TOTTENHAM

have not beaten Manchester City since leaving White Hart Lane. So, if they win tonight, it will say something for the power of the new arena. ‘Everybody talks about the stadium like it’s special,’ sniffed Kevin De Bruyne. ‘Everybody has a stadium. The stadium doesn’t matter.’ It mattered at this stage of the competition last year, mind you, when City seemed to freeze faced with the challenge of Anfield on a European night. Might 17,500 fans in the impressive Park Lane end similarly embolden Tottenham? Certainly, this is a greater test of home advantage than last week’s victory over unambitious Crystal Palace. Tottenham are playing a team that are their superiors by 16 points over 32 games this season. If they can turn that form around, it would suggest there is inspiration in their new home. If they cannot, perhaps De Bruyne is right and having the best stadium won’t matter until the best team also plays there.