Tottenham Hotspur vs. Man Utd: 10 Facts Ahead of the Big Premier League Clash

Tottenham Hotspur take on Manchester United at White Hart Lane in a must-win game for both sides after an indifferent start to the season.

Spurs will be looking to recover after being thrashed by Manchester City 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium and two successive defeats. A win would see them leapfrog their opponents, who sit just one point ahead.

The visitors have a chance to build on their midweek Champions League victory when they beat German side Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 away from home. The champions also need to continue picking up points if they are to have any hopes of retaining the title.

Over the last 20 seasons, this fixture has not seen much success for Spurs. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, United dominated this fixture home and away.

Here are 10 facts ahead of this crucial game between Spurs and Manchester United.

1. Tottenham have not won a home game against Manchester United since the 2000/2001 season in all competitions. Since that time, Spurs have lost eight and drawn four. The last time Spurs defeated Man Utd at White Hart Lane Glenn Hoddle was in charge and the match finished 3-1. Two goals from Willem Korsten and a goal from Les Ferdinand earned the North London side all three points.
2. In the Premier League era, the aggregate score between the two sides is 80-34 in United's favour.  The record after 42 Premier League matches is 29-4 to the Red Devils with nine draws.
3. David Moyes’ record against Spurs is seven wins, six draws and 10 defeats, with an aggregate score of 28-35.
4. After 12 Premier League games, Spurs have scored just nine and conceded 12, leaving them with a goal difference of -3 and the only team in the top half of the table with a minus goal difference. They have failed to score in their last three games.
5. Tottenham have the most clean sheets in the league with seven, compared to United's three. Only Crystal Palace, Fulham and Sunderland have managed fewer clean sheets than the Red Devils.
6. Along with Steven Gerrard and Kevin Mirallas, Wayne Rooney is joint top of the assists table with five.
7. As well as being Spurs’ top goalscorer, Roberto Soldado has two assists, making him the club’s joint top goal creator this season with Paulinho.
8. Robin van Persie has scored the same amount of goals (six) from open play as the entire Tottenham team in the Premier League this season.
9. Gylfi Sigurdsson is the only Spurs player to have scored more than one goal in open play. He has three to his name, whereas top scorer Soldado has only scored one.
10. At the same stage last season Manchester United were second with 27 points having won nine, drawn none and lost three. This season the champions have six points fewer with a record of six wins, three draws and three losses. Spurs are actually better off this season. With 12 games played last campaign, the North London club had just 17 points, having won five, drawn two and lost five.

So history is not on the side of the North London club, but it was not on their side last season before they won at Old Trafford for the first time in 23 years. 

United will be in confident mood after the demolition of Leverkusen, where Moyes gained a good indication of what midfield selection works while Michael Carrick is injured. On paper, Spurs have a much-stronger midfield, but it has failed recently to make a significant impact.

Despite the 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City, Spurs' defence on most occasions has performed well. Apart from the midfield contest, for Tottenham to win this, stopping Rooney, Valencia and Kagawa will be key. Leverkusen failed to do so and they paid the price.