Sunday sees the meeting of the only two unbeaten sides left in the division - City and Spurs.
SPURS
Spurs have started the PL season well in terms of results, easily brushing aside four sides you would not expect to be bothering UEFA any time soon, while earning credible draws v the Scouse duo. Performances have been patchy, although steadily improving as the season progresses and players return to form and fitness. Spurs are still flying under the radar a little - Jose, Chelsea and Liverpool seem to occupy the headline writers
Kane is definitely out for Sunday's game, but Spurs are expected to welcome back Rose, Dier, Demebele and Sissoko after injuries, while Kyle Walker will step back in after being given the midweek fixture off.
CITY
City have similarly put a host of struggling teams to the sword, but have also added to that with an impressive win away in the Manchester derby, giving them a perfect win record of 6 from 6. It is easy for cynics to dismiss this as an easy start, but six wins is not an easy thing to do and not to be sniffed at. City have a glut of forwards all in good form, and are rightly the favourites for the title.
De Bruyne is City's only new injury blow - no small one - and he joins Kompany in missing this fixture.
CONTEXT
Pep and Poch have met before - the former in his role at Barca, while Poch was managing their city rivals Espanyol. Pep spoke warmly about Poch's style in 2009 after the Argentine's bottom-placed side beat his table-toppers 1-0, prasing their front-foot style.
"There are teams that wait for you and teams that look for you. Espanyol look for you. I feel very close to their style of football"
Kindred spirits indeed.
Spurs and City have travelleled here in different ways - financially completely polar - but at the same time share things on the journey.
Both spent the bulk of the PL years looking up at vastly superior neighbours, while they fought for titles.
Both have largely pessimistic and self-deprecating fan bases, which is borne from the years of disappointment.
The real change for both came in 2009, which culminated in a CL 'decider' in Manchester in 2010 which Spurs won.
The following year, City won a similar game betwen the two which virtually cemented a CL place and set the foundation for the title wins to follow.
THE GAME
It should be a cracker.
Both unbeaten.
City yet to taste even a draw, scoring the most goals
Spurs with the meanest defence, yet to concede from open play.
There are similarities with the game last season, with City coming to WHL after a flying start but being slightly rocked by a result prior to it (West Ham home loss, Celtic away draw conceding 3). The big difference here being Pep of course.
A City win would be a huge statement of intent. The second away win at clubs that could be title rivals, a guaranteed 5pt lead, and confidence through the roof.
A Spurs win - after the Celtic draw - could put that doubt in the City players minds, just as Swansea and Liverpool did to Chelsea - the gap would be down to 1pt, with a clutch of clubs potentially within 3pts.
Battle of the Unbeatens
posted on 29/9/16
comment by Baz tard (U19119)
posted 4 hours, 56 minutes ago
Spurs 0 Monaco 1
Unbeaten indeed.
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well this be11end has made a right caaaant of himself hasn't he
posted on 29/9/16
comment by Sir Tottenham of Hotspur (U17379)
posted 1 hour, 37 minutes ago
comment by Baz tard (U19119)
posted 4 hours, 53 minutes ago
Spurs 0 Monaco 1
Unbeaten indeed.
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Err he meant unbeaten in prem, and we lost 1-2
Baz tard? More re tard
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posted on 29/9/16
Did anyone watch the Celtic game last night? I was delighted when I saw City had a fight on their hands.
On the face of it our long trip to Moscow was more daunting than their short trip to Glasgow, but as it tuened out we had a bit of a stroll, rested many potential starters, and have an extra day off.
To me their XI looked like the bulk of the XI which will start against us, so happy days.
posted on 29/9/16
How many of Sissoko, Dembele, Dier, Rose will be ready for this match.
Will Walker be back?
Who's going to help Davies?
And who's job will it be to keep Aguero under wraps?
Finally, will N'Koudou start?
posted on 29/9/16
All available I think
Yes
Son
Toby
No
posted on 29/9/16
If Nolito is out he is a big miss. Very creative and allows Sterling to play on the right.
Will also be a battle between Dembele and Fernandinho, two best midfielders in the league. The winner of that will probably be in the Victorious team.
posted on 29/9/16
We had a lot of success pressing them high up the pitch, especially in the first half hour before they got into their rhythm. Was 50-50 so about an hour then we tired and dropped off.
You play that way more often and your guys should fitter than ours, so you could cause them a lot of problems as they looked dodgy at the back.
posted on 29/9/16
comment by Nir Bitton - Cursed by my username (U13244)
posted 3 minutes ago
We had a lot of success pressing them high up the pitch, especially in the first half hour before they got into their rhythm. Was 50-50 so about an hour then we tired and dropped off.
You play that way more often and your guys should fitter than ours, so you could cause them a lot of problems as they looked dodgy at the back.
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They will have Stones back who has a bit of composure.
Hooefully you ran the legs off them a bit for us
Where in particular would you say they struggled?
posted on 29/9/16
comment by HRH King Ledley (U20095)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Nir Bitton - Cursed by my username (U13244)
posted 3 minutes ago
We had a lot of success pressing them high up the pitch, especially in the first half hour before they got into their rhythm. Was 50-50 so about an hour then we tired and dropped off.
You play that way more often and your guys should fitter than ours, so you could cause them a lot of problems as they looked dodgy at the back.
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They will have Stones back who has a bit of composure.
Hooefully you ran the legs off them a bit for us
Where in particular would you say they struggled?
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We won the ball back a fair bit by keeping the pressing high centrally and making Bravo kick to the fullbacks. Won a lot of second balls off that and hit them on the counter when their back 4 were still spread. Their centre mids are very attack minded so nick the ball in there and getting them going back the way.
They brought on Stones second half but we pretty much dropped off by then.
posted on 30/9/16
Great result for the Bhoys, the first side to get at City properly this season, and a good bounceback after Barca
How are you finding Shergar's reign so far? A marked improvement on Ronny?