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Apr 14, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Combined XI: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Man City

:Headline: Combined XI: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Man City: ID:323450: from db_amp
Sports Mole selects a combined XI from the Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City squads ahead of Saturday evening's clash at Wembley Stadium.

The pick of this weekend's Premier League action comes from Wembley Stadium, where Tottenham Hotspur will look to make it three home wins in a row against Manchester City.

Spurs have lost just one of the last five encounters overall - the 4-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium in December - and head into the match in better form.

While City have stuttered a little of late by losing three games in a row in all competitions, Tottenham have quietly put together a 14-match unbeaten run in the top flight to keep them well on course for a top-four finish.

Ahead of the big showdown in North London, Sports Mole selects the strongest combined XI from the players available for this match.


Out: Danny Rose (calf), Harry Winks (ankle), Kyle Walker-Peters (hamstring), Fernandinho (suspended), Sergio Aguero (knee), John Stones (groin)

Arguably the toughest decision of all concerns who to select in goal. There is very little to choose between Hugo Lloris and Ederson, who both pride themselves on their ability to not only keep the ball out of the net but also start attacking moves from deep. On stats alone it is the Tottenham man who just about edges it, having made more saves (64 to 52) and kept just one clean sheet fewer (13 to 14) in two games fewer.

Defensively speaking Man City can hold claim to being the best in the division, having shipped just 24 goals all term - three fewer than Tottenham, who are behind only the Citizens and Manchester United in that particular category. Despite his shaky form of late, Nicolas Otamendi has been the most consistent of City's centre-backs this term, while not many can rival Jan Vertonghen as the division's best defender - together they really would be a force.

Left-back has proved to be a problem area for the champions-elect pretty much from the moment Benjamin Mendy limped off with a long-term injury issue early in the season and, although Fabian Delph successfully stepped up for the first few months, Pep Guardiola has had to chop and change in that position far too often of late. Ben Davies has had a prolonged run in the Spurs side, meanwhile, effectively edging out injury-prone Rose to see him get the nod in this hybrid side. Davies's former teammate Kyle Walker lines up on the opposite flank after taking his Spurs form with him to the Etihad Stadium this season.

If five attackers are to be shoehorned into this side, then a player with defensive qualities is required further back. The absence of Fernandinho through suspension is a major blow for City this weekend, though, so that task is left to Mousa Dembele, who has proved key with his ability to carry the ball forward this season. It is then over to Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva to create chances from slightly further forward.

With Aguero seeing his playing time restricted of late, the decision to include Harry Kane - now on 25 Premier League goals for the season - through the middle becomes a little easier. Choosing two players to flank him is a little more difficult, with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Son Heung-min in particular enjoying the best seasons of their careers, but it is difficult to leave out the pacey Leroy Sane and the highly efficient Christian Eriksen, boasting a combined 39 league goals and assists between them this term.

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