The Top Flight
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Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City: Combined XI ahead of EPL showdown

By Craig Pearson

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City (R) celebrates with team mate Raheem Sterling as he scores their second goal from a penalty during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City FC and VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City (R) celebrates with team mate Raheem Sterling as he scores their second goal from a penalty during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City FC and VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City runs with the ball at Julian Korb of Borussia Moenchengladbach during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City FC and VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City runs with the ball at Julian Korb of Borussia Moenchengladbach during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City FC and VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Central Midfield

The center of midfield is stacked for both teams. For Spurs, Victor Wanyama has done well after joining in the summer. Whilst Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Moussa Sissoko all must be considered. Moussa Dembele has missed games through suspension.

The first name on the team sheet, though, is Fernandinho. The Brazilian has been magnificent for City and really is an all-round midfield player. He’s got fantastic energy, works hard, tracks back, tackles, gets forward, passes well and even scores goals.

Fernandinho has impressed despite a huge work load playing as the deepest midfielder behind Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva. De Bruyne would have been an automatic selection, but is out of action for around three weeks.

David Silva, though, has to be selected. The Spaniard is still one of the best playmakers in the Premier League and Guardiola gave him a key central midfield role to begin the season. Now, we just need one more midfielder to complete the trio.

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Ilkay Gundogan started the season late, but has already shown why Guardiola was so desperate to sign him. The German has great work rate and his passing is sublime. The 25-year-old could prove to be one of the bargains of the summer come the end of the season at just £21 million.

So Gundogan it is who joins his teammates, Silva and Fernandinho, to round out the three in midfield. A midfield Guardiola has in fact fielded lately, and everybody knows how obsessive Guardiola is over his midfield.

If it’s good enough for Pep, then it’s good enough for our XI.

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