Manchester City Prepares for Tottenham Clash
Manchester City anticipates the return of key players Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi for their upcoming Premier League match against Tottenham. These new additions were unavailable for the recent Champions League fixture but now qualify for domestic action. Rodri, who sat out the midweek game due to a suspension, is also expected to feature prominently as City seeks to build momentum following Arsenal’s recent victory.
Manager’s Absence and Selection Choices
Pep Guardiola skipped his customary pre-match media session for personal reasons, yet he remains in charge of team selections and is set to lead from the sidelines at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With Jeremy Doku sidelined for over two weeks due to a calf issue, Guardiola must navigate several tough decisions in forming the lineup.
Erling Haaland, who came off the bench in the previous league win but started and netted against Galatasaray, is poised to lead the attack once more. Rayan Cherki’s strong showing in the European tie bolsters his case for inclusion, likely paving the way for Semenyo to start and potentially benching Omar Marmoush.
Midfield and Defensive Options
In midfield, Rodri and Bernardo Silva appear locked in, leaving Phil Foden and Tijjani Reijnders to compete for the remaining position. Ruben Dias nears full recovery but isn’t quite match-fit, so Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to partner Guehi in central defense.
Nico O’Reilly showed promise in the last outing, though Rayan Ait-Nouri and Nathan Ake offer viable alternatives at left-back. Longer-term absentees include John Stones, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Savinho.
Injury Update on Doku
Regarding Doku’s setback, Guardiola’s assistant Pep Lijnders noted on Friday: “It’s similar to his last injury. Only that time it was lateral, this one is on the centre. It was 18 days. I think this time it will be a little bit shorter as he’s a robust player.”
Predicted Manchester City Lineup
Anticipated formation (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Silva, Rodri, Foden; Cherki, Haaland, Semenyo.
Injured: Doku, Gvardiol, Stones, Savinho, Dias, Kovacic.
Match Details
The game takes place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, February 1, 2026, with kickoff at 4:30 p.m. Viewers can catch the action on Sky Sports.
