-0 Manchester City - UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg

2 February, 2020 - Spurs 2-0 Manchester City - Premier League

21 November, 2020 - Spurs 2-0 Manchester City - Premier League

15 August, 2021 - Spurs 1-0 Manchester City - Premier League

4 - Our last meeting in N17

That last encounter between us and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw us enjoy the perfect start to the 2021/22 season. Kicking off our campaign against the reigning champions on a stunning day in north London, Heung-Min Son proved the difference between the sides, curling in from outside the box with 55 minutes on the clock to give us all three points.

Highlights: Spurs 1-0 Man City | 2021/22

5 - Sonny versus City

That winner last time out here against City of course came via Heung-Min Son; a player who loves a goal against the Citizens. In his last 14 appearances against the men in sky blue, Sonny has been involved in 10 goals, scoring seven times and assisting a further three in all competitions - and that includes five in our last six Premier League encounters. Having enjoyed a bright start to 2023 with four goal involvements so far (three scored, one assist), he'll be hoping his run against City can continue today and he can build on his encouraging form.

All of Sonny's City strikes

6 - Mahrez: a thorn in the side

While Heung-Min Son has proven quite the adversary to Manchester City in recent years, it would be fair to say the Citizens' Riyad Mahrez has played a similar role in games against us. In 18 appearances against us in all competitions since first arriving in English football in January, 2014, the winger has been involved in 11 goals against us (seven scored, four assists). That includes three goal involvements in his last outing against us, two goals and an assist as we fell 4-2 at the Etihad last month.