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Manchester City Vs Tottenham Expected Lineups, Injuries, Predictions & Head-to-Head Stats

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Aug 23, 2025 11:09 AM ET

Manchester City will play their first home game of the 2025-26 season at the Etihad Stadium against Tottenham Hotspur. Both teams impressed in their first match day as they scored at least three goals and kept a clean sheet.

Man City defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 at Molineux Stadium with a brace from Erling Haaland and goals from new signings Tijani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki . Tottenham Hotspur defeated newly promoted side Burnley 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Despite the season being early, the game between Man City and Spurs excites fans as both teams have exciting attackers. Pep Guardiola and Thomas Frank are expected to start similar lineups from match day 1.

Expected Lineups

Manchester City

Goalkeeper: James Trafford
Defenders: Rico Lewis, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Rayan Ait Nouri
Midfielders: Tijani Reijnders, Nico Gonzalez, Bernardo Silva
Forwards: Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Oscar Bobb

Guardiola confirmed that Rodri and Phil Foden are back in the squad and are available to play against Tottenham. He also confirmed that Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol, and Savinho will be out for the game against Spurs.

Pep Guardiola confirms Rodri and Phil Foden will return for tomorrow's match against Spurs, but Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho remain out pic.twitter.com/J7CO3lP0OU
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 22, 2025

Ederson is expected not to start against Spurs as rumors continue to suggest he is leaving Man City to join Galatasaray. Guardiola mentions the transfer window when asked if Ederson would play against Spurs.

Pep Guardiola: "We'll see tomorrow. Because until after Brighton game… the transfer window is over, and after we can say: ok, it’s done...Now everything is: What's going to happen?"

Tottenham Hotspur

Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario
Defenders: Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso, Djed Spence, Pedro Porro
Midfielders: Pape Sarr, < a href="/soccer/players/rodrigo_bentancur/903253" class="yard_link">Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha
Forwards: Richarlison, Mohammed Kudus

Thomas Frank is expected to play similarly to the game against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup. Frank used a back three, which could also turn into a back five.

Spence and Porro have been impressive under Frank, and Richarlison and Kudus are demonstrating good chemistry in the attack.

Thomas Frank confirmed that Destiny Udogie, Yves Bissouma, and Dejan Kulusevski are out for the game against Manchester City. Udogie is expected to be back next week, as he started training with the team, but the game against Man City is too soon for a return.

Prediction: Man City 2-2 Spurs

Manchester City vs Spurs Head to Head (Last Five Games)

January 26, 2024 - Spurs 0-1 Man City (FA Cup)
May 14, 2024 - Spurs 0-2 Man City (PL)
October 30, 2024 - Spurs 2-1 Man City (EFL Cup)
November 23, 2024 - Man City 0-4 Spurs (PL)
February 26, 2025 - Spurs 0-1 Man City (PL)

The last time two times Man City hosted Spurs at the Etihad Stadium, many goals were scored. Tottenham won 4-0 the last time they played against Man City at the Etihad with goals from Porro, Brennan Johnson , and a brace from James Maddison .

In 2023, Man City and Spurs drew 3-3. Heung-Min Son scored an own goal while Phil Foden and Jack Grealish scored for Man City. Heung-Min Son, Giovani Lo Celso, and Dejan Kulusevski scored for Spurs.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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