Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will aim to continue their unbeaten runs when they face off at Old Trafford on Sunday.
After an action-packed Saturday to kick off Gameweek 5 of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Sunday will be a lighter day, with only two matches on the menu. The proceedings on the day will begin with the game between Ipswich Town and Aston Villa at Portman Road before finishing up with Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have endured another frustrating campaign in the early days of the 2024/25 season. The Red Devils have lost as many games as they have won thus far this term while considerably underperforming in the final third. While Erik ten Hag’s men are currently on a four-match unbeaten run, their finishing has been lackadaisical, to say the least.
As for Tottenham Hotspur, the cracks continue to show in Ange Postecoglou’s system, with the shortcomings contributing to a few underwhelming performances and results. The North London outfit lost two games to start September before embarking on a three-game winning run that has eased the tensions at the club.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Tottenham Hotspur twice come from a goal down to hold Manchester United to a 2-2 draw. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Erik ten Hag does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players vs Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The Dutch tactician saw Mason Mount return from a thigh issue earlier this week. However, Luke Shaw (calf), Leny Yoro (foot), Tyrell Malacia (knee), and Victor Lindelof (toe) remain on the sidelines. Everyone except Yoro should be back in action next month.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Tottenham Hotspur. The backline should feature Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot.
As for the midfield unit, Manuel Ugarte should get the nod over Christian Eriksen to be Kobbie Mainoo’s partner in the double pivot. The former Tottenham playmaker looked fatigued towards the end of the match against FC Twente and should get some rest.
Bruno Fernandes will reprise the no. 10 role, with Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joshua Zirkzee will lead the line for Manchester United against Tottenham, with Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund being backup options on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
Tottenham Hotspur
Like his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Ange Postecoglou does not have any new issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Tottenham Hotspur manager will be without two first-team players on Sunday.
Richarlison (calf) and Wilson Odobert (hamstring) remain on the sidelines, with both players likely to return after the international break. Postecoglou was sweating over the fitness of Son Heung-min, but the Tottenham captain is fit and available to take on Manchester United.
Guglielmo Vicario will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Tottenham Hotspur lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. The backline should feature Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie.
As for the midfield unit, Rodrigo Bentancur will hold the fort in the middle of the park, allowing Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison to carve out the openings. Dominic Solanke will spearhead the Tottenham attack against Manchester United, with Son and Brennan Johnson completing the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son
Key Stats
- After a run of four straight Premier League defeats vs Manchester United between 2021 and 2022, Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten in their last three against them in the Premier League (W1 D2). The North London giants have lost 24 Premier League away games against Manchester United (W4 D4), with only Everton losing as many top-flight fixtures on the road against a single opponent.
- Manchester United had a 20-game unbeaten run at home in the Premier League from August 2022 to August 2023 (W17 D3) but have lost seven of their 19 home fixtures since (W9 D3). However, the Red Devils have kept four clean sheets in their last six top-flight games, one more than they had in their previous 24 combined.
- Tottenham have won three Premier League away games since November 2023. No ever-present side in the top flight during that time has fewer victories on the road. Meanwhile, the North London giants have remained winless in their opening three Premier League away fixtures in only one of the last 15 seasons (2019/20).
- Tottenham have made 263 off-the-ball runs into the opposition box in the Premier League this season, with only Liverpool (282) exceeding that figure.
- Son Heung-min has created 13 chances from open play in the Premier League this season, more than any other player (before the latest matchday).
- Marcus Rashford has scored six top-flight goals versus Tottenham; only against Leicester City (eight goals) does he have a better record.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
While Manchester United have shown signs that they are turning a corner, the results have not followed in the last two games. Ironically, one of the biggest culprits for the Red Devils has been their best player in recent seasons, Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese international has attempted 17 shots in the Premier League thus far this season, more than any other player yet to score. There is a thought process that Fernandes might not be the ideal fit in the new system under Erik ten Hag. So, the onus is on the Manchester United captain to lead by example and deliver the goods against Tottenham.
Prediction
Manchester United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
The numbers paint a confusing picture heading into Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford this weekend. The visitors have a dreadful record on the road under Ange Postecoglou, managing only three away wins since November 2023. However, they have won their last three games, improving with each performance.
On the other hand, Manchester United have played an eye-catching brand of football this past week without winning their two games. However, with both teams having vulnerable backlines and midfield units, an end-to-end affair might be on the cards. In the end, there might not be much to separate the two sides, with The Hard Tackle predicting a 2-2 draw between Manchester United and Tottenham.