Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a high-octane clash on Saturday.
Spurs began their post-Harry Kane era with an exciting 2-2 draw against local rivals Brentford in the opening week of the season.
Despite Kane’s historical importance as a record goal scorer for the team, Spurs demonstrated their ability to be potent in attack even in his absence.
Tottenham Hotspur, under the guidance of new manager Ange Postecoglou, faced defensive issues in their recent match, resulting in a 2-2 draw against Brentford.
Ready for this weekend’s trip to the capital.#MUFC || #TOTMUN pic.twitter.com/olpT1CDQ0N
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 17, 2023
This has put them on track for a potential two-game winless start to a Premier League season for the first time since 2015-16.
Manchester United’s upcoming visit to Tottenham aligns with this narrative, as the Red Devils remain unbeaten in all four top-flight clashes against Spurs at their stadium (2 wins, 2 draws).
Must Read: Manchester United’s Key Players Ahead of the 2023/24 Season
Erik ten Hag’s side started the season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers. This win raised questions about their capability to compete for the title.
In their opening fixture, United faced a remarkable 23 shots on target, with only Arsenal registering more attempts against them during Ten Hag’s managerial tenure.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United: Head-to-head
Tottenham’s recent home form has been inconsistent, with one win, one draw, and two losses in their final four home league matches of the 2022/23 season, including conceding multiple goals in three of those games.
Postecoglou’s debut as a Premier League manager did not stop this trend, raising concerns about Spurs’ ability to perform well against United.
With the exception of a remarkable 6-1 victory at Old Trafford in October 2020, Tottenham have struggled against the Red Devils, winning just one of their last nine league encounters (2 draws, 6 losses).
Regardless of the outcome, this match is likely to feature many goals, as Spurs’ Premier League matches last season had the highest average of 3.5 goals per game, a trend seen in their opening game against Brentford.
Also Read: Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United – Man United Predicted Lineup | PL
Building towards Saturday's return to @SpursStadium 🏡 pic.twitter.com/3GmOL2wfBe
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 16, 2023
United’s opening-day win extended their winning streak to five league games, but it’s noteworthy that only one of those wins came away from home.
Ten Hag’s team faced difficulties in their away games in the Premier League last season, securing only one point against top-nine teams (1 draw, 7 losses).
Also Read: Aaron Wan-Bissaka praises Erik ten Hag’s influence on the team’s gameplay
United’s struggles away from home were evident in the fact that 76% of their league goals conceded (33 out of 43) occurred in away matches, with 28 of those goals coming against teams that finished in the upper half of the table.
Given their record of just one clean sheet in their last four league visits to Tottenham, their vulnerability to conceding during away matches becomes a major talking point.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United: Team News
Postecoglou faces several selection concerns for Tottenham as they prepare to face United. Rodrigo Bentancur is unavailable due to a long-term injury, and Bryan Gil and Ryan Sessegnon are also sidelined.
There are doubts over the fitness of Cristian Romero, who sustained an injury against Brentford, and Tanguy Ndombele is also uncertain due to last season’s Serie A title winner.
Getting ready for Saturday's game at Tottenham. #MUFC || #TOTMUN pic.twitter.com/sqe7KbMvYa
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 17, 2023
Meanwhile, for United, Rasmus Hojlund may not be ready for action, as he joins Tyler Malacia and third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton on the injury list.
United provided an update on Mason Greenwood’s situation, but the young player’s future at Old Trafford remains uncertain, and he won’t be part of the travelling squad.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United: Potential Starting XI
Tottenham Hotspur’s potential starting XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Vicario; Udogie, Van de Ven, Romero, Emerson; Bissouma, Skipp; Son, Maddison, Kulusevski; Richarlison.
Manchester United’s potential starting XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mount; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford.
Also Read: Liverpool set to hijack Manchester United’s move for Sofyan Amrabat
Our Final Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Manchester United
Considering the performances of both teams in the opening weekend, we predict that Manchester United has a favourable chance to salvage their first win of the season. But it will surely be a closely contested game.
