14 Jun 2020
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Previous Form
This clash could well prove pivotal in the race for European places and Jose Mourinho would surely love to get one over his former club.
The break will have done his team a favour considering they’d lost four of six winless matches across all competitions, with those results dumping them out of the Champions League and FA Cup, as well as falling behind in the table.
By contrast, United were in high spirits having won eight of 11 unbeaten fixtures since late January. A higher output was welcome as they struck 19 times across the last six of these, while defensively they’ve made great strides and shipped just two goals across the 11 games in total.
It will however be interesting to see whether they return with the right midfield balance. January signing Bruno Fernandes has been in sparkling form and has already established himself as a firm fan’s favourite, while Scott McTominay, Fred and Nemanja Matic have all played their part in United’s form during Paul Pogba’s absence.
Reinstating the French international has the potential to upset the balance, but by the same token could improve the team and its output further.
Pogba may also be motivated to drive the nail into his former boss, with whom it’s fair to say he shared a tumultuous relationship.
Marcus Rashford To Score Anytime
Having top scorer Marcus Rashford fit again will no doubt boost United’s cause, with his previous unavailability making the recent goal haul all the more impressive.
He appeared sharp in a recent friendly with West Brom and will be itching to be the beneficiary of an improved supply of chances from midfield.
The England international has been a thorn in Spurs’ side previously with three goals in their past two meetings, including a brace in the reverse fixture back in December.
He’s managed a very healthy 10 goals in nine clashes with the ‘Big Six’ and Leicester this season across all competitions, and the hosts’ record at the back gives us encouragement he can take aim again.
The Lilywhites have only mustered seven clean sheets from 43 games in all competitions this season, including just two from the past 21 which were all under Jose Mourinho.
In fact, Spurs have shipped a minimum of two goals in 12 of 26 matches with the Portuguese at the helm, as his reputation for stifling strong opponents has taken a battering. Up against the top five in the league and German outfits Bayern and Leipzig in Europe, he’s led Spurs to seven defeats from eight matches as they conceded at least two goals on five occasions.
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Manchester United Draw No Bet
Although the break alone won’t fix those issues at the back, it’s unquestionable that Spurs will return a stronger outfit in attack. Harry Kane, Heung-min Son, Steven Bergwijn and Moussa Sissoko are all available now.
Hard runner Sissoko is exactly the type of player Mourinho likes and Bergwijn has been handy with two goals in five games, at home to City and Wolves, but it’s Kane and Son who are crucial to their prospects.
In the league, Spurs have scored 20% fewer goals when Kane has failed to start since the start of last season, while Son is arguably the more influential player for them these days and the Korean’s infectious work rate rubs off on others.
Over 2.5 Goals
Spurs have netted in 10 of 12 games with the sides above them in the table this season, so there’s good reason to think they might penetrate the Red Devil’s backline.
Indeed, three of four head-to-heads between them and United in all competitions have seen Over 2.5 Goals land since April 2018.
The new rule allowing a nine-man bench and five possible substitutes should however benefit the visitors, whose second-string options look better equipped to make an impact, so they get our vote to pick up where they left off and keep the pressure on Chelsea in fourth.
Manchester United Draw No Bet At 8/11
