WHEN
It ended a run of three consecutive top-flight defeats and kick-started their campaign, which would ultimately see Spurs pip Arsenal to
For City, it was a first defeat in 14 matches and jolted them into an unbeaten run that propelled them to a fourth
Tottenham will be underdogs when they meet again at the
Sunday's home defeat to north
It was a fifth loss from their last nine
Another reverse against City would leave them five points adrift of fourthplaced
They could be sixth by the time they take the field at Fulham on Monday and seventh at full-time at Craven Cottage if they lost again.
Looming over Tottenham's malaise is a cloud of uncertainty regarding the club's ownership and the future of manager
Spurs have emerged as a target for Qatari cash, amid renewed speculation that the club's owners, Enic, would be open to a sale.
Conte, meanwhile, will be out of contract in the summer and has been less than effusive in his comments about staying beyond then.
This week he suggested club directors ought to face the media and take some of the heat directed at managers.
City manager
Their title defence suffered another setback when they conceded two late goals in a controversial loss at neighbours
It condemned them to back-to-back defeats for the first time since
"We have to improve our game, control what we can control. This is what big teams have to do.
"Our fluidity has not been as good as usual. Sometimes, to make chances you need to make a good build-up, put the ball inside to open and spread the defensive lines and we struggled in the last two games."
City's stumble has coincided with a slowdown in
It has led to Guardiola fielding questions on whether Haaland's introduction this season has blunted some elements of the team's usually fluid attacking play.
"We have played really good with him, so it is not about that," he said. "To play better, to create more chances, is to provide more balls for him or the other strikers."
City's attack might have more easily absorbed
Instead Kane stayed put and is one goal shy of cementing club legend status by equalling
Spurs were the only team to beat City home and away in the league last term, and have a good recent record at the Etihad, losing just one of their last four visits.
Whoever prevails and gives their season a boost, as this fixture was rearranged following the Queen's passing, they meet again in less than three weeks' time.
LAST FIVE MATCHES MAN CITY Man Utd (A), 14 Jan, lost 2-1
(c) 2023 City A.M., source