City are ‘strong in the head’
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR are next up in the so-far losing battle to derail the runaway train that is Manchester City.
The two square off at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow as Premier League teams hit the midway point of a busy December schedule that has them playing eight times through the new year.
No one this season has yet been able to get the better of City, who’ve rewritten the record books in opening an 11-point lead.
Pep Guardiola’s unbeaten side thrashed Swansea City 4-0 on Wednesday to become the first side to win 15 consecutive Premier League matches.
“In history there were amazing teams like Liverpool in the 1980s and (Manchester) United with Sir Alex Ferguson or Chelsea with Jose Mourinho - some amazing teams,” said Guardiola, whose team have taken 49 of a possible 51 points. “But we are the first ones in the history of English football to win 15 in a row. It means we are strong in the head.”
City could face a stern test in fourthplaced Spurs, who have three wins and a draw against them in the past two seasons.
“We’re going to Manchester thinking we can win,” manager Mauricio Pochettino said after beating Brighton 2-0 on Wednesday. “It’s a fantastic challenge to play against Manchester City. They’re the best team in England and one of the best in Europe.”
Second-placed Manchester United look to keep pace with City at struggling West Bromwich Albion, while thirdplaced Chelsea host Southampton.
West Brom are winless in 15 games but could be boosted by a goalless draw at Liverpool which lifted them out of the relegation places.
“In a league where the teams are so congested, every point is gold-dust and this is a really important psychological point for us,” new manager Alan Pardew said. “We needed to gain belief by being very disciplined and I couldn’t fault the players on that side, they really gave everything for me.”
Tottenham currently hold the final Champions League qualifying place on goal difference over Liverpool and Burnley, with Arsenal a point back.
That could change with the trailing trio all playing teams in the bottom half of the table, Burnley visiting Brighton, Liverpool at Bournemouth and Arsenal hosting Newcastle.
Disappointing draws at Southampton and West Ham this week have pushed Arsenal’s winless run to three and dropped them to seventh.
“It’s a bit frustrating,” manager Arsene Wenger said after the West Ham game finished goalless on Wednesday.
“We had to keep confidence in our game and we go through a patch where there’s a difference between what we create and what we score, but that will not last.”
Leicester look to make it five straight wins when they host third-bottom Crystal Palace, West Ham visit Stoke in a relegation tussle, Watford face Huddersfield and bottom side Swansea travel to Everton in the weekend’s other games. – DPA