Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur preview: Gabriel Jesus to make debut?

Tottenham can cut the gap on leaders Chelsea to just four points with a fourth successive victory over Manchester City on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm).

City were four points clear at the top of the Premier League after winning at Swansea on September 24 but now find themselves 10 points off Chelsea

This has led to Pep Guardiola coming in for some criticism following their 4-0 defeat at Everton last weekend.

That defeat was City's fourth in their last eight Premier League games.

However, a victory over Spurs at the Etihad Stadium would lift them level on points with Mauricio Pochettino's men, who are on a great run of form.

Tottenham have won their last six Premier League games, including beating Chelsea 2-0 earlier this month.

The last time Spurs won seven league games in a row was back in 1967.

Team news

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has been cleared to play after his £27m move from Palmeiras went through in time.

The 19-year-old signed for the club in the summer but remained at Palmeiras for the remainder of the Brazilian league season.

Fernando could return after injury but fellow midfielder Fernandinho remains suspended.

Tottenham duo Kevin Wimmer and Ben Davies will be on hand to deputise for ankle injury victim Jan Vertonghen.

Vertonghen's ankle problem is not as serious as first feared, with the Belgium central defender likely to be missing for six weeks.

Spurs have no new injury issues ahead of the Premier League trip to the Etihad Stadium.

Opta stats

Manchester City have won five of their last six home Premier League games against Tottenham, though they did lose this fixture last season (1-2 in February).

Only Chelsea (7) have won more Premier League games away at the Etihad than Tottenham (6, level with Arsenal and Man Utd).

After a run which saw them score 26 goals in seven Premier League games against Tottenham, Man City have scored just three in their last four against the north London side.

Guardiola has lost five league games this season - he's never lost more in a single campaign as a manager.

The only player to record more Premier League assists this season than Christian Eriksen (8) is Kevin de Bruyne (9).

The last 10 Premier League goals scored by Tottenham players have been netted by Harry Kane or Dele Alli (five each).

Merson's prediction

Everybody is telling me Tottenham can win the league but if Man City beat them then they are level on points with Pochettino's side. It's a must-win game for City. If Guardiola can get a win I think his side are back to being top four material.

If they lose though I think they can wave goodbye to the top four. Defeat would knock the stuffing out of them and I don't think these players are up for a top four battle. It's a big, big football match for City. For me, it's cometh the hour cometh the man. Pep's got to put a side out that will produce and win this match and I'm backing him to do it.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15 /2 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Manchester City are Sky Bet's 21/10 favourites despite Tottenham's superior form, with Mauricio Pochettino's men 5/2 for another win and the same price to leave with a point.

Spurs do, however, head into the weekend with shorter Premier League outright odds at 15/2 compared to 16/1 on the hosts. Sergio Aguero heads the first goalscorer betting at 7/2 followed by Kane at 9/2, while the strike duo are 3/1 to both find the net.

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