Prediction: Tottenham vs Manchester United

Verdict: Manchester United double chance

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Luckster

In what is a heavyweight affair from north London on Saturday evening, Tottenham will welcome Manchester United to the capital this weekend.

Tottenham

Starting with the hosts, opening the 2023/24 campaign with plenty of eyes on them, Tottenham would have been disappointed after eventually settling for a 2-2 draw away at London rivals Brentford last weekend. Still adjusting to life post-Harry Kane after they were forced to watch the England skipper make the move to Bayern Munich this month, new boss Ange Postecoglou will be desperate for his squad to make an early statement here. However, although Spurs might be dreaming of the chance to claim a European return this season, the former Celtic boss will know that his side must find some much-needed stability on home soil. Including shock defeats against the likes of Brentford and Bournemouth when signing off the 2022/23 campaign, Tottenham mustered just a single win from any of their final four Premier League showdowns in north London. Trying to find their feet under Postecoglou since the Australian tactician arrived this summer, the Lilywhites could face another rugged test here.

Team News

Appointed Tottenham’s new permanent skipper following Kane’s departure this month, Heung-Min Son will lead Spurs out on Saturday evening. Despite notching just a single Premier League strike last season, ex-Everton forward Richarlison will spearhead Postecoglou’s charge in north London.

However, limping off in the first-half against Brentford last week, Tottenham are sweating over the fitness of defensive talisman Cristian Romero this weekend. Making his full Tottenham debut in west London, 26-year-old Guglielmo Vicario will keep his spot between the sticks here.

Manchester United

As for the visitors, although Manchester United might have opened the 2023/24 campaign with a controversial 1-0 victory at home against Wolves, the Premier League giants failed to make much of an early statement. Heavily outplayed for large spells and lucky to have left Old Trafford with maximum points, Erik ten Hag will certainly be calling on a far more polished performance when his squad arrives in north London on Saturday evening. Storming their way to a crucial Champions League ticket last season and also ending their six-year trophy drought, the former Ajax boss should be excited by an eye-catching record against Spurs. Despite having to settle for an action-packed 2-2 draw when they travelled to Tottenham back on April 27th, ten Hag’s men have remarkably mustered 13 points from just their last five Premier League showdowns against the top-six hopefuls. Desperate to extend on their rampant record this weekend, the Red Devils also know the importance of finding some stability away from Old Trafford this time around.

Team News

Despite making the blockbuster move from Italian outfit Atalanta this summer, Rasmus Hojlund is not ready to make his Manchester United debut this weekend. Likewise, former Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia is still dealing with a muscle injury and will not make the trip to north London on Saturday evening.

Despite being dragged off at half-time against Wolves on Monday night, central defender Lisandro Martinez will once again partner Raphael Varane at the back. England international Marcus Rashford will spearhead ten Hag’s attack here.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last met back on April 27th, Tottenham and Manchester United played out a 2-2 draw in north London.
• The Red Devils have mustered 13 points from just their last five Premier League showdowns against Spurs.
• Each of the last nine straight meetings between Saturday’s opponents have seen over 1.5 goals by the final whistle.
• Likewise, seven of those previous nine meetings have also finished with both teams getting on the scoresheet.
• Tottenham signed off the 2022/23 campaign by recording just one clean sheet from their final six appearances on home soil.

Conclusion

While Manchester United might not have been at their best on Monday night as they snatched a 1-0 victory at home against Wolves, the Premier League giants will be excited by an eye-catching record against Saturday’s opponents. Mustering 13 points from just their last five top-flight showdowns against Spurs, ten Hag’s men will be desperate to make a major statement in north London. Likewise, remarkably not suffering a single domestic defeat away at Spurs since way back in January 2018, we are expecting an away double chance this weekend.

Verdict: Manchester United double chance

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Luckster