Both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur head into this weekend's encounter at the Etihad Stadium on the back of defeats before the international break.

The match is a crucial one for both sides as City currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, while Spurs reside one point above them in seventh following 11 fixtures.

Manuel Pellegrini's City side have been in fine form on home turf, grabbing victories in all five of their matches at the Etihad so far this season.

For Spurs, the North London outfit have not been conceding many goals of late, but they have struggled to find the back of the net themselves, having failed to score in their last two league outings.

The big question for City is whether Joe Hart will earn back his place in goal, but Pellegrini refused to confirm whether Hart will be welcomed back into the team after leaving him out in favour of Costel Pantilimon for four fixtures.

For Spurs, Villas-Boas has suggested that Emmanuel Adebayor could feature against his former club, but Roberto Soldado is expected to start up front.

In this game last season, City managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Spurs, but the London outfit got their revenge with a 3-1 win at White Hart Lane.

Recent form

Manchester City: LWWLWL

Tottenham Hotspur: DLWWDL

Possible starting lineups

Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Nastasic, Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Toure; Nasri, Navas; Aguero, Negredo

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, Vertonghen; Dembele, Paulinho; Sigurdsson, Holtby, Townsend; Soldado

Sports Mole says: 2-1

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