Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou told BBC Sport: "Proud of the lads. To come to City at their place is a daunting prospect. It challenges every part of you. A bit of everything today. We had to be disciplined and work hard - and play decent football - and we did that. Our football was the difference today.

"Outstanding performance.

"You have to be [clinical]. They won't give you too many opportunities. There was a calmness and maturity about how we handled the ball. Against City you can get spooked and don't want to play against them. But you have to play.

"They test you in every way - mentally, physically, tactically. Our flat spots have been really flat and something we need to eradicate. We're a much better team this year than last year. We just need to find consistency."

On James Maddison: "Not just the goals. He was going to be key for us in getting control of the midfield. He worked hard defensively. He's gone through a bit of a lean spell but he's stayed with us during the international break. He was determined to get back to the levels he wants to be. It was a perfect game for him.

"He hasn't been that badly out of form. He just sets high standards. Part of that is on me - I have to get the best out of the players."

On his centre-backs: "Brilliant. Ben and Radu were outstanding and Vicario when we needed him. Those two, not just defensively, a part of it was playing out from the back and they had to get on it first. They showed courage and got the rewards.

"I haven't sensed like we've lost belief. We've just been disappointed in a couple of games when we haven't reached the levels.

"I don't dismiss today. it's significant. The other four losses were away."

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Tottenham (2-1 v Ipswich, 4-0 today) became just the second team in Premier League history to lose at home to a promoted side in one match, then beat the reigning champions away in the next after Liverpool in December 2000 (1-0 v Ipswich, 1-0 v Manchester United).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Manchester City's performance, external

What did you make of Tottenham's display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Leicester v Chelsea - 12:30

• Bournemouth v Brighton

• Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

• Everton v Brentford

• Fulham v Wolves

• Man City v Tottenham - 17:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 12 he takes on The Farm singer and Liverpool fan Peter Hooton.

The Farm's new single, Forever & Ever, is out now and their new album, Let The Music (Take Control), is released in May 2025.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

It is safe to say Pep Guardiola has severely irritated the rest of the footballing public by extending his contract with Manchester City.

You can just imagine the groans from Liverpool, north London and the red half of Manchester, because they know how dominant City have been under him.

City are not playing well at the moment, which is why they are on this run of four straight defeats. People have been looking at them as if the wheels are coming off, but they are still second and only five points off the top.

I do think Pep's new deal will give them a boost, and I am expecting them to bounce back.

Tottenham have also been described as a 'crisis club' this season but they are still only three points off third place.

The table is so congested that anyone in mid-table who wins a couple of games in a row is going to be right up there, but I don’t see Spurs getting anything at Etihad Stadium.

There will be goals in this game, because Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou will not change his approach. He has already beaten City once this season, in the Carabao Cup, but I think Pep will come out on top this time.

Hooton’s prediction: 2-1

Spurs can be absolutely fantastic under Postecoglou, and play such swashbuckling stuff. I love watching them, but you just don't know what you are going to get from them.

As for City, well just like Arsenal against Nottingham Forest, this is a must-win game for them, before we play them at Anfield next week. I think Pep will make that clear to them, and they will get back to winning ways.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Earlier, we asked you who scored Tottenham's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season.

The answer is Pedro Porro, who netted in the 1-1 draw at Leicester City on 19 August.

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Manchester City (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defender Cristian Romero will miss the match but Spurs are hoping he will return next week with Postecoglou adding: "The ones who were out before that are still out."

• Rodrigo Bentancur has "accepted all along that he is going to take any penalty that comes his way" for his racial slur against Son Heung-min. Postecoglou said the club will support him through the process and "get him ready to contribute".

• On Tottenham's decision to appeal the seven-match ban for his Uruguay midfielder: "We believe the [ban] was a little bit harsh. We've appealed against that which we believe is our right if you look at the whole process. If you look at it, it's already at the low end of the scale."

• He continued: I get that people want to burn people at the stake these days, but as I keep saying, part of this process - if you want a real sort of education - is to understand. When somebody makes a mistake and they pay a penalty, part of that is education and hopefully treating him in a way that people see is the way forward."

• He did say Spurs will "accept" the ban if their appeal is rejected.

• He added: "Whether it is Rodrigo or anyone else, I'm old enough in life, I've made bigger mistakes than that, but I was allowed to learn from it. Hopefully, I'm a better human being because of that".

• On where the club is and where he wants them to be: "It's kind of mixed. We're definitely a better side than last year. [That is what] you are looking for first, to progress as a football team. Within that context, a lot of our players are also developing more but obviously the results haven't reflected that which is a major part. You want to improve your standing within the game and our results haven't reflected that. I'm still bullish and positive about our progress as a team. We've just got to push on now to get that consistency".

• On a daunting trip to Etihad Stadium: "It's always tough. You're playing City at their place [and they have] got a pretty imposing record there. Our four losses have been away from home. It's always a great test, great challenge for us, for sure, to go there and disrupt things again and hopefully put some pressure on them. But we know it's never an easy task".

• On the two-year contract extension for City boss Pep Guardiola: "It's great that Pep has signed. It's fantastic for the Premier League and keeps setting the standard which is great for all of us trying to mow him down. He's maintained a ridiculous level of excellence. The way his team plays they're always challenging every opponent they face and his energy to maintain that for so long has been outstanding. The indication that he has re-signed means there's more to come."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Full commentary of Manchester City v Tottenham from 17:30 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter, at Tottenham Hotspur training ground

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Ange Postecoglou will have his hands full in his first news conference after the international break.

The two-week hiatus followed a home defeat by Ipswich Town, and there will be questions to be faced about the appeal of Rodrigo Bentancur's ban.

It must be said, Tottenham have only appealed the length of the seven-game ban and not the guilty verdict after the Uruguay midfielder was adjudged to have used a racial slur towards team-mate Son Heung-min.

A decision to appeal remains controversial and has been criticised.

There are also arguments about whether it was worth it given the minimum ban is typically between six and 12 matches, meaning Bentancur's punishment is on the lower end anyway.

Furthermore, Spurs' inconsistency puts them in a sensitive place with their own demanding supporters.

A trip to face Manchester City is the last thing they needed - despite City losing their last four games - as the champions will be in celebratory mood after Pep Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension.

Postecoglou will likely be asked:

• Whether it is worth appealing Bentancur's ban

• How Son has been since the news

• About injuries to his players, including centre-back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven

• What Guardiola's new deal means for the league

Former Tottenham and Everton winger Aaron Lennon joined Mark Chapman, Nedum Onuoha and Statman Dave to chat about Spurs and preview their visit to Manchester City on Saturday.

"They've got so many attacking players on the pitch at all times and this league is so unforgiving," said Lennon.

"You're going to concede chances and concede goals and that's what they have done."

Watch the full clip and listen to Planet Premier League on BBC Sounds

Who scored Tottenham's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

Adam Hassell
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

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I would not be surprised to see George Abbott go to the very top.

His ability to read the game, pick a pass and generally just know where to be is already above League Two level, and he is firmly one of the first names on the teamsheet now at Notts County.

When he first arrived at Meadow Lane, Abbott was forced to play in a wing-back role and he got his first professional assist from this position when putting a delightful right-wing cross in away at Chesterfield in October.

Credit to him for being versatile and adapting very quickly to a new position in a new team. But, in recent weeks he has been used as a box-to-box midfielder in the middle of the park, and he covers every blade of grass on the pitch twice over.

The only thing missing from his stint in Nottinghamshire so far is a first professional goal, something he hopes is near and something he says himself is getting "closer and closer".

If he can add some goals to his game then he will certainly be an all-round midfielder and one to watch for the future, maybe even in a Tottenham shirt.

Recently, Notts fans have even been saying Abbott is better at the Magpies than Ryan Yates and Jack Grealish were in their respective loans at Meadow Lane.

From the conversations I have had with him, he seems a confident and grounded young man, with a mentality that matches his undoubted ability on the pitch. We are certainly enjoying watching his performances blossom at Notts County.

If only we could have a sell-on fee!

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Premier League football returns this weekend and Tottenham travel to reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday. With City fresh from the positive news that boss Pep Guardiola is staying for another two years, can Spurs get a result?

"After the Galatasaray and Ipswich defeats, we are suddenly back to Spurs being in crisis," said The Telegraph's Luke Edwards on BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "There is a little bit of pressure building again around them and on Ange Postecoglou because of his methods.

"There are also rumours about his relationships with players and how he has supposedly fallen out with vice-captain James Maddison.

"But you always get those stories after bad results!

"I really enjoy watching Spurs because you don't know what you are going to get. They are the most fun team to watch in the Premier League because they will always try and score goals.

"It can be a bit kamikaze because they take risks and leave themselves exposed, but when they get it right, they are capable of beating anyone.

"So in that sense their unpredictability makes them weirdly beautiful."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

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Manchester City are on a unprecedented run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions since Pep Guardiola took charge, while Tottenham will be looking to bounce back from their loss to Ipswich Town when they go to Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

As the two teams prepare to go head to head on the pitch, we have asked our fan contributors for each club to go head to head off it.

Each supporter was asked where the showdown might be won and lost.

Here is what Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany, external reckons...

And this is what Anna Howells at Spurs XY, external had to say...

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On the latest episode of You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker on BBC Sounds, former Tottenham full-back Danny Rose speaks about a conversation with then-Spurs boss Jose Mourinho about his lack of playing time that was broadcast as part of Amazon's All Or Nothing documentary.

England international Rose, now retired, said he was unaware that the discussion was being filmed.

He said: "When Poch [previous manager Mauricio Pochettino] was there, there were no cameras in his office. He didn't allow that.

"So when I've gone to knock on the door, I'm assuming there's still no cameras in the office, but they've put one in now and I didn't know that.

"This chat is in December, I'd gone on loan to Newcastle in January. I didn't then get notified by one of the lads until May that they'd got this and they're putting it in. I wasn't happy and I had to get legal advice."

Despite their dispute being caught on camera, Rose said there was not a "huge falling-out or anything like that" with Mourinho and he thought he had been involved in a "completely normal conversation" with the manager that any player who is not playing would have.

"I only worked under him for eight or 10 weeks," added Rose. "I didn't really have a relationship with him, it was just a normal player-manager relationship.

"He came in and he had this approach of wanting to build with three centre-backs and then having the right-back as the outlet and obviously my game - I enjoyed being offensive and his system was that the left-sided player in the back four would be a centre-back who is not going to be adventurous and go forward, so already my days were numbered at the club when he wanted to adopt that approach.

"It wasn't like there was a huge falling-out or anything like that. That conversation that you see on the documentary is a completely normal conversation, and if any player is not playing on a Saturday, the first thing you do is knock on the door."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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Former Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon believes "a few tactical issues" are holding back manager Ange Postecoglou from taking the club to the next level.

Postecoglou has been criticised at times since arriving in England for an unwillingness to change from his open, attacking style with fans calling for pragmatism depending on opponent and game state.

"I definitely believe there is a wider issue," Lennon told Planet Premier League.

"If you look at the games [Spurs have lost this season] – some of the games were poor finishing, but a lot of the games for me were closing out the games, stiffening up the midfield.

"They've got so many attacking players on the pitch all the time and in this league it's so unforgiving and you're going to concede chances and concede goals.

"That’s what they have done, and for me there's times when I've looked at it and said 'we need two holding midfield players in there. We're 2-0 up against Brighton - we don’t have to push our full-backs on to win by three or four'.

"So for me there are a few tactical issues that need to be looked at."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Tottenham have made more off-the-ball runs into the box than any other side in the Premier League this season (612), with Dominic Solanke the player to have made the most (138).

Spurs have also had the most shots inside the box of any side in the division this season (134).

The agent of Tottenham's Radu Dragusin has ruled out a loan move for the defender in January but has hinted at a transfer in the summer. (Tuttomercato - in Italian), external

Galatasaray are keen to sign Spurs captain Son Heung-min, whose contract expires at the end of the season. (Fanatic - in Turkish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column