Manchester City host in-form Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium this evening (5.30pm kick-off) knowing that a win will take them level on points with Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

Pep Guardiola’s side were thumped 4-0 by Everton last weekend on what was a horrendous afternoon for the City boss, as it became his heaviest league defeat in his managerial career thus far.

It means that the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss has some work to do to prepare his side for the visit of Tottenham, who are playing as well as anyone in the Premier League at present.

Pochettino’s men recorded a sixth straight victory courtesy of a 4-0 success over West Brom last weekend, with Harry Kane netting a hat-trick to take his tally to 13 for the campaign.

Victory took them up to second in the division and three points clear of City, and Guardiola knows that his men need to bounce back this evening or they could see their top four hopes dented.

With the build-up well underway ahead of tonight’s encounter, here are THREE reasons why City will get the three points at the Etihad…

Home comforts

Four of City’s five league defeats this season have come away from home, but at the Etihad Stadium, they’ve been pretty good.

The Citizens have won six of their ten league games in front of their own supporters this season, with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea the only side to take all three points from their visit to Manchester at the start of December.

The likes of Everton, Southampton, and Middlesbrough have all picked up valuable points at the Etihad this season, but those games were a while ago now, and it seems that Guardiola’s men have found a way to win at home after dropping those six points.

Since the Chelsea defeat, they have beaten Watford, Arsenal, and Burnley at home – they haven’t always been at their best in those games, but they’ve got the job done, and that should give them confidence going into this evening’s encounter with Tottenham.

Response needed

Manchester City’s 4-0 defeat at Everton last weekend was Guardiola’s heaviest loss in a league game as a manager in what was a complete debacle at Goodison Park.

The Citizens were wasteful in front of goal and shambolic at the back, another performance of that ilk this evening will see them lose, and lose heavily to an in-form and confident Tottenham.

Thus, Guardiola needs a response from his players.

They have to cut out the silly defensive errors, and indeed score when they are on top – something that didn’t do at Everton, and something that haven’t done enough in recent weeks.

Arguably, City owe it to Spurs to end their brilliant run because that’s exactly what Tottenham did to City back on October 2, beating the Citizens 2-0 at White Hart Lane to inflict a first league defeat on Guardiola’s side.

City haven’t quite been the same since, while Spurs have come on leaps and bounds – what a perfect opportunity it would be to turn the tables and they get the win to kick-start their quest for a top four place.

Must-win game

Defeat for City tonight will see them fall six points behind Tottenham, and possibly six behind Liverpool should they beat Swansea in the early kick-off.

And, when the teams are so close at present, City cannot afford to fall that far behind in the race for a top four spot.

Thus, this really is a must-win game for Guardiola’s side.

They are at home, where they have been good in recent times, and have the players capable of hurting Tottenham if they are at their best.

That 2-0 defeat at White Hart Lane back in October will undoubtedly stick in their minds, but they now know how Spurs will play against them, and indeed stop them playing – it’s up to Guardiola and his side to combat that and, as the home team, the onus will be on them.

Their top four hopes don’t rest on tonight’s game, but they will certainly be dented should they lose.