It might only be the second game of the season, but Tottenham’s trip to the Etihad this weekend could have long-lasting implications on the Premier League title race.
Manchester City have yet again found themselves the favourites to retain their league title for the third year in a row, and a 5-0 battering of West Ham more than silenced critics if Pep Guardiola’s side can make it three Premier League’s in a row.
Indeed, Spurs were also able to get off to a winning start in the new Premier League season, claiming a second-half comeback against Aston Villa to win 3-1, and heading up north to face a familiar for, Mauricio Pochettino’s side should be feeling confident.
Although City were able to beat Spurs at the Etihad last season, the result that both sets of fans remember most is the 3-3 Champions League draw that saw Raheem Sterling have a stoppage-time winner chalked off by VAR, sending Tottenham to the semi-finals and eventually the final.
Of course, Spurs would go on to lose that final and City would enact their revenge on the north London side by beating Pochettino’s side in a game that sent the Cityzens to the league title, but this season there is a reason to believe that Tottenham can shake up the race for the title early on.
Spurs have proven to be a side that can beat City, claiming a 1-0 win against the Manchester-based club last season in the Champions League, and although they were beaten at the Etihad as well that campaign, they gave Guardiola’s side a good run for their money.
The Premier League has only just begun, yet Spurs can potentially pull off one of the biggest results of the season that might define the title race to come.