Two fallen giants of English football go head-to-head in a crucial Premier League battle on Sunday, as Tottenham Hotspur welcome Manchester United to North London. Both teams have endured underwhelming campaigns, and while a win would allow Spurs to leapfrog their visitors in the table, neither side can confidently say they are clear of the relegation battle just yet.
Spurs Seeking Stability After Cup Exits
Just months ago, Ange Postecoglou confidently stated that he "always" wins trophies in his second season at a club. However, Tottenham’s hopes of silverware have taken significant blows in recent weeks. Their Carabao Cup journey ended in a semi-final defeat to Liverpool, while their FA Cup aspirations were dashed with a fourth-round exit at the hands of Aston Villa.
Yet, the Europa League still offers Tottenham a route to end their long-standing trophy drought, and before their recent cup heartbreak, Spurs managed to arrest a worrying league slump with a vital win over Brentford. That 3-2 triumph ended a seven-game winless run in the Premier League and provided a much-needed boost in confidence.
However, Postecoglou’s men must now rectify their alarming home form. Spurs have gone over three months without a Premier League win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, drawing twice and losing five of their last seven league matches on home soil. They have at least found the net in all those games, with Everton being the only team to fail to score in North London against them this season.
Postecoglou boasts an unbeaten record against Manchester United in the Premier League, and another positive result would see him join an exclusive group of managers—Unai Emery, Ruud Gullit, and Nuno Espírito Santo—who have avoided defeat in their first four top-flight games against the Red Devils.
Manchester United’s Struggles Continue
Like their hosts, Manchester United were also in FA Cup action last weekend, and their victory over Leicester City was not without controversy. Harry Maguire’s late header sealed a 2-1 win, but replays suggested the goal would have been ruled out for offside had VAR been in operation.
Ruben Amorim’s side have shown signs of improvement, winning six of their last eight matches across all competitions. However, consistency remains elusive. Their last Premier League outing ended in a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, marking their seventh loss in their last 11 league matches.
Tottenham have already had United’s number twice this season. In December, they secured a dramatic 4-3 victory in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, and earlier in the campaign, they stunned Erik ten Hag’s men with a resounding 3-0 win at Old Trafford. Now, Spurs have the chance to complete a league double over United for the first time in history.
Team News
Tottenham’s injury crisis has been well-documented, but Postecoglou is set to receive a timely boost with several key players returning. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and full-back Destiny Udogie are both expected to be fit, while James Maddison and Brennan Johnson could also make their comebacks from calf injuries. However, Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner remain unavailable.
Spurs will still be without defensive stalwarts Micky van de Ven (thigh) and Cristian Romero (thigh), while striker Dominic Solanke (knee) and Richarlison (calf) remain sidelined. In addition, Radu Dragusin recently underwent surgery for a season-ending ACL injury.
For Manchester United, Lisandro Martínez is recovering from a similar ACL procedure and will miss out, alongside Luke Shaw (calf), Mason Mount (thigh), Jonny Evans (back), Tom Heaton (unspecified), and Altay Bayindir (unspecified). Amorim also hinted that there were "one or two more" injury concerns within his squad but did not disclose names.
New signing Patrick Dorgu made his debut at right wing-back against Leicester but struggled and was withdrawn at halftime. Alejandro Garnacho, who impressed in the second half, is expected to return to the starting lineup.
Possible Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Gray, Danso, Spence; Sarr, Bissouma, Bergvall; Kulusevski, Tel, Son.
Manchester United: Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Yoro; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dalot; Diallo, Garnacho; Zirkzee.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-0 Manchester United
Goals have been a common theme in Spurs' home matches this season, with both teams scoring in each of their last 10 Premier League games in North London. However, Tottenham’s attacking reinforcements and their strong record against United suggest they could have the upper hand.
While Amorim’s men have ground out results in cup competitions, their Premier League form remains inconsistent. With key injuries still affecting the squad and their defensive frailties exposed in recent weeks, United may struggle to cope with Tottenham’s firepower.
A comfortable home win could be on the cards, further solidifying Spurs’ dominance over the Red Devils this season.
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