Manuel Pellegrini refused to call this a decisive game in terms of the title race, but there is no denying its significance. An away win for Tottenham could effectively put the title race out of City's hands, and may possibly leave the sky Blues relying on others to help them out.

Previous results: City tumble as Spurs emerge once more

Manchester City were outclassed last Saturday by Leicester City, with centre-back Robert Huth grabbing a brace for the travelling Foxes. The only highlight for the sky Blues coming in the form of a Bersant Celina debut, who provided the cross for Sergio Agüero's consolation goal. 

Spurs meanwhile kept the heat on the league leaders and leapfrogged City in the process, a modest 1-0 win over Watford gave Pochettino's men their fourth consecutive win in their last six games, title contender form?

Team news

Manchester City

There was delight over the return of Vincent Kompany and David Silva, shaking off an ankle injury he picked up against Leicester. Fabian Delph and Bacary Sagna joined the ever-growing injury list, Eliaquim Mangala, Jesús Navas, Wilfried Bony, Kevin de Bruyne and Samir Nasri are sidelined with respective injuries of their own. 

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs travel to Eastlands with no fresh injury concerns, Jan Vertonghen and Clinton N'jie are making good progress in their recoveries, manager Mauricio Pochettino reported in his pre-match press conference. 

What they're saying? 

Manuel Pellegrini heaped praise upon Pochettino and declared that Spurs are serious contenders for the title this year, whilst playing down the importance on tomorrow's meeting.

"Like I said last week, it’s not a decisive game but a very important game - after we play for another 36 points. For our team, it’s important to try to return to the top of the table. Two or three teams are in front of us in this moment so we must try to reclaim the points." 

Mauricio Pochettino meanwhile, faced questions from Spurs fans themselves, in response to a question on Spurs' title credentials and whether there would be a change of mentality. The Argentine replied, saying that the team "need to behave in the same way", because we're "now coming to the key moment in the league", but Spurs need to "keep going, keep working hard and try to improve every day." 

"We don’t need to change – we need to follow in the same direction.” Pochettino on Spurs' lofty title ambitions

Tomorrow will certainly be a mouth-watering clash, possibly the most significant clash between these two in recent years, but is it a title decider, no. A decider for the strongest challenger to the seemingly unstoppable Leicester City, yes. 

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