City have not done much in attack either but Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris almost inadvertently changes that with a horribly mis-cued clearance. It falls for Raheem Sterling but he handballs as he tries to control it and referee Mark Clattenburg stops him in his tracks.

Tottenham's first attack sees Son Heung-min link up nicely with Harry Kane but Erik Lamela is offside as he runs through on goal.

Image source, PA

Vincent Kompany was originally listed as one of City's subs today but after watching him in the warm-up they have decided not to risk him. George Evans is on the bench instead.

City have hardly let Spurs have a kick yet. Manuel Pellegrini's men have just had a corner, but Kevin de Bruyne's delivery was easily cleared.

Image source, AFP

Jason Roberts
Former West Brom striker on BBC Radio 5 live

"The longer Harry Kane's goal drought continues the more it will play on his mind.

"I have a bit of an issue with Spurs on this issue because it should be a option to take him out of the firing line but they can't because Tottenham did not bring in another striker."

Image source, AFP

City get the game started. It looks like Yaya Toure will be playing further forward than usual for them today, in the number 10 role behind Sergio Aguero.

Postpublished at 12:45

12:45

Tottenham v Man City (12:45 BST)

The September sunshine is still shining brightly as we move closer to kick-off. "Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur" is being blasted out of the tannoy at White Hart Lane and we are seconds away from getting under way.

Trevor Sinclair
Former Manchester City winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Reuters

"Kevin de Bruyne has done very well. He isn't a winger - he can play inside. He doesn’t want to be the star of the show – he's a provider.

"There’ll be no pressure on him as they have so many superstars. If he doesn’t do it one day, they have another four or five that can.

"Sergio Aguero is 100% fit. Vincent Kompany is back. City played well against West Ham despite losing – I don’t think the morale has been dented too much. 

"If David Silva and De Bruyne link up, Aguero will be easy pickings."

Kevin Kilbane
Former Republic of Ireland player on BBC Football Focus

"Spurs have defensively got it right. Dele Alli is a real player – I like people who step up through the leagues. They’ll be OK but it’s the battle for top six again.

"I think Manchester City will win this. I thought they were excellent against West Ham in their last game despite losing."

Image source, AFP

The players are in the tunnel at White Hart Lane. Not much chit-chat going on between the two teams, because they are about to get down to business.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini speaking to BT Sport: "Joe Hart had an injury problem in week so that's why he couldn't play. He just worked one day before the game so it is better not to take a risk. 

"We have 15 points from 18 which is a good start. We will try to recover from the defeat last week. Tottenham is a difficult team but it is important to continue playing the way we have so far."

I don't want to worry Spurs fans but 12 of those 17 goals I mentioned at 12:30 have been scored by City, who have handed out a couple of 5-1 thrashings here since 2011.

Spurs have lost three of their last four home games against City, with their only success since December 2009 coming in April 2013 when a certain Gareth Bale scored in a 3-1 win. A heck of a lot has changed at The Lane since then.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino speaking to BT Sport about Harry Kane: "Always in football you need to have patience, trust and belief. Harry knows he needs to try and try and try and work hard.

"We believe in him and we hope he will score today. This period will be great for him as a player in the future."

This fixture has seen a few goal-fests in recent seasons - a total of 17 goals have been scored in their last four meetings at White Hart Lane. It's not looking good for something similar today, mind. On top of the out-of-form strikers I mentioned earlier, these two sides have the best two defensive records in the Premier League this season.

The two goals City conceded in their home defeat by West Ham last week are the only time their defence has been breached. Spurs have also been impressive at the back, conceding four times in their six games so far.

Image source, AFP

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on MOTD 2 Extra

Speaking of Lawro, this is what he thinks will happen at White Hart Lane today:

He says: "Dele Alli likes to get forward for Tottenham, and I understand why, but he will have defensive work to do on Saturday and, if City have a lot of the ball, I think they will win.

"I cannot see Tottenham trying to replicate the counter-attacking tactics that worked for West Ham against City last week, and I am not sure they could do it successfully even if they wanted to."

Lawro's predicted score: 0-2

Read all of Lawro's predictions against Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones

Image source, .

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Play our Premier League Predictor game here.

For those of you wondering why Joe Hart is only on the bench for City, he picked up a slight back injury in midweek and has only trained once this week - on Friday. Willy Caballero comes in for his first Premier League start since New Year's Day.

Well it is today, anyway. It's a glorious afternoon in north London, as you can see from these tweets by Match of the Day commentator Alistair Bruce-Ball.

Spurs make wholesale changes from the midweek cup defeat to Arsenal as manager Maurcio Pochettino returns to his first-choice XI. Harry Kane leads the line, looking for that elusive first club goal of the campaign.

Starting XI: Lloris (c), Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Alli, Dier; Eriksen, Son, Lamela; Kane 

Subs: Vorm, Rose, Kieran Trippier, Carroll, Chadli, Townsend, Clinton

Image source, BBC Sport

Manchester City spring a surprise or two as goalkeeper Joe Hart and captain Vincent Kompany are left on the bench.

They make just one change from the side which beat Sunderland in midweek - as Fernandinho comes in for Jesus Navas.

Starting XI: Caballero, Sagna, Demichelis, Nicolas Otamendi, Aleksandar Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Sterling, Toure, Aguero

Subs: Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Nasri, Navas, Roberts, Barker

Image source, BBC Sport

It's not all doom and gloom for Spurs, though. Far from it.

I'd love to claim credit for that headline above but I first saw it in The Times after Son Heung-min got off the mark for Spurs in their Europa League win over FC Quarabag. Son struck again in Tottenham's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last weekend and with three goals in three starts he has added some much-needed bite to their attack.

City also have a new signing making a splash in Kevin De Bruyne. The £54m man has got two goals in two starts for City and he will looking to continue that excellent start today.

Image source, BBC Sport