Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday. The two sides find themselves in similar circumstances: Both are in mid-table after five games, and both have rebounded since defeats to their biggest rivals.
While it may be too early to pay too much attention to the league table, a win in this clash between two of the league’s traditional “top six” could be just the catalyst they need.
Here’s everything you need to know, including team news, stats, fantasy tips and the latest news:
Key details:
Date: Sunday, Sept. 29 at 4.30 p.m. BST (11.30 a.m. ET)
Venue: Old Trafford
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Peter Bankes
How to watch:
The game will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and NBC Sports in the United States. You can also follow along live with ESPN’s live updates.
Team news:
All of United’s injuries come in their defensive line, most notably summer signing Leny Yoro and first-choice left-back Luke Shaw. Yoro is yet to make his competitive debut for United after suffering a foot injury in a preseason friendly against Arsenal in Los Angeles. He is not expected to return before October.
Shaw, who is suffering from a calf problem, has a similar timeline associated with his return. “The plan is just to be back before [the October international break] but I can’t say this 100% for sure.” Ten Hag said on Tuesday. “It can also be shortly after the break.” United are also without Tyrell Malacia and Victor Lindelöf.
Meanwhile, Spurs can almost boast a clean bill of health, with Richarlison and Wilson Odobert their only absentees. However, Postecoglou said earlier this month that the Brazil forward is not due to return for a while yet.
“He is a fair way off. I think you should stop asking me about him until I give you [reporters] a bit of an update,” he said. “He has still not trained with the first team so he is still a bit off.”
Fantasy watch:
Fantasy is all about differentials: If you have the same team as your league rivals, then how can you expect to climb the leaderboard? Following that mantra this weekend could lead to a transfer for Matthijs de Ligt.
The Netherlands international is priced at £5 million and owned by just 4.6% of fantasy managers. However, he could prove an X-factor should he continue to provide an attacking threat from set pieces.
De Ligt scored his first United goal with a guided header against Southampton, and he almost repeated the trick against Crystal Palace last weekend, only to see his attempt saved by the feet of opposing goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Despite all the talk about their record defending set pieces, Spurs have not proved too susceptible from them this season — although the one goal they have conceded was a crucial header from Gabriel Magalhães‘ in the north London derby. Still, De Ligt could prove a worthwhile addition if he can become a consistent force in the opposition box.
Stats:
Stats to follow from ESPN’s Stats and Information Group.
Premier League Form guide:
Manchester United – WLLWD
United have struggled to get off to the kind of fast start that Ten Hag would have been hoping for this season. A late Joshua Zirkzee winner on the opening day against Fulham was followed up by defeats to Brighton and Liverpool. They looked to have righted the ship since then with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Southampton followed up by an even more emphatic 7-0 win over Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.
However, United were wasteful last weekend in the 0-0 draw against Palace, leaving them with just seven points from their first five games. A 1-1 draw with FC Twente in the Europa League on Wednesday will have done little to enthuse fans ahead of the weekend.
Quotes:
Manager quotes will be added from their Friday news conferences.
Key player battle: James Maddison vs. Manuel Ugarte
For much of the past 18 months, United have lacked control and physicality in midfield as Casemiro‘s ailing legs failed him. That prompted the club to add defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte, known for his ball-winning ability, from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
Ugarte is yet to start a match in the Premier League — he has instead appeared from the bench in their past two league games, although he did start in the 7-0 Carabao Cup victory over Barnsley. That first appearance in the starting XI could come against Spurs, and it would be much-needed with James Maddison seemingly returning to the eye-catching form he showed at the beginning of last season.
Maddison delivered a superb performance against Brentford last time out in the Premier League, providing an assist for Dominic Solanke before scoring Spurs’ third with a delightful chip over goalkeeper Mark Flekken. It will be up to Ugarte to stop the Spurs midfielder and allow Mainoo to dictate the tempo for United in midfield.
Key questions:
Will Marcus Rashford start?
There was a sense of confusion at Selhurst Park when the team sheets were passed around at United’s clash with Crystal Palace, with Marcus Rashford dropped to the bench despite breaking his months-long goal drought against Southampton.
For much his tenure, Ten Hag had repeatedly backed Rashford. So, when he finally did return to form — he followed by scoring two goals in the win against Barnsley — it was strange to see him not among the starters. Ten Hag insisted before and after the game that it was only down to “rotation,” even though the decision seemingly backfired given United’s wasteful nature in the goalless draw at Selhurst Park.
Following that reasoning, it seems likely that Rashford will return to United’s starting lineup for the clash with Spurs.
Are Tottenham better that they look?
Despite Spurs’ stuttering start to the new Premier League season, a glance at the stats tells a different story.
Postecoglou’s side have performed surprisingly well in several key metrics: The north London club rank second — behind Manchester City — for number of shots (86), shots on target (35), average possession (63.2%), most passes into the opposing team’s penalty area (97), touches in the opposition’s box (235) and touches in the attacking third (1,359). At the other end of the pitch, they have allowed the second fewest shots on their goal (39) — again, bested only by Guardiola’s side.
They have struggled to consistently translate that statistical dominance into Premier League points so far this season, but Spurs will be hoping to correct that at Old Trafford.
Latest news:
Ref right not to show red to Martínez, panel says
The Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel unanimously backed the decision not to show a red card to Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez in the draw at Crystal Palace.
Man United share 1st images of stadium regen plans
United have revealed the first images of the potential Old Trafford regeneration project.
ESPN reported last month that United are leaning towards building a new 100,000-capacity stadium rather than redeveloping Old Trafford, although a final decision has not been made.
Johnson praised by Postecoglou after ‘top week’
Ange Postecoglou praised Brennan Johnson‘s ability to bounce back from the online abuse that he has received as the winger scored the winning goal in Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Brentford.
“He was a real threat all the way through,” Postecoglou said. “He had a bit of a tough period last week. But sometimes it gives you perspective about what’s important and what’s important to Brennan is that he’s a much-loved teammate.”
