A look ahead to Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur

One of the biggest clashes this weekend in the Barclay's Premier League will occur at Manchester City's Eithad stadium where City will take on Andre Villas-Boas' Tottenham side. A battle of the two biggest spenders this summer will clash at a ground where Tottenham have failed to pick up a single point since Peter Crouch's goal almost four years ago guaranteed Champions League football for the first time in Tottenham's history.



Tottenham travel north without playmaker Christian Eriksen whose expected to be out of action for the next three months. The return of striker Emmanuel Adebayor is expected for AVB's men who are struggling to find the back of the net despite having spent €30m on Valenica striker Roberto Soldado. Hugo Lloris is expected to return in goal for Tottenham after a challenge with Everton striker Romelu Lukaku left the French captain concussed and was forced to miss the home defeat to Newcastle prior to the international break. Spurs' good position in the table is largely down to new acquisition Paulinho.

Lloris colliding with Belgian Lukaku during the 0-0 at Goodison

The Brazilian signed from Corinthians in the summer for an estimated £17m and his midfield control may be key if Tottenham have any ambition of getting anything from fortress Eithad.



City boss Manuel Pellegrini has his own injury and selection concerns to worry about. With the uncertainty of who will start in goal for the Blues, Pellegrini is still missing skipper Vincent Kompany through injury. The Belgian whose played less than two games for City overall this season is still struggling with his calf strain he picked up against Everton in early October. The form of David Silva will be missed as the Spaniard faces three more weeks on the sidelines through injury. City look set to recall Brazilian Fernandinho from the knock he picked up in the Champions League tie with CSKA Moscow. Despite the 1-0 defeat for the forth consecutive year, the partnership of Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo is developing much to manager Pellegrini's approval.




 AVB will no doubt aim to flood City's forceful midfield with bodies this Sunday. The key battle will no doubt be that of Yaya Toure and Spurs' Paulinho with the better player most probably becoming victorious. I fully expect a closely fought contest but do feel City's home form and Tottenham's lack of creativity of late may be the crucial decider. A 2-0 win for the Blues is our betting.