The two Premier League clubs have already enjoyed some great battles in 2019

Tottenham Hotspur will go head-to-head with Manchester City for the fourth time this year and the decisiveness of Saturday's match will not be lost on anyone.

Spurs and Pep Guardiola's great side enjoyed some titanic clashes in the 2018/19 season, especially in the Champions League.

Mauricio Pochettino may have only guided his team to a single victory out of three encounters with City in 2019 so far, but it was a pivotal 1-0 win at home.

Two one-goal defeats followed at the Etihad in quick succession, but a 4-3 loss in the Champions League was enough to send Spurs into the semi-finals on away goals.

Meanwhile a 1-0 loss a few days later in the Premier League didn't feel too costly at the time, although in the end Tottenham only qualified for the top four by a single point.

This time it's a new season and the Lilywhites have big ambitious after finally entering the transfer window again with deadline day addition Giovani Lo Celso likely to be involved in the 5.30pm clash.

Last weekend showed the type of challenge lying ahead for the north Londoners if they want to stay in the championship battle with City and Liverpool for the long haul this time.

The Reds, who only lost once in the Premier League last season, started with a 4-1 win over Norwich City on Friday before the current holders won 5-0 at West Ham United on Saturday in the lunchtime kick-off.

Harry Kane struck a brace later in the day to help Tottenham pick up three points following a 3-1 win against Aston Villa at home and he admitted the results of the top two were on his mind.

"We kept with them for a while last year but they blew ahead after January, so we have to make sure we get off to a good start," Kane, who scored for the first time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, said.

"Liverpool set the standard (on Friday) and City at lunchtime, so it's important we stay in touch as long as we can.

"We have full belief that we can go all the way, but there's a long road ahead and we've got to be fully focused."

Tottenham would have taken a lot of confidence from their run to the Champions League final, but the defeat to Liverpool in Madrid will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Kane added: "It's never easy to get over those games, but we have to because it's a new season and we're excited for that."

It was a fine start to the 2019/20 campaign for the forward with an opening-day brace and he will eye more goals at City on Saturday.