Premier League: Can Spurs turn the Red Devils White?

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League: Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur is one of the fixtures we always look forward to. It’s a clash between two of the top flight royalty and it generally delivers 100 minutes of classic entertainment.  

Neither side has made the start it wanted; both have won two, drawn one and lost two in the league. Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United have put in some reasonably strong performances but they have lacked a killer instinct, while Ange Postecoglou has come under some criticism for suggesting his team will win something or, more accurately that he always wins a trophy in his second year as a coach. Now if he does keep to his word the amiable Aussie will achieve something no other Spurs manager has done since 2008 when they won the League Cup, their only triumph since 1991.

Ten Hag led United to an FA Cup triumph last season so he has little to prove in that respect, but Red Devils’ fans are getting sick of living in the shadow of Manchester City and they will be desperate to make some headway this weekend. United come into the game on the back of a goalless draw away to Crystal Palace while Spurs won 3-1 at home to Brentford.

No matter that in these early stages this is an 11^th versus tenth clash, the pre-match Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur betting odds tell us we’re in for another belter.

 

Talking Points

Manchester United’s Striker problem  

United’s trip to Selhurst Park was never going to be easy but it turned out to be a frustrating afternoon as, despite bossing possession and having 15 shots the Red Devils could not break through the Eagles defence as Palace keeper Dean Henderson made some super saves. In fairness Manchester United stopper Andre Onana earned his money too so a point was probably a fair outcome.

Nobody has scored more than one goal for United yet this season but there was a moment of optimism as Rasmus Hojlund made a substitute appearance at Selhurst Park having recovered from injury. The former Atalanta man has potential to score plenty as he showed in Bergamo and at times last season; and now he needs to find consistency. The Danish star is the Red Devils’ best chance of goals as England striker Marcus Rashford hasn’t always turned up in recent times; and summer signing Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to make an impact after his dream start with the winner against Fulham in the first match of the season.  

The Red Devils have plenty of creative muscle and skipper Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho can both be match-winners on their day, while at the other end of the pitch the excellent Lisandro Martinez will be ready to rough up the Spurs’ attackers.     

 

Are Tottenham back on track?

One year ago Spurs were second in the table with 13 points and they were just gathering some serious momentum, while right now they sit in mid table on seven points. Postecoglou is by nature an optimist, and he will be encouraged by what he has seen over the past three games. Spurs will wonder how they lost the North London Derby two weeks ago having put in a dominant display with 64 per cent possession and 16 shots to seven, with five to four on target. The simple fact is they could not cope with the set piece threat of Gabriel, nor could they beat the Gunners’ in-form keeper David Raya. 

The manager changed his team for a tricky Carabao Cup match away to Championship side Coventry City and they responded with a 2-1 victory. Then a win at home to Brentford was a huge boost, particularly as summer signing Dominic Solanke bagged a goal, as did attacking midfielder James Maddison and Brennan Johnson scored his second goal in two games after nicking the winner at Coventry. 

 

History

This is a fixture the Red Devils fans look forward to; with 44 wins to 11 in the head to head Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur results they have had plenty of reasons to cheer. But last season Ten Hag’s team lost 2-0 and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Old Trafford clash ended in a 2-2 draw as Spurs came from behind twice.  

Recent form is identical over the past six games with both Manchester United and Spurs winning three, drawing one and losing two.   

 

Betting Tip

Both clubs are in European action on Thursday night, the Red Devils at home to FC Twente and Spurs at home to Qarabag and, while pushing the league fixture back to Sunday, there will be no disadvantage for either.

With the Red Devils at SBOTOP odds of 2.27 and Spurs at 2.48 we can hardly split these two teams and I have an inkling the 2-2 draw at odds of 10.12 may not be far away.

   

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