The State of Play
A dominant performance against League One side Wigan propelled Manchester United into the fourth round of the FA Cup last weekend. However, this followed another disappointing league defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest, marking the ninth league loss for Eric ten Hag’s side this season.
Despite a comeback triumph over Aston Villa on Boxing Day, United have struggled to maintain consistency in matches they are expected to win. December brought losses to Newcastle, Bournemouth and West Ham, widening the gap and leaving them adrift of a European spot with a considerable deficit to overcome before the season concludes.
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Tottenham secured their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a 1-0 victory over Burnley, thanks to a spectacular strike from Pedro Porro. Closing out 2023, Spurs showcased their prowess with a commanding win against an in-form Bournemouth, solidifying their contention for a coveted top-four position. The recent addition of Timo Werner, meanwhile, should help fill the void left by Heung-Min Son, who is away at the Asian Cup.
Team News
In his pre-match press conference leading up to the clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Erik ten Hag delivered positive updates as the crucial trio of Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Casemiro have all returned to training and are now available for selection.
Andre Onana is set to play his final game before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations with the Cameroonian national team. Additionally, Antony, Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen have all made their return to the squad.
Ange Postecoglou revealed that defender Ben Davies, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso and forward Dane Scarlett will be unavailable for this weekend’s visit to Old Trafford due to injury. While Cristian Romero’s return from injury is deemed a bit close for this weekend, despite his return to training, new signing Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner may be included in the squad.
Expected Line-ups
Manchester United: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Shaw; Mainoo, Eriksen; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Emerson, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Hojbjerg; Johnson, Kulusevski, Werner; Richarlison
What they Said
Erik ten Hag on the improving injury situation at the club:
“Licha Martinez training, Casemiro training and Luke Shaw training. There are players returning and are coming in for selection for Sunday. [Christian] Eriksen was ill in the week – he will return. Antony will return. Amad [Diallo] will return. We have more choice in this moment in the squad.”
Ange Postecoglou on new loan signing Timo Werner:
“Particularly with Son [Heung-min] going away for a period of time [for the Asian Cup], we felt we needed another player in the final third. I thought Timo would be a really good fit for us – he certainly has the attributes we look for.”
When and How to Watch
This match will be televised live on Sky Sports, and can be streamed on Sky Go.
Prediction
The seamless integration of Ange Postecoglou’s system has enabled Spurs to maintain a consistent pursuit of European football throughout the season, even in the face of recurring injury concerns.
In stark contrast, Manchester United have struggled with inconsistency throughout the campaign. The possibility of a Tottenham victory looms large in United’s own backyard, as Ange’s men seem well-poised to inflict more misery on their opponents.
