Manchester United vs Tottenham Preview
- Draw
- Rashford to score or assist
Pressure Mounts on Erik ten Hag and Manchester United
The brief respite from negative headlines seems to have ended for Manchester United and their manager, Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils have struggled in front of goal, drawing against both Crystal Palace and Twente while converting just one of their 33 shots in those two games.
Ten Hag has acknowledged that both he and his players need to “look in the mirror” following their recent performances, and with a challenging set of fixtures ahead, United have little room for further slip-ups.
Consistency remains a problem for United, as their Premier League record across the last 15 matches is perfectly balanced (W5, D5, L5). Their home form at Old Trafford has also been mixed, with their last 19 league games producing only nine wins (D3, L7).
However, the visit of Tottenham could provide an opportunity to get back on track, as United have won 24 head-to-heads (H2Hs) on home soil in the Premier League—just one short of the all-time record against a single opponent held by Arsenal (vs Everton).
Tottenham’s Strong Start Under Postecoglou
Tottenham head into this clash in high spirits after an impressive European performance, routing Qarabağ 3-0 despite going down to ten men in the opening eight minutes.
Such resilience will be especially pleasing to manager Ange Postecoglou, particularly given that Spurs came from behind to win their two previous matches.
A win at Old Trafford would mark four consecutive victories for Tottenham for the first time since last October.
Spurs’ recent H2H record against United (W1, D2) suggests they’ll be confident of a positive result.
However, their away form in the Premier League has been inconsistent. Under Postecoglou, Tottenham collected 14 points from the first 18 available away, but since then, they’ve only managed an additional 14 points from their next 15 away matches (W3, D5, L7).
That inconsistency on the road will be a concern as they travel to Manchester.
Key Players to Watch
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Rashford could return to the starting XI after missing United’s last Premier League outing. With six goals in H2Hs against Spurs, he’s proven to be a significant threat against the North London side.
Interestingly, all of his strikes against Tottenham have come within the first or last six minutes of either half, making him a player to watch at both ends of the periods.
Brennan Johnson (Tottenham)
Johnson, whose father was part of the Manchester United academy alongside the ‘Class of 92,’ has found the back of the net in three consecutive matches.
He’ll be looking to extend that streak, although he has yet to score in four consecutive games in his senior career. Johnson’s form could prove critical in deciding the outcome of this clash.
Manchester United’s Inconsistency vs Tottenham’s Resilience
- Manchester United’s recent Premier League form: Perfectly split in their last 15 matches (W5, D5, L5).
- United’s home record at Old Trafford: Nine wins in their last 19 league outings (D3, L7).
- Head-to-head history: United have won 24 Premier League home H2Hs against Spurs—one shy of Arsenal’s record against Everton.
- Tottenham’s away form under Postecoglou: Collected 14 points from their first 18 available away, but only another 14 from the subsequent 15 away matches (W3, D5, L7).
- Tottenham’s recent H2H record against United: Unbeaten in their last three encounters (W1, D2).
Conclusion
Both teams come into this match with something to prove. Manchester United will aim to shake off their recent struggles in front of goal and rediscover consistency, while Tottenham are looking to maintain their upward momentum under Postecoglou.
United’s mixed home form and Tottenham’s resilient displays make this a tough match to call, but the pressure will be on ten Hag’s side to deliver at Old Trafford.
Prediction: A closely contested match, with both sides finding the net, but a draw seems likely given the inconsistency of both teams.
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