Laurie Ellis

Man City v Tottenham

Key stats

• City scored in the opening half of 16 of their 19 home league games last term

Expert verdict

Manchester City beat Tottenham in three of their four meetings last term and an early season duel at the Etihad should see the Citizens uphold the form. Spurs supporters may feel they won 2018-19’s most crucial clash – the 1-0 first-leg victory at their new stadium that saw the Lilywhites advance into the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Pep Guardiola’s men. But while Guardiola has yet to crack the code in Europe with City, his team have barely put a foot wrong domestically. Fast starts against Liverpool in the Community Shield and at West Ham suggest they will look to seize the early initiative.