Kick-off: October 28, 12:30; Venue: Old Trafford; Referee: Jonathan Moss
Only goal difference separates second-placed Manchester United from third-placed Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Indeed, both teams have won six, drawn two and lost one of their nine Premier League matches this season, with the pair both trailing Pep Guardiola’s vibrant and confident Manchester City team by five points.
There is no question that United boss Jose Mourinho will be looking for a response from his players following last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town. The Red Devils did win 2-0 at Swansea City in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, but that result will count for nothing if they lose at home to Tottenham.
Mourinho was critical of his team in the aftermath of the Huddersfield result, and after keeping pace with City in the early weeks of the season, United have now taken just one point from their last two league matches. It is far from disastrous form, but there is no downplaying the importance of Saturday’s clash in Manchester.
Only City (32) have scored more league goals than United (22) this season, while the 20-time English champions have the joint-best defensive record – four goals conceded – alongside their bitter rivals. City will expect to beat West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon, and the Citizens will be the big winners if United and Tottenham play out a draw at Old Trafford.
Romelu Lukaku has not scored in his last four United appearances after a blistering start to the season, while there are also concerns over the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose form has suffered in recent weeks.
Lukaku is still the joint-second leading scorer in the Premier League this season, but the man at the top of the scoring charts is a certain Harry Kane on eight goals. The 24-year-old has been ruled out of the clash at Old Trafford, however, after picking up a hamstring injury in the latter stages of last weekend’s 4-1 win over Liverpool.
Like United, Tottenham were also in the EFL Cup action during the week, and despite taking a 2-0 lead against West Ham United, Mauricio Pochettino’s side exited the competition with a 3-2 defeat. It was a rare blip during what has been very strong run of form for the capital club.
Indeed, their only Premier League defeat of the season came at home to Chelsea back in August. Since then, they have won eight of their 12 matches across three separate competitions. That run includes back-to-back Premier League wins – the last of which was the impressive 4-1 success over Liverpool last Sunday.
Not only will Tottenham enter the match in the better form, the chance to move above United in the Premier League table is a major incentive. Indeed, victory at Old Trafford would suggest that Pochettino’s side are ready to make a strong challenge for the title this season.
United, however, have won their last three Premier League home games against Tottenham without conceding a single goal. Spurs, meanwhile, have lost on 20 of their 25 Premier League visits to United – recording just two wins in the process.
United’s record is even more impressive when considering that they have lost only four of their last 32 top-flight matches with the Lilywhites. It is a staggering statistic, but this Spurs side appear ready to pick up a positive result at Old Trafford.
Indeed, Tottenham’s tally of 20 points from nine matches is their best start to a top-flight campaign since 1963. They have lost just two of their last 22 Premier League matches, and have won their last six on the road. It is the standout clash in the Premier League this weekend, and one that United dare not lose.
Team news
Paul Pogba returned to Carrington on Thursday as the Frenchman steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem, but Saturday will come too soon for the influential midfielder.
Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo, meanwhile, are all still on the sidelines for United.
Eric Bailly could feature for the first time since the international break after recovering from injury, but it seems likely that Mourinho will select Phil Jones and Chris Smalling at the heart of the back four once again.
Lukaku, who has scored just 15 goals in 58 top-flight games against the so-called big six, will again lead the United line, and the Belgian should be supported by Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata.
As for Tottenham, their major team news is the absence of Kane, who has failed to recover from the hamstring injury that he suffered against Liverpool. Fernando Llorente is in line to replace the Englishman, but the Swansea City forward has not yet scored for Spurs this season.
Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele have both overcome injuries to make themselves available for Premier League selection, but Victor Wanyama is still on the sidelines for the visiting team.
Eric Dier, who was strongly linked with a move to United during the summer, is available after recovering from a short illness.
Expected starting lineups
United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Young; Matic, Herrera; Rashford, Mkhitaryan, Mata; Lukaku
Tottenham: Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Dembele, Dier, Davies; Eriksen, Alli; Llorente
Did you know?
Should Tottenham win at Old Trafford, it would be the first time since April 1990 that they have recorded consecutive league victories over United.
Prediction
United have won their last five Premier League games at Old Trafford without conceding a single goal, and have not been beaten in the league on home soil since September 2016. Despite their troubles in recent weeks, Mourinho is well on his way to making the Theatre of Dreams a fortress once again.
Tottenham
are strong and resolute, however, and after picking up a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Real Madrid in the Champions League last week, Pochettino’s side certainly have enough about them to avoid defeat in Manchester.
The absence of Kane is a big one though, and with that in mind, United should edge out the narrowest of wins.
Score prediction: United 2-1 Tottenham
