Premier League preview: Spurs boss Pochettino is going to Man City to win

Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino says he’s excited at the prospect of facing Premier League leaders Manchester City tomorrow night, but says his side will be going to the Etihad intent on winning the match.

Pochettino’s Tottenham are in fourth place in the table. Meanwhile Pep Guardiola’s City have won 15 games on the trot and have an 11-point lead over second-placed Manchester United.

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Pochettino told the BBC: “We’re going to Manchester thinking we can win. We’re going to enjoy it, because it’s a fantastic challenge to play against Manchester City. They’re the best team in England and one of the best in Europe.

“I’m so excited to play, because I love to play against teams and managers like [Pep] Guardiola that are the best. I’m so motivated and so happy that we are going to play a team at their best.”

City right-back Kyle Walker is expected to face his former side while Spurs should recall Dele Alli and Mousa Dembele after they were rested in midweek.

AFC Bournemouth vs. Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says midfielder Adam Lallana is in contention to make the squad for the trip to Bournemouth on Sunday.

Joel Matip and Nathaniel Clyne are still missing for the Reds, but Klopp will wait to see on forward Daniel Sturridge.

Klopp said: “Adam [Lallana] is back in full and normal training. If nothing changed since yesterday then he will be ready for the squad at least.”

Meanwhile, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is wary of Liverpool’s attackers – Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino – who have scored 47 goals between them this season.

Howe told Sky Sports: “As a quartet, they are very strong. They have all got different strengths and different ways of hurting you so defensively we are going to have to be very good.

“I think they are a formidable outfit at the moment. They are scoring goals for fun. They are a very strong team this year and they are getting better and improving all the time.”

Everton vs. Swansea

New Everton manager Sam Allardyce has praised his squad and in particular Wayne Rooney for his part in the club’s recent revival.

Everton have won three matches and drawn once since Allardyce was appointed. Rooney scored the winner against Newcastle on Wednesday to take his tally to nine in the Premier League this season.

“Credit goes to the players who have achieved a lot in a short space of time,” Allardyce told the BBC. “It has put the club in a stable position quicker and enabled me to think bigger, sustaining our position in the top half and trying to continue to get as many results as we can.

“I’m not doing too much with Wayne – it’s just my management style. It is about simplifying your game if you are lacking confidence, and then it grows.”

Yannick Bolasie could return to the Everton squad to face Swansea on Monday night after being out since last December with a knee injury. The Everton boss said: “Yannick Bolasie is training and will probably play some part for the U23s tonight, so we’ll see what happens with that.

“We’ll have a discussion with the whole team on whether that makes him available against Swansea.”

Tomorrow’s Premier League fixtures (3pm unless stated)

Sunday’s Premier League fixtures

• West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester United (2.15pm, live on Sky Sports)
• AFC Bournemouth vs. Liverpool (4.30pm, live on Sky Sports)

Monday’s Premier League fixture

• Everton vs. Swansea (8pm, live on Sky Sports)