Tottenham Hotspur, adjusting to life without star striker Harry Kane, found themselves in an electrifying clash against London rivals Brentford, resulting in a 2-2 draw in their Premier League (PL) opener. The newly appointed manager, Ange Postecoglou, has wasted no time in calling for increased creativity from his team following the exciting match.
The challenge for Postecoglou is evident as Tottenham has failed to secure a win in their first two league games only once since the 2015/16 season. Their upcoming fixture against Manchester United adds to the pressure, given United’s historic dominance over them. Manchester United has triumphed over Tottenham 39 times in PL history, making them their most formidable opponents.
Tottenham’s recent record against Manchester United isn’t favorable either, with just one victory in their last nine head-to-head encounters (D2, L6). Furthermore, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has not been a favorable ground for Spurs in this matchup, with two draws and two losses against United.
To reverse this trend, Postecoglou must find a way to tighten Tottenham’s defense while maintaining their attacking prowess. Spurs have been involved in high-scoring matches, with an average of 3.5 goals per game in the PL last season. This trend continued in their recent clash with Brentford.
On the other side of the pitch, Manchester United secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Wolves in their season opener, with manager Erik Ten Hag acknowledging his team’s less-than-convincing performance. The victory, though hard-fought, raised questions about United’s credentials as they allowed Wolves 23 shots on goal.
Manchester United’s away form from the previous season has room for improvement if they intend to break into the top two. A paltry one point earned against fellow top-nine clubs on the road (D1, L7) highlights the need for progress. Tightening the defense will be crucial, as United conceded 76.7% of their season’s total goals while on the road, with 28 of them coming against top-half clubs.
A key battle to watch will be between Tottenham’s new captain, Son Heung-min, and United’s goalkeeper André Onana. Son, who endured a challenging opening day, managed to net a late equalizer in the most recent head-to-head encounter. United’s Onana, making his mark on his Red Devils debut, made six saves and kept a clean sheet on his previous visit to Tottenham.
With both teams showing vulnerabilities and strengths, the stage is set for a high-scoring and thrilling showdown. Manchester United has displayed consistency in finding the net against Tottenham, scoring at least twice in each of their last five encounters (W4, D1). As the anticipation builds, football fans around the world eagerly await this exciting clash between two storied clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Emerson, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Skipp, Maddison; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fernandes, Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Rashford, Sancho
Prediction
| Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester United |
Live stream
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK. It will also be available to stream live on JK Sports360 and Peacock Premium in the US.
