Little is left to determine at the top of the Premier League table for the rest of the season, but Manchester City (20-7-7, 67 Points) will still be seeking a second place finish. A win against Tottenham (17-7-10, 58 Points) on Sunday at White Hart Lane would go a long way towards accomplishing that goal.
ODDS ANALYSIS
City is just barely an odds-on favorite in this match, something which seems surprising to the naked eye. Still, if you take a close look at Tottenham of late, it's easy to understand why the visitors will be the comfortable favorites.
The margin is just -105, while Tottenham is +0.5 (-115) on the Asian handicap. The total is quite high at 3, though the vig on the under is -115.
KEY INJURIES
Kyle Walker is still out with a foot injury for Tottenham, and it seems as though ever since he has been injured, the team has really gone down a slippery slope. Danny Rose is still out of shape thanks to a hamstring problem, though his return is imminent at White Hart Lane.
Ben Davies was stretchered off in Tottenham's last match against Southampton, and we have to imagine that his shoulder injury is going to cost him this game.
Though there is a lot of heat right now on Manuel Pellegrini for his team's failures this season, not all of it was his fault. The injury situation has been grim all year, and at this point, the club is playing without Vincent Kompany, Stevan Jovetic, Gael Clinch, Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure. Toure is the only of these five who could be eligible for selection come Sunday.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"The manager deserves more respect from everyone. He came last season. He won the league and the Capital One. We cannot blame just the manager for this moment. Also individual players have not been great in the whole season. Everyone is responsible. When you don't win titles, it can be a little bit frustrating for everyone." – Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta on his boss, Manuel Pellegrini
RECENT FORM
Tottenham has just one win in its last four matches, though it did fight back from down a goal twice to Southampton to get a point last weekend.
Man City has quietly won two matches in a row, neither of which was all that impressive against Aston Villa and West Ham at home. Still, we keep talking about this every time this team goes on the road. The Citizens' last away result was six matches ago back on February 11 at Stoke City. Since then, they have five straight losses at home.
TALKING TOTALS
Defensive problems have plagued Tottenham over the course of the last few years, and the end of this season, those issues are telling again. The Spurs have allowed 24 goals in their last 14 matches, nine of which have gone past the total.
City has had its big problems at the back as well since Kompany has been out. The team has conceded six times in its last three matches, and two of the three have gone past the total.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Last offseason, the Spurs brought in Federico Fazio and Ben Davies to try to sure up problems in the back. Instead, these two have turned into even bigger liabilities for the team, and both could be transferred in the next few months.
Furthermore, Manchester City has its issues at the back as well, and tactically speaking, we just aren't sure that Pellegrini is putting in that much effort with the team's fate in the Championship League next year already sealed.
The end result is probably going to be a high scoring game, one which could be great for the neutral, but probably not great in terms of actual high soccer content on either side. Man City will finally break its away skid, but it will need a lot to do so.
Manchester City 3, Tottenham 2
BookMaker has live Barclays Premier League odds for every clash of the season. BookMaker is also going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised match. Manchester City opened as a -105 favorite. The first offering of the total came in at 3 (under -115). Live wagering during the match offers an adjusted moneyline, total and spread. Log in and start gambling during the soccer match now!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between Tottenham and Manchester City will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at White Hart Lane. The game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.
