Tottenham vs Manchester City
FA Cup
4th round
Friday
26th January 2024
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The most comprehensive preview, detailed analysis and reliable predictions of the FA cup 4th round fixture between Tottenham and Manchester City.
Tottenham vs Manchester City: Preview
Tottenham form analysis
The Lilywhites began their recent run of matches with a solid 2-0 away win over Nottingham Forest. They followed this up with another victory, this time 2-1 at home to local rivals Everton. However, their next match saw them suffer a crushing 4-2 defeat on the road against Brighton, where they conceded four first half goals. Looking to bounce back, they earned a 3-1 home win over Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve despite some nervy moments late on. Their most recent match saw them play Manchester United to a thrilling 2-2 draw at home.
While their results have been mixed, Tottenham have shown an ability to score goals through players like Richarlison and Son. However, their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed in the Brighton loss. Under Postecoglou they continue adjusting to his tactics but have yet to achieve consistency over 90 minutes. Tottenham will need to tighten up at the back while maintaining their threat going forward in order to gain control of more matches.
Manchester City form analysis
Manchester City have largely maintained strong form recently, though with some minor blips. They began with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Luton Town in the FA Cup. Next was a disappointing 2-2 home draw against Crystal Palace after leading 2-0. City bounced back by defeating Everton 3-1 thanks to goals from Foden, Alvarez, and Silva. They followed this with another solid 2-0 home win over Sheffield United. Their most recent match saw more drama, overcoming Newcastle 3-2 after falling behind 2-1.
While City have looked dangerous going forward under Guardiola, they have occasionally struggled to see out leads. Their defense has also given up chances that top teams will punish. As long as City can shore up at the back while maintaining their attacking potency, they should be favorites to defend their league title. But they will need to eliminate defensive lapses that have allowed opponents back into matches.
