Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero. (Photo : Getty Images)
Erstwhile 2015-2016 Premier League season leaders Manchester City (14-6-5, 47 points) are on a downward spiral, unable to find a win in three of their last five matches. They look to bounce back from their current funk as they face the now second-running Tottenham Hotspur (13-3-9, 48 points) at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
City lost once and drawn two times in their previous five games to drop to fourth place in the current league table.
Their most recent match was a hard-fought 1-3 loss to current league leaders Leicester City also at their home field last Saturday, as reported by BBC Sport.
Argentine striker Sergio Agüero scored the only goal of the Citizens during the match, a consolation one three minutes before full time, after the Foxes raced to a 3-0 lead in the first 60 minutes with a double from German defender Robert Huth and one from Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez.
Manuel Pellegrini, who is reportedly going to be replaced by Bayern Munich head coach Pep Guardiola at the end of the season, could not devise a strategy to break down Leicester's defense in the match while at the same time leaving their backfield vulnerable to the Foxes' attacks.
Meanwhile, the Spurs are on a four-game winning streak to overtake City and Arsenal in the overall standings.
In their last match, Tottenham defeated newly-promoted club Watford FC, 1-0, at their White Hart Lane also last Saturday, as per SkySports.
Defender Kieran Trippier provided the lone goal of the match at the 64th minute to add another three points to the present campaign of Mauricio Pochettino's side.
Trippier shot from three-yards out, his first goal for the club, via a rebound off a cross from midfielder Dele Alli.
The Hornets were not able to provide any sort of fight as Tottenham dominated ball possessions all throughout the match.
The predicted result is a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Manchester City as Pellegrini is keen on ending his stint as Citizens manager with dignity intact.
Manchester City starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Hart; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demichelis, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Delph; Silva, Touré, Sterling; Agüero
Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies; Dier, Dembélé; Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli; Kane
