Ederson also returns after being rested in midweek, with Stefan Ortega Moreno, Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis the players to make way.
Both Doku and Alvarez came on against the German side with City 0-2 down - a game that ended 3-2 to the Blues - and Pep Guardiola has rewarded the pair with a starting berth this afternoon.
Teams
CITY XI: Ederson, Walker (c), Gvardiol, Akanji, Dias, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland, Alvarez, Doku
Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Stones, Aké, Kovačić, Grealish, Gómez, Bobb, Lewis
TOTTENHAM XI: Vicario, Porro, Royal, Davies, Udogie, Bissouma, Lo Celso, Kulusevski, Johnson, Son (C), Bryan
Subs: Forster, Austin, Dorrington, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Santiago, Donley, Richarlison, Veliz
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TACTICS and formation
City are likely to go with the usual, fluid 4-3-3 formation against Spurs.
That means a back four of Josko Gvardiol and Kyle Walker in their usual full-back roles, with Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanj in central defence.
Rodrigo will pivot the midfield trio alongside Phil Foden and Bernardo.
Alvarez, Doku and Haaland will be the front three, but as ever, those combinations could change.
TIME FOR LIFT-OFF?
City have, over the past four or five years, strung together long winning sequences during the winter period.
With just three wins in our last seven Premier League games, Pep Guardiola will be well aware that 10 points have been dropped and will therefore be desperate to see his team win this afternoon.
Spurs have been tricky opponents in recent years, with City winning just three of he last nine meetings in all competitions, but they come into this game on the back of a three-game losing sequence - Guardiola‘s men will be hoping that extends to four after today’s game.
doku to thrill again?
It’s fair to say the impact Belgian winger Jeremy Doku has had since arriving at the club has been nothing short of superb.
A box-of-tricks player who beats opponents with almost ridiculous ease, City fans are already wondering how bright his flame can burn.
Learning from the stellar talent the Blues have on a daily basis has already taken his game to the next level - imagine what might happen when Kevin De Bruyne returns?
Stats and facts
- City have lost just two of their last 13 Premier League home games against Tottenham (W9 D2), going down 2-1 in February 2016 and 3-2 in February 2022.
- Tottenham have won five of their last seven Premier League games against City (L2), more than they had in their previous 19 against them (W4 D3 L12).
- Since Pep Guardiola joined the club in 2016, Man City have lost more Premier League games against Tottenham Hotspur than they have against any other (6), while against no side have they conceded more goals (19, level with Liverpool).
- City have failed to win in four of their last seven Premier League games (W3 D2 L2), as many as in their previous 26 games beforehand (W22 D2 L2). City have drawn their last two games, not drawing three in a row since March and April 2017 in Guardiola’s first season in charge.
- Tottenham Hotspur have lost their last three Premier League matches, having been unbeaten in their previous 11 games (W9 D2). Spurs haven’t had a longer losing run since losing six on the spin in October and November 2004, with Jacques Santini and Martin Jol managing three games each in that run. The last Spurs manager to lose four in a row was David Pleat in March and April 2004.
- City have drawn their last two Premier League games despite going ahead in both games. City haven’t gone ahead in three games in a row and failed to win any since November 2009, in draws against Burnley, Liverpool and Hull City.
- Tottenham have scored first in their last three Premier League matches but gone on to lose all three, only the fifth side to do that in Premier League history and first since Leicester in December 2014. No team has ever scored first and lost four games in a row.
- Dejan Kulusevski has scored for Tottenham away at City in each of the last two seasons. The only player in Premier League history to score away against the reigning champions in three consecutive campaigns is Danny Murphy, who did so in four between 2000-01 and 2003-04.
- Tottenham’s Son Heung-min has scored away Premier League goals against Leicester City, Chelsea and Liverpool when they had won the league in the previous campaign. No player has ever scored on the road against four different reigning champions before.
- Erling Haaland netted his 50th Premier League goal in City’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool last time out, doing so in the fewest appearances of any player to reach that milestone (48 games). He’s never ended on the losing side in a game he’s scored in (P32 W27 D5), with only four players in Premier League history scoring in more without losing.
