Tottenham vs. Manchester United: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News
Tottenham Hotspur's loss to Manchester United in the Premier League season opener is getting more galling by the week.
An encouraging start at Old Trafford was abruptly shattered when Nabil Bentaleb's misplaced pass led to the unfortunate Kyle Walker scoring in his own net. By the time the visitors recovered from the shock, the home side had shut up shop and went on to see out an unfussy 1-0 win.
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Now, as Tottenham seek to keep up with unflappable league leaders Leicester City in the title hunt, dropped points such as those are feeling particularly costly. It has left the north Londoners in need of a win over an improved Man United team on Sunday to keep the dream alive.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is choosing to remain optimistic with "six games ahead to fight to the end."
"We now have a tough game against Manchester United," he told his club's official website.
"We can always do better and that’s our mentality, we can improve but you know that the moment we’re in now we’ll try to give our best and fight for the three points."
The Red Devils' inconsistent campaign has hit one of its more pleasing mini-streaks in recent weeks.
Successive 1-0 wins over Manchester City and Everton have re-energised their attempt to get back into the top four and secure UEFA Champions League football for next season. Although disappointed United are not participating in the title race, Antonio Valencia said he and his team-mates at least want to ensure qualification for Europe's premier competition.
"We know how important historically the Champions League is here, how happy it would make the fans to qualify for that competition again for next season," Valencia told MUTV (h/t Man United's official website).
"So the main battle is to get back into that top four."
Date: Sunday, April 10
Time: 4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET
Venue: White Hart Lane, London
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK and Ireland only)/NBCSN (U.S. only).
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK and Ireland only)/NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only).
Ticket Information: Sold out, though secondary tickets may still be available.
Form Lines
| Tottenham Hotspur | Manchester United |
| Premier League, April 2: Liverpool (A)—Draw: 1-1 | Premier League, April 3: Everton (H)—Win: 1-0 |
| Premier League, March 20: Bournemouth (H)—Win: 2-0 | Premier League, March 20: Manchester City (A)—Win: 0-1 |
| Europa League, March 17: Borussia Dortmund (H)—Loss: 1-2 | Europa League, March 17: Liverpool (H)—Draw: 1-1 |
| Premier League, March 13: Aston Villa (A)—Win: 0-2 | FA Cup, March 13: West Ham United (H)—Draw: 1-1 |
| Europa League, March 10: Borussia Dortmund (A)—Loss: 3-0 | Europa League, March 10: Liverpool (A)—Loss: 2-0 |
Team News
Erik Lamela is available for Tottenham again while Clinton Njie and Jan Vertonghen are in contention. Nabil Bentaleb remains out.
Phil Jones and Ashley Young are available for Manchester United, but captain Wayne Rooney is a little way off returning.
Adnan Januzaj and Luke Shaw are still out.
Predicted Lineups
Pochettino's biggest selection decision revolves around whether to recall Vertonghen at centre-back instead of Kevin Wimmer.
The 23-year-old has started every game alongside Toby Alderweireld since the vice-captain's injury in late January. Overall, he has performed well, helping Tottenham maintain their title challenge. But he was poor in an unfocused display at Anfield last time out.
Wimmer may keep his place on the basis Sunday could be a week too soon for Vertonghen. But it is likely to be only a temporary reprieve.
Either side of Alderweireld and Wimmer should be Danny Rose and Kyle Walker. A tough day is in store for both against Manchester United's dangerous wide men. As usual, skipper Hugo Lloris will be in goal.
Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele will likely start in central midfield. Spurs will need both to be more at it than they were in the uncharacteristically passive effort against Liverpool.
Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen should be joined in attacking midfield by the fit-again Lamela. Up front, Harry Kane will look to continue his scoring hot streak—the England man has five goals in his last three Premier League games.
Van Gaal could well name the same starting XI that beat Man City and Everton.
That would mean the ever-impressive David De Gea in goal, backing (from right to left) Matteo Darmian, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo. Though Timothy Fosu-Mensah's good work as a substitute against Everton would certainly have given his boss something to think about.
Former Spur Michael Carrick will be the midfield anchor. Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Morgan Schneiderlin will likely operate in front, with the Everton game's match-winner, Anthony Martial, coming in from the left flank.
Up top will be one of the young stars of 2016 thus far, Marcus Rashford.
Tottenham Hotspur Player to Watch: Erik Lamela
Tottenham's last game against Manchester United came during a tough spell for Lamela.
A late returnee following his Copa America involvement, the Argentinian looked rusty, to say the least. Unable to make an impact off the bench in the games against United and Stoke City, he struggled further in a starting role versus Leicester City.
Dropped for the final game of August, a 0-0 draw at home to Everton, speculation was rife about a transfer elsewhere.
It is credit to how well Lamela has done since that his presence was missed considerably against Liverpool. Though not as consistent as a Kane or Alli, he has been a vital contributor.
Spurs will need his vision sharp and his mind alert if they are to break down an underrated Man United back line (more on which later). His willingness to get stuck in will not go amiss as Tottenham battle to keep their championship tilt alive.
Having been hugely influential in Spurs' wins over Manchester City, Pochettino will hope he can have a similar impact against their neighbouring Red Devils too.
Manchester United Player to Watch: Marcus Rashford
Rashford did not get on the scoresheet against Everton but contributed a moment of class in the buildup to Martial's winning goal.
Finding a pocket of space on the edge of the penalty area, his prompt backheel into the path of Fosu-Mensah's forward run caught the Toffees flat-footed, leaving the substitute free to cross for the poorly marked Martial to convert.
Rashford's five goals in wins Midtjylland, Arsenal and Manchester City have been remarkable for sure. But just as exciting for United fans has been his all-round play.
An 18-year-old leading the line as comfortably and intelligently as he has is hugely impressive.
He has rarely looked isolated and is thriving figuring out ways to outsmart opposition defences—be that dropping deep in an attempt to pull them out of position or taking them on face-to-face with his quick feet and enviable turn of pace.
It is early days for Rashford. Hopefully the best is yet to come, but he is already a joy to watch.
Key Battle: Tottenham Pressing vs. Manchester United Width
Much has rightly been made of Tottenham's stingy defence this season. They have conceded just 25 goals and, by and large, have been difficult to get anything out of.
Manchester United have only conceded two more than Spurs, but their efforts have been less lauded.
The north Londoners will do well to break them down on Sunday. Their best bet will be looking to make the most of any opportunities their pressing game yields.
Though mostly well organised, the Red Devils defence does lose a little of its unity when forced to react quickly. One steps forward (often Blind) and the line goes loose, opening up space for opponents to attack (West Ham United especially had some joy here in a recent FA Cup quarter-final).
When they are able to bypass Spurs' closing down, Man United will attempt to make the most out of their enviable width.
Martial's long-term future may be in the centre, but he is proving a handful coming in from the left flank, either with the ball at his feet or as a back-post crossing option, such as he was for his goal against Everton.
Both he and the flexible right-sided midfield two of Mata and Lingard are benefiting significantly from great full-back support.
Their understanding with Darmian and Rojo is facilitating great movement that opposition defences are struggling to track. The full-backs work the overlaps but also target the channels to good effect, the more advanced widen men often playing them in.
There is more to Tottenham and Manchester United than these two areas of attack. But they may be where each is most likely to catch out the other on Sunday.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Tottenham win: 20-21
Man United win: 333-100
Draw: 5-2
