Manchester City host Tottenham in the early kick-off in the Premier League, with Rodri set to return from injury as both sides looking to add to impressive opening-day wins.
City began the season with a dominant display away to Wolves, with Tijjani Reijnders impressing and Erling Haaland grabbing two goals in a 4-0 win. Rodri, the Ballon d’Or holder, has been sidelined since September with a knee injury and starts on the bench alongside Phil Foden.
Spurs secured their own commanding win over newly promoted Burnley in their first game, with Richarlison bagging a brace in Thomas Frank’s first league game at his new club. Spurs are desperately seeking new recruits, however, after Eberechi Eze turned them down to sign for Arsenal.
Now the two sides face off at the Etihad to begin the weekend, with Pep Guardiola’s side looking to lay down an early marker in the title race and Spurs eager to impress as they bid to forge a successful campaign in Frank’s first season in charge.
Follow all the latest updates from the Etihad below
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Manchester City vs Tottenham LIVE
- Manchester City host Tottenham in Saturday's 12.30pm kick-off, which is live on TNT Sports 1
- City started the season with an impressive 4-0 win over Wolves
- Spurs earned three points with a dominant display in a 3-0 win over Burnley
- Man City XI: Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Nico, Reijnders; Bobb, Cherki, Marmoush; Haaland
- Tottenham XI: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr; Kudus, Richarlison, Johnson
- Rodri returns to Man City bench ahead of return from long-term knee injury
Manchester City FC - Tottenham Hotspur FC
James Trafford makes first Etihad appearance for Man City
12:24
,
Jamie Braidwood
Goalkeeper James Trafford makes his first appearance for Manchester City at the Etihad, several years after coming through the club’s academy.
He’s currently keeping Ederson out of the side after returning to City from Burnley over the summer.
Tottenham also hand a first start to Joao Palhinha, who returns to the Premier League after an impressive spell with Fulham.
Spurs will need his defensive instincts today against City.
Pep Guardiola on the changes to his Man City team today
12:19
,
Jamie Braidwood
“In every case it is always difficult to make a selection when you have everyone fit and important players that gave us massive things in the last decade. It is not easy but it is what it is."
He adds that Rodri will be managed “step by step” and has to get minutes.
Thomas Frank on 'noise' surrounding Tottenham transfer business
12:14
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Jamie Braidwood
Thomas Frank speaking to TNT Sports about the “noise” around the club this week after missing out on the signing of Eberechi Eze.
“The big thing is that noise I am not too worried about because I am not really reading anything or doing anything about it. My job is to make sure that I have laser focus on the squad and the team preparation and I try to do that.
"The game in front of us is always a new story. We can make a new history, it's all about that. I have big confidence in the group and the team, big belief that we can come here and get three points. Huge respect for Pep and Manchester City, we know it is going to be difficult but we believe in ourselves."
Expect some fireworks?
12:05
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Jamie Braidwood
The last four Premier League meetings between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad have produced 21 goals (9 for City, 12 for Spurs).
Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan not in Man City squad amid transfer links
11:56
,
Jamie Braidwood
Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan are not in the Manchester City squad. Both have been linked with moves away. Are they on their way out of the Etihad?
Pep Guardiola said this week that he is not the person to ask when it comes to transfer business.
"To be honest, I don't know what is happening with a few players - I don't know who is coming, who is staying, who is leaving, I don't know.
"All the clubs I had the feeling that it is the same, we are not an exception. Because the agents make the roles, the club have their opinions, the players have theirs, and after that we see what happens."
Interesting changes on both sides
11:41
,
Richard Jolly
Eberechi Eze doesn't make his Tottenham debut today, not least because he won't make his Tottenham debut at all after a chastening week for Spurs. But there is still intrigue in Thomas Frank's selection: after playing three centre-backs against Paris Saint-Germain and only two against Burnley, he sticks with the latter for the trip to City. It was a high of Angeball last season - a 4-0 win - so Frank has a lot to live up to.
Pep Guardiola takes the surprise step of omitting his new captain, with Bernardo Silva on the bench. Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush come in, with Jeremy Doku also dropping out.
Tottenham team news: New midfield as Spurs make two changes
11:25
,
Jamie Braidwood
Thomas Frank makes two changes from last weekend’s win over Burnley with a new-look midfield.
Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur replace Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall alongside Pape Matar Sarr.
That means Richarlison keeps his place up front.
Man City team news: Rayan Cherki starts
11:22
,
Jamie Braidwood
Rodri and Phil Foden return to the Manchester City bench, which means the Ballon d’Or holder could make his first appearance in almost a year.
James Trafford keeps his place in goal with Ederson on the bench as well.
Pep Guardiola has made some changes from last weekend’s 4-0 win at Wolves with Rayan Cherki, who scored off the bench, coming into the starting line-up.
Manchester City vs Tottenham team news and line-ups: Rodri on the bench
11:16
,
Jamie Braidwood
Man City XI: Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Nico, Reijnders; Bobb, Cherki, Marmoush; Haaland
Tottenham XI: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr; Kudus, Richarlison, Johnson
Your first home line-up of 25/26!
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 23, 2025
XI | Trafford, Lewis, Stones, Dias (C), Ait-Nouri, Nico, Reijnders, Bobb, Cherki, Marmoush, Haaland
SUBS | Ederson, Ake, Doku, Rodri, Bernardo, Nunes, O'Reilly, Khusanov, Foden
@etihad pic.twitter.com/A7fV1jrDMR
Your Spurs side
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 23, 2025
@krakenfx pic.twitter.com/kzK36I93LT
Manchester City vs Tottenham team news and line-ups
11:11
,
Jamie Braidwood
Will be confirmed in the next few minutes. Will we see Rodri’s return and how will Thomas Frank set up against Pep Guardiola?
Pep Guardiola backs Phil Foden to enjoy comeback year
11:04
,
Jamie Braidwood
Pep Guardiola is optimistic Phil Foden will be back to his best for Manchester City this season following a frustrating past 12 months for the England midfielder.
Guardiola said: "Phil is a top-class, extraordinary player. The last Premier League we won, he was massively important. He was the best player in the Premier League.
"Always I try to convince him he can be better, can read the situations better. But I never would doubt the quality of Phil and I only want his joy to be playing again and be happy. Phil is something unique.
"(Last season) was the first season after six or seven (seasons) when everything dropped a little bit. If he learned the lesson that would be great.
"There are always seasons that you cannot be like you were, but Phil has been incredibly consistent and incredible in these many years, and this is what we are looking for (again)."
Thomas Frank heaps praise on Richarlison: 'He's my starting nine'
10:54
,
Jamie Braidwood
Thomas Frank has been impressed by Richarlison and is desperate for the striker to remain at the club this window.
The Brazilian scored two goals in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Burnley despite being linked with a move away.
Frank reiterated his desire to keep Richarlison at the club and said he currently is his first-choice striker ahead of Dominic Solanke.
"Right now he's my starting nine," Frank said.
"Scored two fantastic goals, he had two top games, he's the Brazilian No9. He is a very good player so I'm very happy with him.
"Richy wants to stay, I want to keep him, there's been no talks about anything else. He's done well for us."
New faces impress on opening day
10:39
,
Jamie Braidwood
Tijjani Reijnders was one of the standout players on the opening weekend of the Premier League season as he scored and made an assist in Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Wolves.
While Mohammed Kudus impressed in Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Burnley as he set up two goals on his debut for Spurs.
Man City's bogey team?
10:25
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Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City have won just four of their last 12 matches against Tottenham, while Spurs have won two of their last four visits to the Etihad in the Premier League.
That includes a stunning 4-0 win last November, as City endured a remarkable winless run under Pep Guardiola.
Tottenham, of course, are now led by Thomas Frank, who defeated City at the Etihad as Brentford boss in November 2022.
Pep Guardiola gives fitness updates on Rodri and Phil Foden ahead of Tottenham test
10:12
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Jamie Braidwood
Rodri missed most of last season with an ACL injury and then damaged his groin at the Club World Cup, ruling him out of much of City’s preseason.
A setback in his recovery meant he also sat out last weekend’s Premier League opener against Wolves, which City won 4-0, but Rodri is available for the game against Spurs – as is Phil Foden, who missed the match with a fitness issue.
“Rodri and Phil, last game, they were out for a lack of training and rhythm,” Pep Guardiola said. “They are ready for tomorrow.”
Guardiola hailed Rodri, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, as the “best player in the world”.
Thomas Frank sends strong message after Eberechi Eze transfer snub
10:11
,
Jamie Braidwood
Thomas Frank has said he only wants to sign players who are desperate to play for Tottenham, after Eberechi Eze snubbed the club for Arsenal.
The blow leaves Frank with few attacking options. Richarlison scored two goals against Burnley last weekend and is set to continue in attack at Manchester City on Saturday, while new signing Mohammed Kudus made an impressive league debut. Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson are also options on the wings, and Dominic Solanke is fit, but injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, and the departure of Heung min-Son, leave Spurs short of resources.
Man City set to welcome back Rodri
10:10
,
Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City are set to welcome back Rodri and Phil Foden for the visit of Tottenham as Pep Guardiola confirmed he will make a late decision over whether to restore Ederson in goal.
Rodri and Foden missed City's 4-0 win at Wolves in an impressive start to their Premier League campaign but Guardiola revealed the midfield pair are in contention to feature in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off.
Their only absentees are Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho, who has been linked with a move to Spurs, with Ederson available again after illness ruled him out of last weekend's trip to Molineux.
Good morning
10:07
,
Chris Wilson
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Saturday’s early kick-off between Manchester City and Tottenham.
Both sides started off with impressive wins but face a tough test in their second game of the season, with City the early favourites to grab a win over Thomas Frank’s new-look Spurs side.
And we’ll have all the latest team news and updates right here.