Premier League preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United

Jason Hamburger
April 9, 2021

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Spurs host United

Tottenham Hotspur entertain Manchester United on Sunday in the reverse fixture of the remarkable 6-1 win for Jose Mourinho’s side at Old Trafford this season.

Tottenham form

Spurs once again dropped points from a winning position last weekend, conceding in the 85th minute to draw 2-2 against Newcastle.

They have squandered 15 points from winning positions and despite having a manager who is renowned for defensive solidity, the north London club are extremely fragile defensively.

11 of the 15 points have been lost in the final 10 minutes of games. Newcastle managed 22 shots against Spurs with 17 of those coming inside the box.

The late equaliser meant they were unable to capitalise on Chelsea losing. Mourinho’s men are sixth and three points off West Ham in fourth.

Harry Kane scored another brace against Newcastle and now leads the Golden Boot race with 19 goals. The England striker also has the most assists with 13.

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Spurs have a poor recent record against the stronger sides. Since they beat Arsenal in December, they have lost seven of eight Premier League matches against top-half teams.

Man United form

Man United are in second place in the Premier League with 60 points from 30 games. They came from behind again to beat Brighton 2-1 last weekend in what was a lacklustre performance on the whole.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 04: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United scores his team’s first goal past Robert Sanchez of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side look nailed on for a top-four place; they stretched their lead over fifth to nine points. Focus is now on winning the Europa League but they will also want to gain revenge on Spurs for the humiliating 6-1 defeat.

United are yet to lose away from home this season in the Premier League and are unbeaten on their travels since January 2019. They have kept clean sheets in trips to the Emirates, the Etihad, Stamford Bridge and Anfield this season.

The away side have conceded just twice in eight away games in 2021.

Head-to-head

Spurs are looking to record their first league double over United since the 1989/90 season. No side has done the double over the Red Devils since 2018/19. The visitors have won just one of their last eight away Premier League matches against Spurs (D4, L3).

(Photo by ALEX LIVESEY/AFP via Getty Images)

Featured image: Manchester United’s Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (L) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. (Photo by CARL RECINE/AFP via Getty Images)