Premier League: City’s Title Defence Starts at Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City

And so we go again! Another season, another 38 games of drama, action, controversy, and the best entertainment that money can buy.

The English top-flight league kicks off on Friday night when new boys Brentford welcome London rivals Arsenal, and we have a full programme featuring Leeds against Manchester United- which is one of the fiercest rivalries in football.

And then on Sunday, the Premier League fixture between Tottenham and Manchester City is one of the European Leagues’ matches of the weekend because it pits together two greats of the English game, but two clubs in rather different shape.

The hosts are in an uncertain period in their history with a new head coach, the perennial threat of losing their best player seemingly more serious than ever, and a board slow to back their manager.

Meanwhile, Manchester City start the defence of their 2021 title that they won so convincingly, and they have already broken the bank to bring in one new Galactico and are threatening to lure another from their first opponents.

Talking Points

Will Harry Kane play?

New Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has a big task on his hands to return the club to the heights achieved under Mauricio Pochettino, which is a regular top four place.

But he also wants to achieve something the current Paris Saint-Germain boss failed to do, which is to deliver some silverware to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur will rely on Son Heung-min to register goals against Manchester City in upcoming Premier League clash — Son Heung-min celebrates Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in a Pre-Season Friendly match.

And if he is to achieve success, he will need his very best players on board and that presents an even bigger worry.

Star striker and captain Harry Kane has been heavily linked with Manchester City, who are rumoured to be ready to table yet another record-busting offer and the Premier League 2021 updates reached fever pitch when he didn’t turn up for pre-season training on 2nd August.

Kane now says that his absence was somehow planned, but that doesn’t sit well with worried Tottenham fans, though he is reported to be ready for training on Friday providing he tests negative for COVID-19.

He still has three years left on his contract at Spurs and the notoriously hard to deal with chairman Daniel Levy is digging his heels in, presumably irritated by Kane’s earlier insistence that he alone would decide his future.

This saga has a long way to go and we’ll keep and eye on it. But in the meantime, Tottenham have a game to win and probably without their star man.

But the Whites have had a good pre-season, rounding off with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal thanks to a goal from Heung-Min Son and that gives some cause for optimism.

We’re expecting another Sky Blue trophy haul

Manchester City recovered from a very slow start last season to win the league at a canter and, while they have some early season injury concerns, the Sky Blues have a deep squad packed with quality.

Here at SBOTOP, we’ve installed Pep Guardiola’s team as Premier League favourites at odds of 1.74 and we’re also backing them to win the FA Cup at 4.70 and the Carabao Cup at 4.00.

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Premier League

The loss of the Community Shield to Leicester last week and the shock defeat to Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final will only serve to motivate the Sky Blues, who have strengthened their hand with the signing of Jack Grealish in a £100-M switch from Aston Villa.

The new recruit made a brief appearance in the Community Shield and is very likely to make a start on Sunday with fellow England star Phil Foden and Belgian ace Kevin De Bruyne both sidelined.

It could mean that Bernardo Silva, who’s unsettled by Grealish’s arrival, could also feature alongside the mercurial Riyad Mahrez. Meanwhile, in the absence of a new number nine, Gabriel Jesus is likely to start out front.

History

The Whites have had the better of the historic head-to-heads, winning 26 of the 54 meetings in the Premier League era, losing 20, and drawing eight, and they have won 16 of the last 26 at home.

In the last meeting, the Sky Blues beat Spurs to win a fourth successive Carabao Cup. But Tottenham won their home league fixture 2-0 with Son and Lo Celso scoring the goals.

Spurs haven’t lost at home to Manchester City in three years and are unbeaten in pre-season.

Betting Tip

	Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City	Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.94
	August 15, 23:30 (GMT+8)

The Premier League 2021 betting odds cast the hosts as rank outsiders at odds of 5.03, with the draw at 3.73 and the Sky Blues at short odds of 1.59.

Despite his injury worries, Pep Guardiola still has a wealth of talent at his disposal and at odds of 6.37, 1-2 to City is the most likely scoreline.

But Nuno is a fine manager and he will leave no stone unturned as his side attempts to avoid an opening day defeat in what promises to be a fascinating fixture.