Tottenham v Manchester City: Pellegrini expecting entertaining encounter

Manchester City will look to boost their hopes of finishing second in the Premier League when they travel to Tottenham.

City's title defence could be over before they kick-off at White Hart Lane if Chelsea beat Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday, but Manuel Pellegrini insists they are focused on finishing the campaign on a positive note.

Arsenal are only behind City on goal difference with a game in hand, while United could leapfrog their fierce rivals with victory over West Brom on Saturday, placing further emphasis on beating Tottenham.

"It will be a very tough game because Tottenham are a good team with good players and a good manager," he said.  

"They play in an offensive way so we must work very hard in defence. They need points to qualify for the Europa League and we must try to be near the top of the table. It is two teams who play well and try to attack.

"We are thinking just to win the next game, this moment we are two points ahead of United so its just depends on what we can do, if we can reach the second place."

Mauricio Pochettino will be concerned by Tottenham's lack of form against Pellegrini's side given their chase for a European place against Southampton and Liverpool.

"I think that it is important in the next four games to try to take the most points possible," he said. "It is always better if you finish fifth rather than seventh. That is our real target.

"We are focused on trying to finish the season as best as possible."

City will be without influential midfielder Yaya Toure after he was ruled out with a hamstring problem, joining captain Vincent Kompany (thigh) and forward Stevan Jovetic on the sidelines.