Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Build-Up Timeline (23 August 2025)

12:30 BST – Kick-off Etihad Stadium

11:30 BST – Live coverage begins on USA Net/Universo

ESPN’s live score and odds page is now active. Both teams have three points after their opening wins. The odds are: Man City –165, Draw +333, and Tottenham +450.

10:30 BST – Confirmed starting line-ups

EplIndex.com listed Manchester City’s XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation. James Trafford was in goal, while Erling Haaland led the attack. He was supported by Jérémy Doku and Oscar Bobb.
Tottenham Hotspur set up with Richarlison in the middle. He was joined by Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson on the sides. This was Frank’s first big away match at the Etihad.

10:00 BST – Thomas Frank press conference

Spurs boss Thomas Frank addressed injury news: Destiny Udogie is out. Dejan Kulusevski will be unavailable for a while. We are still checking on James Maddison’s status. Frank reaffirmed his trust in Richarlison as his top striker. He also hinted at more moves in the transfer market before the window closes.

09:30 BST – Al Jazeera Sport live blog kicks off

Al Jazeera launched real-time text commentary. It covers team news, tactical analysis, and fan reactions before the clash. Analysts emphasized that City’s midfield gets a boost from Phil Foden and Rodri returning. On the other hand, Spurs count on Kudus for creativity.

08:30 BST – Pre-match Reddit discussion

r/coys ran its pre-match thread. It noted late fitness issues for Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol from City. There was also talk about Pep Guardiola’s choice for right-back, considering rotation.

▪ ▪ Manchester City seek back-to-back Premier League wins after a 4-0 opening victory over Wolves. ▪ ▪ Tottenham want to keep up their strong start after a 3-0 win at home against Burnley. ▪ - Historical context: City has won just four of their last 12 league games against Spurs. Also, Spurs have scored at least twice in their last four visits to the Etihad.