Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League – Preview, Team News and Updates

Another week, another clash of the titans. This weekend’s Premier League festivities will be headlined by a mammoth clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. The two English giants face each other on Sunday after underwhelming starts to their Premier League campaign.

Both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur currently have seven points on the board after five games in the Prem. By any yardstick, it’s a poor start of the season for both the clubs. But it’s still early days, and there’s time to turn things around. A victory on Sunday could be just the boost both teams need to spark their seasons into life. Manchester United, in particular, have been disappointing this season. And after drawing their Europa League opener against Dutch side Twente, fans are beginning to question Ten Hag’s coaching credentials. Meanwhile, Spurs come into this game on the back of three consecutive wins in three different tournaments. With all the stars aligning, Sunday’s match between United and Spurs has the potential to be one of the games of the season. 

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview 

After a summer of upheaval, many United fans expected Erik Ten Hag to finally push on and deliver consistent performances throughout the season. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. Despite signing the likes of Mattijs De Ligt, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte and Noussair Mazraoui for an outlay of more than 100-million euros this summer, the Red Devils are as inconsistent as ever. Serious questions are being asked of Ten Hag, and if performances and results don’t improve, he soon might get the boot. 

Now in his third season at the helm, Ten Hag has struggled to instill a clear footballing identity at Manchester United. This was especially evident during United's 1-1 Europa League opener against Twente. After taking the lead through Christian Eriksen, United let Twente grab an equalizer after Bart van Rooij dribbled through United’s entire midfield without any opposition. Another pressing issue for the Red Devils is their lack of creativity in front of goal. They have only netted 5 goals in the Premier League so far, despite generating an xG (expected goals) of 9.6—making their goal-scoring inefficiency the second worst in the league, behind only Southampton. If United are to overcome Spurs, they’ll need to sharpen up and be far more clinical in front of goal. 

On the flip side, Tottenham are starting to recover from a disappointing start to the season, which saw them secure just four points from four games in the Premier League. However, since their 1-0 North London Derby defeat to Arsenal, Spurs have found their mojo. They have now won three straight games in three different competitions, with their most recent win coming against Qarabag in the Europa League. Despite playing more than 80 minutes with 10 men, Tottenham thrashed Qarabag by a scoreline of 3-0. Dominic Solanke found the back of the net for the second consecutive game, while Brennan Johnson went one better, scoring in his third straight match. However, securing a win against United, that too at Old Trafford would be challenging. But with the Spurs attack firing on all cylinders, I wouldn’t put it past them. 

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur – Team News and Updates 

ottenham fans had a brief heart-in-mouth moment when Son Heung-min looked to have picked up a knock during the win over Qarabag on Thursday. But Ange Postecoglou calmed nerves after the match, assuring everyone it’s not a major concern. Son has been a creative force this season, leading the Premier League with 13 chances created from open play. Plus, his recent track record against Manchester United is impressive—four goals and an assist in his last seven appearances. It’s safe to say the Spurs skipper should be fit to lead the charge on Sunday. Radu Dragusin's suspension, thanks to his red card, only applies to European competitions. So, for the trip to Old Trafford, Spurs’ only confirmed absentees are Wilson Odobert (thigh) and Richarlison (calf).  

Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag doesn’t expect any surprises for his lineup against Spurs, with the likes of Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Victor Lindelof, and Luke Shaw still out. But a few tactical tweaks could be on the cards. Kobbie Mainoo is pushing for a start in midfield, potentially at Manuel Ugarte’s expense as he waits for his full Premier League debut. And Alejandro Garnacho is itching for a return to the starting XI, but whether it’s Rashford or Amad Diallo who makes way remains to be seen. 

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 29th September 2024 (Sunday) at Old Trafford in Manchester. The match will kick off at 9:00 PM (Indian Standard Time). 

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