Tottenham Hotspur are currently experiencing a resurgence in the Premier League, having put together an impressive run of three consecutive victories. Their recent triumphs over Brentford, Manchester United, and Ipswich Town have injected a renewed sense of optimism into the club, as they aim to finish the season on a high note.
The last two matches, in particular, have provided plenty of encouragement for Ange Postecoglou and his squad. The return of key players has significantly improved the team’s overall performance, bringing back the cohesion, tempo, fluidity, and intensity that had been missing in recent months. The Spurs faithful have witnessed a side that looks reinvigorated, playing with greater confidence and a clearer attacking identity.
However, the real test awaits them on Wednesday night when they host reigning champions Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While Spurs have built strong momentum, they now face the challenge of extending their winning streak to four matches against a City side that, by their usual lofty standards, have been far from their best this season.
Manchester City’s struggles have been well-documented, and by their own admission, they have failed to reach their usual levels of dominance. Ange Postecoglou’s side will take encouragement from their previous encounters with Pep Guardiola’s men, having already secured a stunning 4-0 victory over them at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, as well as eliminating them from the Carabao Cup. A win on Wednesday would not only extend Spurs’ winning streak but also complete a remarkable clean sweep over City in all competitions this season—an achievement few teams can boast.
The significance of this fixture has not gone unnoticed, and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has weighed in with his prediction for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Merson believes that Tottenham have what it takes to trouble City and is backing them to claim a 2-1 victory on home soil.
“I expect Tottenham to trouble City,” Merson wrote in his column for Sportskeeda. “If Erling Haaland isn’t fit and it becomes an end-to-end game, I have to back Spurs for the win. City have no firepower, they don’t look like scoring at all! The new signings have not worked for them either.”
Merson also highlighted the tough run of fixtures facing Guardiola’s men and how failing to beat Spurs could put them in a difficult position. “City can still finish in the top four, but they have some tricky fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Brighton. If they fail to beat Spurs, they could be playing catch-up to other teams by the time they face these sides, and that’s never a good thing.
“Tottenham’s front three have goals in them, and with Son Heung-min playing with a lot of confidence, Spurs will definitely trouble City.”
Recent history also favors Tottenham when it comes to facing Manchester City. Even at the peak of their dominance, when they were sweeping aside almost every opponent, Guardiola’s men often struggled against Spurs. The north London club has made a habit of frustrating City, both at home and away, with a mixture of disciplined defensive organization and lethal counterattacking football.
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the last five meetings between the two clubs have been evenly contested, with both sides winning two matches each and the other ending in a draw. However, City enter this fixture on the back of two consecutive defeats—to Real Madrid in the Champions League and to Liverpool in the Premier League. Defensive vulnerabilities have been exposed in those matches, and Tottenham will be eager to capitalize on those weaknesses.
Much of City’s attacking threat hinges on the availability of Erling Haaland, who remains a doubt for the game. Without their prolific striker, Guardiola’s side will have to rely on other attacking options, which have not been firing on all cylinders lately. On the other hand, Spurs have hit their stride at the perfect time. With key players returning from injury and Postecoglou’s attacking philosophy beginning to take full effect, they look like a team capable of taking on anyone.
A win for Tottenham would not only reinforce their resurgence but also send a strong message that they are once again a force to be reckoned with under Postecoglou. It would also mark a historic achievement—defeating Manchester City three times in a single season. Given the momentum Spurs are carrying into this fixture and City’s ongoing struggles, it would be hard to bet against the north Londoners securing another statement victory.
UNBELIEVABLE Sky pundit and Spurs hater Paul Merson now predicts who will WIN on Wednesday between Tottenham or Man City as he shares how many goals Spurs will concede vs City
