Erling Haaland reliance and contrasting midfield options - Man City and Spurs squads assessed ahead of Premier League showdown
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Published 22/08/2025 at 16:40 GMT+1
Tottenham Hotspur travel north to face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side with both teams looking to maintain perfect starts to the Premier League campaign in their second outing. You can see all the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+. We take a look at the squad depth at both clubs ahead of this mouth-watering clash at Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola: Man City have 'too many players'
Video credit: SNTV
In just the second week of the new Premier League season, we are blessed with one of the division's most-anticipated fixtures.
Tottenham Hotspur travel to Manchester City in a fixture that is rarely short on both drama and goals.
In fact, the last four league meetings at Etihad Stadium have produced 21 goals, and more will be expected from their latest encounter, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Man City v Spurs - Last four Etihad Stadium meetings
| Date | Result |
| Feb. 19, 2022 | Man City 2-3 Spurs |
| Jan. 19, 2023 | Man City 4-2 Spurs |
| Dec. 3, 2023 | Man City 3-3 Spurs |
| Nov. 23, 2024 | Man City 0-4 Spurs |
Both teams come into the match off the back of comfortable opening day wins - City over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Spurs over Burnley - to start the season strongly.
Both have been busy in the summer transfer window as they look to fulfil their ambitions in the new campaign.
But what shape are the two squads in ahead of the match? And could they do more business before the window closes?
Spurs secure between the sticks amid City uncertainty
Man City goalkeepers
| James Trafford |
| Ederson |
| Stefan Ortega |
| Marcus Bettinelli |
Spurs goalkeepers
| Guglielmo Vicario |
| Antonin Kinsky |
| Brandon Austin |
Vicario is likely to remain unchallenged as Spurs’ No. 1 under new manager Thomas Frank with Kinsky and Austin stepping as deputies when needed, such as when the Italian was out with injury during the last campaign.
Things are less clear at City with long-time starter and club legend Ederson rumoured to be heading for the exit door.
The club’s reacquisition of 22-year old former City academy stopper Trafford from Burnley suggests a long-time plan in the position, although the club are also reportedly interested in Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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Strong defences but right side concerns
Man City defenders
| Centre-back | Right-back | Left-back |
| Ruben Dias | Rico Lewis | Josko Gvardiol |
| Manuel Akanji | Manuel Akanji | Rayan Ait-Mouri |
| John Stones | John Stones | Nico O'Reilly |
| Nathan Ake | Issa Kabore | Joshua Wilson-Esbrand |
| Abdukodir Khusanov | ||
| Josko Gvardiol | ||
| Callum Doyle |
Spurs defenders
| Centre-back | Right-back | Left-back |
| Cristian Romero | Pedro Porro | Destiny Udogie |
| Micky van de Ven | Djed Spence | Djed Spence |
| Radu Dragusin | Archie Gray | Ben Davies |
| Kevin Danso | ||
| Luka Vuskovic | ||
| Ben Davies | ||
| Kota Takai | ||
| Archie Gray |
City’s defensive line seems strong through centre- and left-back positions, but beyond Lewis on the right side, Guardiola’s only adequate back-up comes from reshuffling players more used to playing in the middle.
It seems unlikely Kabore is finally going to get his breakthrough at the Etihad.
Spurs' Premier League campaign hit a major bump from which they were unable to recover last season, mainly due to the absences in defence to starting pair Romero and Van de Ven.
With the former committing to club and seemingly several other options in this position – particularly if Frank opts for three in the middle – their troubles from last season can be consigned to history.
Like City, beyond their first choice in Porro, some creative rejigging will be needed to plug the gap should the Portuguese be absent for any period.
City midfield riches put Spurs needs into focus
Man City midfielders
| Centre midfield | Attacking midfield |
| Rodri | Bernardo Silva |
| Tijjani Reijnders | Claudio Echeverri |
| Nico Gonzalez | Tijjani Reijnders |
| Mateo Kovacic | Nico Gonzalez |
| Ilkay Gudogan | Ilkay Gudogan |
| Matheus Nunes | Rayan Cherki |
| Nico O'Reilly | Phil Foden |
| Kalvin Phillips |
Spurs midfielders
| Centre midfield | Attacking midfield |
| Joao Palhinha | Dejan Kulusevski |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | James Maddison |
| Pape Matar Sarr | Lucas Bergvall |
| Yves Bissouma | Pape Matar Sarr |
| Lucas Bergvall | |
| Archie Gray |
The fluidity of City’s attack means that players nominally expected to play both deeper and wider can often find themselves in advanced attacking midfield roles.
Guardiola finds himself with several options at present when it comes to those capable of playing an attacking midfield role, including some of the new faces at the club.
For Spurs on the other hand, while there are enough players to fill in across the middle of the park, injury to James Maddison means options are not as healthy in attacking midfield areas for now - something the club will be expected to address before the transfer window closes.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
City strength justifies Haaland dependancy
Man City attackers
| Striker | Right wing | Left wing |
| Erling Haaland | Phil Foden | Jeremy Doku |
| Omar Marmoush | Rayan Cherki | Omar Marmoush |
| Oscar Bobb | Savinho | |
| Savinho |
Spurs attackers
| Striker | Right wing | Left wing |
| Dominic Solanke | Mohammed Kudus | Brennan Johnson |
| Richarlison | Brennan Johnson | Wilson Odobert |
| Mathys Tel | Dejan Kulusevski | Bryan Gil |
| Dane Scarlett | Wilson Odobert | Manor Solomon |
| Brennan Johnson | Bryan Gil |
The strength of City’s attack leaves the free-scoring Haaland as the team’s main focal point up front, with January arrival Marmoush the only other recognised striker at the club.
The Egyptian can also play wide as an alternative to Doku and potentially Real Madrid’s Rodrygo if rumours are to be believed, while new signing Cherki can switch up with Foden as needed.
Solanke will be Spurs’ main outlet at the top of the pitch, but after his two-goal starring role against Burnley, Richarlison is staking his claim for more minutes at No. 9.
The club’s decision to make Tel’s loan move permanent over the summer gives them another option in this position as well.
On the wings, Kudus adds to an already strong area of the pitch on the right, but beyond shoehorning players on the other flank, a replacement for the recently-departed Son Heung-min is badly needed.
How to watch Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
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