Man City duo chase goal milestones in title marker against Tottenham

Sterling out for more goal recognition

Raheem Sterling this week moved up to 10th in the list of Manchester City's all-time goalscorers, with his sublime strike against Sporting the 127th he has plundered since moving from Liverpool in 2015 - not bad for somebody who supposedly can't finish.

The 27-year-old will surely keep his place to face Tottenham given the form he is in, and he is also one goal away from becoming just the second player to net 50 Premier League goals at the Etihad.

If that again shows how important he has been to this team, and the dramatic improvement in the team both since the takeover and under Pep Guardiola, the fact that Sergio Aguero is out in front with 106 also highlights how prolific the Argentine was during his decade at the club.

De Bruyne also chasing goals

Also in the goals of late at the stadium has been Kevin De Bruyne, who added the second against Brentford to go with his brilliant winner against Chelsea last month.

Guardiola needs all of his players to chip in with goals without a No.9, and City's playmaker-in-chief is joint-second in the club charts for Premier League goals this season - tied on seven with Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez behind Sterling on 10.

One more league goal would see De Bruyne become just the fourth Belgian to net 50 in the competition, after Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, and Christian Benteke.

Tottenham marker

In Guardiola's five completed seasons in English football, City have drawn twice at home to Tottenham in the league and won three times.

The two draws came in seasons that they did not win the title while the three victories came in years where they did run out as the best in the division.

If anyone is looking for an omen for how successful City's