Man United vs Tottenham

Manchester United vs Tottenham: A Premier League Showdown at Old Trafford

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will face off in a Premier League blockbuster at Old Trafford on Sunday, with both teams having started their Europa League campaigns in contrasting fashion. United struggled to a 1-1 draw with FC Twente, while Spurs comfortably defeated Qarabag 3-0 despite being down to 10 men.

Match Preview
Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen made headlines both on and off the pitch during their Europa League opener against Twente. The Danish midfielder gave his team the lead with a stunning long-range effort, but his post-match comments about Twente “wanting it more” than United added to the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag. A second-half equalizer from Sam Lammers meant United were held to their second consecutive draw, following last weekend’s goalless stalemate with Crystal Palace.

Despite extending their unbeaten run to four matches, United’s performance remains under scrutiny. With just six points from their first five league games, Ten Hag’s position is looking increasingly precarious. Offensively, United have struggled, scoring only five goals from an expected goals (xG) tally of 9.6 – the third-highest in the league.

In contrast, Tottenham are hitting their stride under new manager Ange Postecoglou. Spurs have rediscovered their scoring touch, netting eight goals in their last three games, including 3-0 wins over Brentford and Qarabag. Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr, and Dominic Solanke all found the net in their Europa League triumph, marking Tottenham's third straight victory.

However, Spurs’ away form in the Premier League has been a concern, with only two wins in their last 12 road games. They’ve also lost four of their last six away matches, including a troubling stretch last season. Still, Tottenham did manage a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in their last visit, extending their unbeaten run against United to three games.

Team News
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is not expecting any fresh injuries for the Tottenham clash, but key players like Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Victor Lindelof, and Luke Shaw remain sidelined. Midfield changes could see Kobbie Mainoo return to the starting lineup, while Alejandro Garnacho is pushing for a spot in attack, possibly replacing Marcus Rashford or Amad Diallo.

Tottenham had a brief injury scare with captain Son Heung-min during the Qarabag game, but manager Postecoglou is optimistic that Son will be fit to play. Son has created the most open-play chances in the Premier League this season and has a strong record against United, with four goals and one assist in his last seven games. Radu Dragusin is suspended for European games, but Spurs will also be missing Wilson Odobert and Richarlison for the trip to Old Trafford.

Possible Lineups
Manchester United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son