Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City and Pick to Win
Date:Saturday, December 16th, 2017
Where: English Premier League Etihad Stadium – Manchester, UK
by Keith, Professional Soccer/Football Handicapper, Predictem
Match Odds: Tottenham Hotspur 11/2, Manchester City 1/2, Draw 15/4
Moneyline: Tottenham Hotspur +550, Manchester City -200, Draw +375
Over/Under Best Market: UNDER 3 21/20 +105
Manchester City will host Tottenham Hotspur in a pivotal battle for English Premier League positioning. The Powder Blues come in off a statement victory when they defeated arch rival Manchester United 2-1 in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford, last Sunday. Derby Day was simply all City and Mancunians have declared that Manchester is once again blue. Stealing a win at the Theatre of Dreams, it is apparently so. Generally, wins of this nature, foster overreactions and create stirs that set up teams like City for a huge let-down in their follow-up. The Spurs are always a team that one should be on the lookout for. The North London club will be traveling northward to renew the pleasantries between the Capital of England and the Cottonopolis. The North-South acrimony will once again be in the mix here. The Spurs enter on a two-game winning streak. Most recently, Spurs handed Stoke City a 5-1 defeat. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that Tottenham have taken a step back in the league table this year as they have fallen all the way down to seventh. The Spurs trail arch rival Arsenal by just a point with 28. Manchester City is all alone at the top of the table with 46 points, 11 clear of the team they just dispatched who sits in second.
Traditionally, Manchester City is known as an all-offensive outfit. Tottenham employs a more workman-like and blue collar approach to the game, anchored in sound defensive play. However, it seems that the roles have reversed. Nevertheless, Manchester City is very simply a complete team. The attacking personnel on each side is enough for this be a showcase of proficiency. Manchester City features the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, and Sergio Aguero in forward attacking positions. However, Tottenham can counter this offensive display with some talent of their own. The Spurs feature exceptional playmakers in Kane, Alli, and Dembele. Kane and Alli in particular are home-grown talent within the Spurs system.
Manchester City lost a game. However, it was not in the English Premier League. Skipper Pep Guardiola said it needed to happen to remind the Powder Blues that they are not immortal. The loss came in European international play when the Cityzens fell in Champions League competition. Against Shakhtar Donetsk the Blues were upset 2-1. Needless to say, the Powder Blues responded beautifully against Manchester United and remain unscathed in domestic play. Tottenhams last loss came against far less frightening competition when they were tackled by Leicester City 2-1.
Tottenham would relish in leaving Etihad Stadium with a draw. That in itself would be a moral victory. Etihad Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in all of England and that is likely to be enhanced by the vigor supporters will have off the win in the Manchester Derby. Manchester City seems to be a great play but one must lay a lot of juice to do so. We will never recommend that. The prices are a direct reflection of what transpired last Sunday and are very much bound to be overinflated and exaggerated. The bottom line is Tottenham has a good enough team to draw level with City. The key for Tottenham is not to let the Powder Blues get out in front and take the crowd out of the game with an early score. Spurs are certainly capable of that. Looking at the markets across the board, the draw has tremendous equity in this contest. Furthermore, the Under 3 offers great value at +105 as the defenses can certainly set the tone for this affair. All in all, the stake is two units to net a potential of 4.8.
Tottenham Hotspur Recent Form
W Stoke City 5-1
W Apoel Nicosia 3-0
D – Watford 1-1
W Leicester City 1-2
D West Ham United 1-1
Manchester City Recent Form
W Manchester United 2-1
L Shakhtar Donestk 1-2
W West Ham United 2-1
W Southampton 2-1
W Huddersfield Town 2-1
Keith’s Prediction for the Game: DRAW 13/4 (+375) and UNDER 3 21/20 (+105)
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