Analysis: Trafford fails to excel on home debutpublished at 16:21 BST 23 August
16:21 BST 23 August
Shamoon Hafez Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City started the season with an eye-catching victory at Wolves but came back down to earth with a bump as they suffered defeat in their first home game of the campaign.
Tottenham are Pep Guardiola's bogey side – the Spaniard has now lost a joint-high 10 games against them, the same number of defeats he has suffered as boss against Real Madrid and Liverpool.
They were made to pay for the gilt-edged chances missed by Omar Marmoush and Erling Haaland - the latter coming into the contest with an imperious record of scoring 48 Premier League goals in as many home games for the club.
A 2-0 half-time deficit proved too much for City to turn around, with Spurs defending resolutely and leaving Guardiola considering his options.
The goalkeeping situation will be at the forefront of his mind as James Trafford had a jittery game and was at fault for the second, as well as being fortunate not to be dismissed.
With Ederson watching on from the bench after being heavily linked with a move to Galatasaray, Guardiola now has a decision to make with his number one.
Man City 0-2 Tottenham: What Guardiola saidpublished at 15:14 BST 23 August
15:14 BST 23 August
Media caption,
Pep Guardiola spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Manchester City's defeat against Tottenham: "The performance was better in general. We missed the simple passes a lot but we gave everything. We made it hard for ourselves with the second goal. We know the physicality they had. We lost simple balls.
On things progressing with the new signings: "We have done many good things in this period. We have to shape that period we have to finish the transfer market, we will see how many players we have and then after that we will see."
Did you know?
The average age of Manchester City's starting XI vs Tottenham was 24 years and 326 days – their youngest for a Premier League match since October 2010 against Arsenal (24y 257d).
Man City v Tottenham: Team news published at 11:56 BST 23 August
11:56 BST 23 August
Manchester City make two changes to the side that beat Wolves in the opening game.
After scoring off the bench at Molineux, is a first Premier League start for summer signing Rayan Cherki, while Omar Marmoush also comes in.
Jeremy Doku and Bernardo Silva are the players to drop to the bench, where Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson also returns after missing the trip to the Midlands through illness. It means James Trafford starts in goal again.
Man City XI: Trafford, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Cherki, Bobb, Marmoush, Haaland.
Tottenham also make two changes following their victory over newly promoted Burnley last Saturday.
Boss Thomas Frank has bolstered the middle of the park with Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur coming in, with Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall making way.
Tottenham XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Sarr, Bentancur, Palhinha, Kudus, Johnson, Richarlison.
Man City v Tottenham: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:04 BST 22 August
19:04 BST 22 August
Jordan Butler BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City have made their best start to a Premier League campaign for six years and now face a Tottenham side that also took maximum points on the opening weekend.
City have picked up just one win from their past four home matches against Spurs but Pep Guardiola's table-toppers were impressive in their 4-0 win at Wolves last weekend.
Tijjani Reijnders stole the show at Molineux with a midfielder masterclass and became only the second player to score and assist on Premier League debut for City after Sergio Aguero.
City's defensive high line also caught the eye and they limited the home side to three shots on target and an expected goals total of 0.56. Guardiola's men have kept seven clean sheets since April – the most of any side – and have faced the fewest shots per game of any top-flight side in that time.
Erling Haaland pitched in with two goals and he's now scored on the Premier League's opening weekend in all four of his seasons at City. He has amassed 48 goals in 48 home league appearances for the club but only one of those has come against Spurs at the Etihad.
Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank has made an encouraging start to life in north London with a 3-0 home win over promoted Burnley in his first Premier League game in charge.
Frank has switched to a more direct style of play, with 57% more crosses into the box and 36% more successful long passes compared to last season's Premier League average under Ange Postecoglou. Going longer at times on Saturday might prove fruitful, particularly if City persist with their extremely high backline.
The Dane led his former side Brentford to a 2-1 victory at the Etihad in November 2022 and could become just the third manager to defeat Pep Guardiola in an away league match with two different clubs. Jose Mourinho was the first with Real Madrid in 2012 and Manchester United six years later, and he was followed by Antonio Conte at Chelsea in 2016 and Spurs in 2022.
It is no secret that Tottenham are in the market for another attacking midfielder to replace the injured James Maddison, with failed bids for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze widely publicised.
However, £55m new boy Mohammed Kudus offered plenty of creative spark with five chances and two assists – no other Premier League player provided more last weekend.
Goals should at least be a guarantee on Saturday. The past four top-flight meetings between these sides at the Etihad have produced 21, with City scoring nine and Spurs 12.
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Tottenhampublished at 17:53 BST 22 August
17:53 BST 22 August
Manchester City really impressed me last week and everyone is rightly talking about Tijjani Reijnders. Statman Dave told me to get him into my fantasy team, I didn't take that advice and I should've done. He was brilliant against Wolves.
I do think Tottenham will be a level above under Thomas Frank. It will be interesting to see how they set up after playing a back three in the Super Cup final against Paris St-Germain.
Cristian Romero has signed a new contract for Tottenham - that's a big deal - but how did they not get Eberechi Eze over the line? It had been going on for weeks and now Arsenal have come in and embarrassed them!
Tottenham are still a few players short from properly challenging the really big teams and, in this game, I think City at home will be too strong for them.
'It's not just City who spend'published at 16:35 BST 22 August
16:35 BST 22 August
Shamoon Hafez Manchester City reporter
Image source, Getty Images
With 10 days still remaining, the astonishing £2.37bn spent by clubs in this transfer window is now a Premier League record.
Manchester City have been responsible for around £108m of that figure on five new players including Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki.
City's business has gone under the radar somewhat, with the likes of Liverpool's £100m man Florian Wirtz and Arsenal's £64m striker Viktor Gyokeres taking the headlines.
I asked boss Pep Guardiola about the cash being splashed by English clubs and whether it can continue.
"I don't know but the clubs spend with the strict financial rules [of PSR] and they will only spend if they can do it," he said.
"Apparently It's not just Manchester City [who are spending]."
A cheeky retort from the Spaniard.
He added: "Everyone does what they believe is the best for the team. I know our net spend for the last 10-11 years is amazing.
"You don't spend if you don't sell. We have been really good, that's why they're sustainable."
Guardiola on Rodri, goalkeeping dilemma and PSRpublished at 13:29 BST 22 August
13:29 BST 22 August
Alex Fletcher BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Tottenham at Etihad Stadium (12:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Guardiola confirmed that Rodri and Phil Foden are "ready for tomorrow" after missing the first game of the season.
With the midfielder set to return from injury, Guardiola called Rodri "the best player in the world" and said he just wants "consistency" in his fitness.
He added: "Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol and Savinho are the only ones that are out."
On if James Trafford will start ahead of the fit again Ederson: "We will decide tomorrow or tonight after dinner. I am happy with him, the new players always bring a new energy and James brings his youth and desire to play for the club he grew up at."
When asked about Premier League clubs breaking spending records, he said: "I don't know but the clubs spend with the strict financial rules [of PSR] and they will only spend if they can do it. Apparently It's not just Manchester City [who are spending]."
On their poor record against Spurs: "Spurs have been a tough opponent for us but this is a new season for us and what happened in the past is in the past and there's nothing we can do. Last season [4-0 defeat] came when the dynamic wasn't good but it is a new season with new vibes."
Guardiola called Thomas Frank a "top class manager" and believes he can do "an incredible job" at Spurs.
'I couldn't imagine playing anywhere else' - Dias commits futurepublished at 10:24 BST 22 August
10:24 BST 22 August
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City defender Ruben Dias says he is "incredibly happy" after committing his future to the club by signing a new four-year contract.
The 28-year-old has made over 200 appearances and won nine trophies throughout his five seasons at the Etihad, having joined from boyhood club Benfica in September 2020.
Dias told the club website: "I'm so proud to represent this great club. City is where I want to be - at the top of the sport and competing for trophies.
"The club's ambition aligns perfectly with mine and, as a footballer, there is nothing better than that.
"I love Manchester - it is my home now - and I love the Manchester City fans. Their support from day one has been absolutely unbelievable and I appreciate them a lot.
"When I think about the trophies we have won and the way we have played our football during my time here, I couldn't imagine playing anywhere else.
"Now the hard work begins. I want to promise the fans that I will give everything to win more trophies and bring more success to City."
Dias' previous contract had been set to expire in 2027 but this new deal takes him to 2029, with the option of a further 12 months.
Echeverri completes loan move to Bayer Leverkusenpublished at 15:16 BST 21 August
15:16 BST 21 August
Shamoon Hafez Manchester City reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City midfielder Claudio Echeverri has joined Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan deal.
The Argentine teenager, 19, made three appearances for City last season, including his debut as a substitute in the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace.
He scored his first City goal in the 6-0 thrashing of UAE side Al-Ain at the Club World Cup in June.
City signed Echeverri from River Plate for £12.5m in January 2024, but the player will now continue his development in Germany under ex-Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
"It's fantastic for me to take the next steps with the 2024 champions of Germany now in the Bundesliga and the Champions League," said Echeverri, who will wear the number nine shirt.
"I want to get a lot of minutes on the pitch and develop into an even better player week by week. A lot of young players have made it to the top of the game here at Bayer Leverkusen.
"I want to take that path in the coming season and play my part in helping Bayer achieve great things."
City in Lewis contract talkspublished at 14:28 BST 20 August
14:28 BST 20 August
Manchester City are in talks over a new five-year contract with defender Rico Lewis.
The 20-year-old has been the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest in this transfer window.
Lewis was given a surprise start in Saturday's opening Premier League game at Wolves and impressed by providing an assist in the 4-0 victory.
"For me, I've never ever seen myself at a different club," Lewis said after the game. "I've always wanted to play for City.
"It's my dream club, and like you see today, when I'm playing with the kind of players that I'm playing with, it brings out the best in me, so I'm so happy."
Manager Pep Guardiola added: "I think he is going to stay. He told me that."
Trafford scoops PFA awardpublished at 11:57 BST 20 August
11:57 BST 20 August
Shamoon Hafez Manchester City reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford claimed the Championship Player of the Year prize at the PFA awards in Manchester on Tuesday night.
The 22-year-old collected the award after helping Burnley to promotion last season, amassing an incredible 29 clean sheets in 45 matches and conceding only 16 goals.
Trafford was also named in the Championship team of the year for his outstanding campaign at Turf Moor.
"I'm very proud to collect these awards and of what we achieved last season," he said. "We consistently put in really good defensive performances and it was great to have been a part of that.
"I loved my time at Burnley and improved massively as a goalkeeper and as a person. I am hoping to take all that into the new season now with Manchester City and looking forward to continuing my footballing journey."
Gossip: City want £70m for Savinhopublished at 07:58 BST 20 August
07:58 BST 20 August
With Manchester City demanding £70m for Savinho, Tottenham have targeted Monaco's £47.5m-rated French attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, 23, as a cheaper alternative. (Independent, external)
Image source, Getty Images
