Sutton's predictions: Tottenham v Man Citypublished at 09:02
09:02
How on earth am I supposed to predict what will happen here?
It is a fascinating game but one that is impossible to call because it could end up 3-0 to either team.
Manchester City were subdued against Liverpool. Jeremy Doku looked bright on their left flank, but they did not offer much of a threat elsewhere.
Tottenham put four goals past Ipswich but they could have conceded a few themselves, and you have to think City will have opportunities here.
Spurs thumped Pep Guardiola's side 4-0 in November, but I am going for City to take the points this time. It will be close but they might just nick it.
Atletico Madrid are interested in signing City midfielder Mateo Kovacic this summer. (Caught Offside), external
MLS expansion team San Diego have made no progress in securing Kevin de Bruyne on a free transfer from Manchester City this summer, despite suggestions a deal for the midfielder is close. (Teamtalk), external
City's 'unprecedented standard' was not sustainable - Postecogloupublished at 18:21 25 February
18:21 25 February
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has said Manchester City's dip in form this season "sheds light on how extraordinary they have been" in previous campaigns and he did not rule them out of lifting the trophy again next season.
"It looks like they're going through a rough trot at the moment but that's because of the unbelievable standards they have set since Pep [Guardiola] has been there," said Postecoglou.
"The fact that they did win four in a row, and the consistency of that four in a row - just the sheer numbers they accumulated in terms of points, goals, wins and just competing on all [fronts] - is an unbelievable and probably unprecedented standard set.
"It's only natural that's never going to continue forever. That's just not sustainable.
"If they bounce back next year and win it - which I don't think anyone in this room could discount - and you say they've won five out of six, you'd be going: 'They're still pretty good.'
"Sometimes these things happen. Injuries - key injuries - and some things that are going against them, sometimes just bring you back to the field.
"That's elite sport - it's just fine margins."
'Plenty of positives' and one 'highly impressive' performerpublished at 16:04 25 February
16:04 25 February
Freddie Pye Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
The most damning element of Sunday's defeat by Liverpool was the element of acceptance - an expectation from Manchester City supporters that there was very little chance of victory.
Having witnessed a drubbing in Spain days earlier, many would have snapped your hand off at the offer of a point against the soon-to-be Premier League champions. And while it was another defeat for Pep Guardiola, the City boss was right when he said there were plenty of positives.
City found their ability to control a game again, while previous outings had seen them panic in possession and find little way through opposition defences. Yes, there was no goal to show for it, but these are small steps towards refinding the excellence of an all-conquering system implemented over the years.
There was an energy and speed to attacking play, confidence in defensive midfield areas when constructing build-up, and an assuredness about some - namely Abdukodir Khusanov - in our defensive rearguard when faced with some of the most dangerous attackers.
Khusanov has had 10 poor minutes in a City shirt since arriving from Lens and still does not speak too much English so remains unable to communicate with a large share of team-mates.
But his aggression, speed and confidence at the back is precisely what this rearguard has needed, all at the age of 20 in his first experience of English football.
It is highly impressive. And that is before even mentioning his staggeringly good performance in locking down Vinicius Jr for the most part of last week's Champions League encounter from an unfamiliar right-back role.
Then we get on to Nico; a ready-made Manchester City footballer, a player that has already transformed the confidence from the get-go. There is an exceptional ability to read the game, an eye for a forward pass, an assuredness in recycling possession and an authority about his play in a role mastered by Rodri.
Is anyone surprised? This is a talent developed in Barcelona's La Masia, raised with the ideology of Guardiola at the forefront of his thinking.
Sunday also brought back lightning-quick wide play in Jeremy Doku and Savinho, a flash of brilliance from last weekend's hat-trick hero Omar Marmoush, and all with the average age of the outfield squad - with the exception of Nathan Ake and Kevin de Bruyne - vastly reduced.
Small steps forward towards the next phase of this City squad, and a brief glimpse into the bright future that Guardiola's roster has ahead of it, albeit with further work required in the summer.
Guardiola on Haaland's fitness, De Bruyne's future and 'fantastic' Spurspublished at 13:00 25 February
13:00 25 February
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game away at Tottenham (19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Guardiola "hopes" Erling Haaland will return for Wednesday's game, stating: "Tonight we will know after training. I hope so, but we don't know yet. He feels better but we will see tomorrow."
On whether Kevin De Bruyne has a future at the club: "He is an exceptional player. He was and still is. What is going to happen is mainly between him and the club."
Guardiola said this City rebuild is not the biggest challenge of his career: "No. We have done it already - after nine years it's not the same team that we started with nine years ago. We have done it two or three times already. The challenge I had was when I started my managerial career and with my staff and a lot of tasks when we were together and proving myself and as a staff that we can do it."
He is pleased with the impact of the January signings: "Really good, for the time of training they've had. [Abdukodir] Khusanov - tough and difficult schedules coming from where he came from, lack of communication in terms of not speaking fluent English. His impact has been really good. Omar [Marmoush] as well. Nico [Gonzalez] played less, but they've been really good. We're satisfied with the impact. And of course Vitor [Reis], when he has minutes will be in a good level."
On the challenge posed by Spurs: "A fantastic team, individual quality that they've always had, the rhythm they play with, the intensity, incredible runners in transition. Results dictate one thing, but my opinion of the team is completely the opposite."
On Ange Postecoglou: "I have a high opinion about him. I try to not judge results, you have to see the ideas. Sometimes it's going well, sometimes not much but I have a high, high opinion."
On Rico Lewis' season: "Since he arrived in the first-team he has been really, really good. He's a guy that people could think is not a good defender but he's an exceptional defender, so smart, intelligent. Of course his physicality is not like a typical defender in this country, but he's really good, especially with the ball he gives us a lot, a lot of good things."
Gossip: City continue Wirtz pursuitpublished at 07:36 25 February
07:36 25 February
Manchester City are chasing Bayer Leverkusen's Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz, 21, with English midfielder James McAtee, 22, potentially moving the other way. (Mail, external)
Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is waiting to see if City still want him next season, with the 33-year-old having accepted he will only play a bit-part role if he agrees a new contract. (Mirror, external)
City are hoping to beat Arsenal to the signing of Norway Under-21 midfielder Sverre Nypan, 18, from Rosenborg. (TBR Football, external)
'I don't see myself as replacement for Rodri'published at 17:14 24 February
17:14 24 February
Image source, Getty Images
Nico Gonzalez says he does not see himself as a replacement for injured midfielder Rodri, as he spoke about settling into the Manchester City side following his move from Porto at the start of February.
Rodri has missed most of the season with a serious knee injury.
"I don't see myself as the replacement for Rodri, I see myself as another player," said Gonzalez, who joined City from Porto during the January transfer window.
"But I was raised in Barcelona and I've always more or less played the way we play here, so I've got used to playing here very quickly.
"Obviously the team plays really well, there are also players close to me and everyone wants the ball every time so it's easy to find players and find passes.
"The quality of the players is so good so for me it's easier to play here than the team I used to play."
Sunday's 2-0 loss to Liverpool left fourth-placed City 20 points behind the league leaders, but they have a chance to bounce back quickly from that defeat when they face Tottenham on Wednesday (19:30 GMT).
Gonzalez added: "I think everyone has the will to improve the situation, to win all the matches and you've seen the intensity and the courage all players have played with.
"I think it's just time. We need time to start winning but we did a really good match one week ago [beating Newcastle 4-0]. Here [against Liverpool] we did a good match but we didn't get the win we wanted."
'Obvious to see there's going to be a transition at City'published at 13:00 24 February
13:00 24 February
Image source, Getty Images
Former Manchester City defender and England captain Steph Houghton says Pep Guardiola must use the rest of the campaign to "build for next season".
"It's hard to explain," she told the Monday Breakfast Club on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Anyone connected with the club is thinking 'hHow did we go from winning four in a row to these performances', especially at this point of the season where City usually kick on.
"They're so experienced winning games week in, week out and applying that pressure.
"It's obvious to see there's going to be a transition at the club in terms of players leaving - including some big players who have been there a long time. The effort was there and the hard work was there but, overall, Liverpool have been without doubt the best team this season."
When asked if the signs of a City rebuild are already visible, she added: "In terms of the wingers, Savinho and [Jeremy] Doku, you can see them being there a long time.
"They played well but the end product wasn't there and that's what you get with young players. The inconsistency of performance was always going to be there to see.
"[Abdukodir] Khusanov is getting a bit more confident. His pace is there and they needed that after Kyle Walker left. Slowly but surely you can see it, but it's going to take time.
"They know the league is not there to be won this year, so they need to use these months to hopefully qualify for the Champions League and build for next season."
'Liverpool had the blueprint to beat us'published at 11:10 24 February
11:10 24 February
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Manchester City fan Rachel Herdson says she was "disappointed" that Pep Guardiola's side failed to "lay a glove" on Premier League title contenders Liverpool in their 2-0 home defeat on Sunday.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Herdson added: "They just couldn't find a way through. You have to give Liverpool some credit for setting up the way they did, - I think that is probably the blueprint to beat us.
"The teams that have had success against us this season have been happy to concede possession, knowing that in the final third we have no cutting edge. We had no cutting edge in there against Liverpool and that really did frustrate us.
"There were a number of times where Jeremy Doku got to the byeline, only to look up and see seven or eight red shirts and no options.
"We didn't really lay a glove on Liverpool, and that was really disappointing. It looked like the belief had been zapped out of us at 2-0.
"At any point in this game, Liverpool could have stepped it up a gear - and that's the real frustration because we didn't really make them work for it.
"The number of points separating the teams fighting for that fourth spot is incredible. There are a lot of teams who have still got to play each other, so I think that's where our excitement is and realistically what we have to concentrate on now."
'Just relax and enjoy the next ride - fan's verdict on Man City 0-2 Liverpoolpublished at 08:57 24 February
The result moved the Reds 20 points clear of Pep Guardiola's side.
Here are some of your comments:
Stella: Same stuff from City at home - no midfield vision, over-complicated possession, clueless defending and lack of leadership on the pitch or, arguably, off it. We were outclassed by Liverpool, who looked untroubled for most of the game. Real shame to see how much Kevin de Bruyne's game has deteriorated. The elephant in the room (or Etihad)... I'm not convinced Pep Guardiola has either the mindset or the capacity to break out of the now redundant tiki-taka game. Yes, it was brilliant, but it was of its time, which has now gone.
Louie: Needed to get the ball over the line. Dominated the game but it's the counter-attacks that affect us when we leave too many men forward.
Trevor: A sad reflection of past years. At least six or seven players need moving on. 100% blame on Pep - he failed to buy full-backs that would make a big difference. Gone are the days when 90% of games were played in the opposition half and the defence wasn't needed.
Alun: I'm strangely encouraged. Good effort from all City players on the field. A disappointing result at home of course, but I think Pep's comments on Match of the Day were fair. We are building.
Jacko: We need to stop getting so down on ourselves. We just got beaten by the champions-elect and this was always going to be a tough month.
David: This is a major rebuild of the team - all the hysteria about what's going on is way over the top. The team will be unrecognisable next season, that's for sure. Hopefully a good summer window and things will improve. Just relax and enjoy the next ride.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 06:52 24 February
06:52 24 February
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
'We played really good so I have no regrets'published at 19:17 23 February
19:17 23 February
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a good game. Tight game in the first half, first half it was more open and the second half they defended very deep.
"They always have the threat but it is not easy to control it. We dropped them. Through our pressing or build-up, dropped the team there. I think Doku and Savinho played an incredible game and get to the byline a lot but then just from there we missed the magic. We played really good so I have no regrets.
"The chances in the final third, when we want to shoot and cross, for the amount we arrived there we did not create much.
"I saw a bright future. Other than than Kevin [de Bruyne] and Nathan [Ake], they are the future of this club in the next years, with others who will come in future windows.
"So many players are here playing but we know Erling [Haaland] will come and we have important absences. Everyone was really, really good.
"The first goal from the corner but we tried to play and I know how the opponent will play. Second half they were 11 players in the box. We did well because they don't want to do that. Big compliment to them but I am very pleased with the way we play."
Will Haaland be back for Wednesday?: "I don't know. I am not saying we didn't get the result because Erling was not there. That is unfair on the other players. We could finish more but in general it is fine."
How did Khusanov play?: "Really good in Madrid playing in right-back and controlling Vinicius and today so fast and disciplined. Of course he has to improve and he has incredible ability. Nico [Gonzalez] and Omar [Marmoush] too but is not easy for them against a physical team."
Manchester City 0-2 Liverpool: Key statspublished at 18:50 23 February
18:50 23 February
Image source, Getty Images
City have conceded the game's opening goal on 12 occasions in the Premier League this season - already the joint-most in a single campaign under Pep Guardiola after 2019-20.
City now trail Liverpool by 20 points in the table - the furthest they have been away from the top of the table at the end of a day since 14th July 2020, when they were 21 points behind the Reds.
Man City 0-2 Liverpool - send us your thoughtspublished at 18:25 23 February
