Manchester United will be looking to end a run of one win in five Premier League games as they host in-form Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Both clubs booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with victories last time out, though international call-ups have depleted Ange Postecoglou’s squad ahead of their trip to Old Trafford.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s clash.
Match Preview – Manchester United vs Tottenham:
Form
Manchester United: WLWLD
Only Newcastle and Brentford have picked up fewer points than Manchester United’s four in their last five Premier League games, but they managed to get past League One Wigan Athletic 2-0 in the FA Cup on Monday night.
Erik ten Hag’s full-strength side opened the scoring through full-back Diogo Dalot on 24 minutes before captain Bruno Fernandes netted a second-half penalty to wrap up the tie. United will face either League Two Newport County or National League side Eastleigh in round four.
Cool as you like, @B_Fernandes8 ????#MUFC || #FACup
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 9, 2024
The Premier League’s bottom two clubs, Burnley and Sheffield United, are the only two sides in the division to score fewer goals than the Red Devils this campaign as their woes in front of goal continue.
It took summer signing Rasmus Hojlund 15 Premier League games to score a goal in the top flight, as Ten Hag’s favoured ‘front three’ of Hojlund, Rashford and Garnacho have only netted seven league goals between them, five less than Tottenham’s Heung-min Son.
United have had success at the other end of the pitch, as their six clean sheets are bettered by only Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle, who are all on seven, with defender Harry Maguire named Premier League Player of the Month back in November.
Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana was included in his nation’s AFCON squad, though there have been mixed reports over his availability this weekend. It has been reported that the shot-stopper reached an agreement to join up with his international teammates after the Spurs match.
Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat has already joined up with his national team and will be unavailable for the clash.
Tottenham: WWLWW
After going through a run of bad form at the turn of November, Spurs have rebounded well and have won five of their last six matches over the festive period, with a 4-2 defeat away at Brighton their only slip-up.
Right back Pedro Porro’s wonder-strike was enough to book the Lilywhites a place in the FA Cup fourth round against Burnley last time out, in their first game without forward Heung-Min Son, who is representing South Korea in the Asian Cup.
Playing on repeat ???? @Pedroporro29_ ???? pic.twitter.com/m9l54SUVaw
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 7, 2024
In the 31-year-old’s absence, Postecoglou has completed the loan signing of ex-Chelsea striker Timo Werner this transfer window, and he could make his first appearance in English football in over 18 months on Sunday.
Despite sitting in fifth place, the North London outfit have the chance to climb up to second in the table with a win, if results go their way, and they have impressed away from home in the Premier League this campaign.
No teams have scored more goals away from home than Spurs (22 in 10 matches), as they’ve picked up 18 points on the road, the third most in the division.
Postecoglou’s men will be without midfield duo Papa Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma for at least the next two matches, as the pair jet off to join Senegal and Mali at AFCON.
The pair have added to an already large unavailable list, which includes James Maddison, Cristian Romero and Manor Solomon.
Spurs could welcome defender Radu Dragusin into the matchday squad. The 21-year-old Romanian signed from Genoa this January and has started all 19 games in Serie A this campaign.
Micky van de Ven also returned to the first-team squad in their most recent game. The Dutchman was an unused substitute in their FA Cup clash after returning from a hamstring problem suffered in November.
Last Meeting
Tottenham 2-0 Manchester United, August 19th 2023
Ange Postecoglou picked up his first win as Tottenham boss the last time the two sides met, as Manchester United were punished for squandering big chances in the second gameweek of the season.
Bruno Fernandes sliced through the Spurs defence with an elegant rabona cross to tee-up Marcus Rashford early in the contest, but the Englishman’s header was off target to keep the score goalless.
This was after the 26-year-old forward forced a reaction save from Guglielmo Vicario, who prevented 1.46 xG on the day.
It was then Fernandes’ turn to miss a big chance after he beat the offside trap, only to head way wide of the target from very close range.
Pape Matar Sarr opened the scoring for Spurs after the ball deflected off Lisandro Martinez and fell to the Senegalese man at the back post, who fired the ball past Andre Onana for his first goal in English football.
Martinez’s woes continued as he mis-kicked the ball into his own net to double his side’s deficit. Ivan Perisic played a ball into the path of Ben Davies, who failed to get a proper connection on the cross, though the ball skewed off the Argentinian and into the goal.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Varane, Dalot; McTominay, Mainoo, Fernandes; Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford.
Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Royal, van de Ven, Udogie; Skipp, Lo Celso, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Johnson.
Who is the referee?
John Brooks.
Is Manchester United v Tottenham on TV?
UK and Ireland: Sky Sports Main Event.
USA: Peacock.
What time is kick off?
Sunday 14th January, 16:30pm GMT.
Odds
Manchester United – 6/5
Draw – 11/4
Tottenham – 2/1
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