Tottenham v Manchester City betting tips: Preview, prediction, latest odds & best bets for Monday Night Football clash
Monday Night Football sees two of the Premier League's top sides face off at Wembley. George Pitts looks at the betting.
Recommended bets
2pts Kevin De Bruyne to assist a goal at 9/4
1pt Aymeric Laporte to have 1+ shots on target at 7/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Tottenham v Man City (2000 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event)
Tottenham may have made their best start to a Premier League season, but Monday night could be a reminder that they are still a way off in the title race.
Many of Mauricio Pochettino's side played deep into the World Cup with their respective countries, returning heavy legged for the new season. Despite this, and numerous injuries to cope with, the north Londoners have won seven of their opening nine games.
They were fortunate to leave West Ham with a 1-0 win last weekend after Hugo Lloris' heroics - with the French goalkeeper then costing them in the Champions League days later.
They have ground out results in recent weeks and were wasteful at the London Stadium, with Harry Kane a little isolated.
Pochettino could welcome back Dele Alli after a month on the sidelines, but with fans and players keen for silverware he could have one eye on Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash with West Ham. A quick and unfortunate turnaround for the Lilywhites.
Manchester City, on the other hand, ran out 5-0 winners against Burnley at the Etihad last time out in the Premier League and were able to call on Kevin De Bruyne as a substitute.
The Belgian may not have been missed too much, with City yet to lose in the league, but it was a welcome return before playing nearly 70 minutes in their comfortable win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.
The long journey to Ukraine was not ideal, nor is the fact an NFL match takes place on the Wembley pitch a day earlier, but Pep Guardiola's side should have little issue in claiming all three points.
Betting guide
🤔 Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 0-3 Manchester City (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)
Spurs cannot afford to be anything but their best on Monday evening, and the feeling is City will punish them for being slightly short. The hosts have become susceptible to the counter attack of late and the last thing you want with that weakness is to face Man City. Their speed, even on a possibly damaged Wembley pitch, will be too much. The scoreline may look harsh, but City can lay down a marker.
🤞 Best bet: Kevin De Bruyne to assist a goal at 9/4
As mentioned, City's strength in depth means the Belgian was not exactly missed, but his return has been much-anticipated and gives them a timely boost. After playing over 100 minutes in the last two games, he is likely to start for the visitors and can make up for lost time. The 27-year-old, who accumulated 21 assists in all competitions last term, quickly resumed normal service by setting up a goal in midweek and he is a good price to rise to the occasion here.
⚽️ Goals: Aymeric Laporte to have 1+ shot on target at 7/2
While Sergio Aguero to score anytime at above evens looks a generous price, the temptation is to leave the scoring markets as the shooting section catches the eye. French defender Laporte is having a good run in Guardiola's side and he was on the scoresheet in the Ukraine on Tuesday. He averages a shot per game in the Premier League this term and is a threat from set pieces. A general price of 12/1 for him to score is tempting, too.
With the above combinations, adding corners boosts the odds nicely to 50/1. City comfortably lead the way in the corners statistics for the top flight, averaging over eight per game, and a high set piece count is expect here in a game where plenty of chances should be a given. Both teams are placed low in the disciplinary table, but a clash of this intensity refereed by card-happy Kevin Friend, who has dished out 36 already this term, should see the points total met.
Opta statistics
- Spurs have lost 10 of their last 15 Premier League games against Man City (W4 D1), having lost just three of their first 27 games against them in the competition.
- Just two of the last 28 league meetings between Spurs and Man City have ended as draws (11 wins for Man City, 15 wins for Spurs).
- Tottenham have won seven and lost none of their last nine Premier League games played on Monday (D2), with their last defeat coming against Norwich in April 2012 (1-2).
- Man City are unbeaten in six Premier League away games in London (W5 D1), winning the last four in a row. The Citizens could become the first non-London side to win five consecutive Premier League games in the capital.
- Tottenham have lost just two of their last 21 Premier League games at Wembley Stadium (W15 D4 L2), with one of those defeats coming at the hands of Man City in April (1-3).
- Man City are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games (W12 D3), since a 2-3 defeat to Man Utd in April. City have conceded just six goals in those 15 games and never more than once in a match during this period.
- Man City boss Pep Guardiola has lost just two of his previous 13 managerial clashes with Mauricio Pochettino (W7 D4 L2) – Guardiola could win three in a row versus the Argentine for the first time.
- Since Mauricio Pochettino became Spurs manager in 2014-15, only Arsenal (37) have won fewer points in Premier League games between the ‘big six’ than the Lilywhites (54).
- Tottenham’s Erik Lamela has been directly involved in four goals in five Premier League games this season (three goals, one assist), the same total he registered in 25 games last term (two goals, two assists).
- Man City’s Sergio Aguero scored 10 goals in his first seven Premier League games against Spurs – since then, he’s failed to find the net in five appearances against them.
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Odds correct as of 1600 BST on 27/10/18