Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur preview, team news, tickets & prediction

Tottenham travel to Manchester looking to gatecrash the top four positions while United aim to stop the rot of their shambolic results this season.  

Manchester United play their first Premier League match of 2024, hosting a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur side who sit three places and eight points above them in the standings.

Although United failed to beat their counterparts in the last two meetings, they have got the better of Spurs in five of the previous seven encounters.

The Red Devils would be desperate for another win against the Lilywhites as they boast only three wins and two draws from their last ten matches in all competitions.

It has been a topsy-turvy campaign so far for United with several injuries to key players, personal issues within the dressing room, and poor form on the pitch. Despite lifting the Carabao Cup in 2023, things turned sour in the year’s second half with the Red Devils failing to evolve as a team under Erik ten Hag.

It has already been a record-breaking start to this campaign for all the wrong reasons, as results in the league, particularly in the UEFA Champions League, were unbecoming of a Man United team. 

Three defeats and two wins from the first five games set an alarming precedent for what was to come for the Mancunians. A win and another loss followed against Burnley and Crystal Palace until United found some form thanks to second-half winning strikes from Scott McTominay and Diogo Dalot against Brentford and Sheffield United respectively. 

That short reprieve was followed by successive 3-0 defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle (Carabao Cup). Thereafter, United won the next three in the league against Fulham, Luton and Everton, although they couldn’t transfer that form to European competition. 

Only three days after all but confirming their exit from the UCL group stage, the Red Devils fell to another defeat at Newcastle. A 2-1 win at home to Chelsea proved to be their last for the next four matches until a comeback win against Aston Villa in the final home game 2023. 

In keeping with their inconsistent performances, United were beaten 2-1 by Nottingham Forest. They travel to Wigan in the FA Cup before hosting Tottenham and the goal must be to put together suitable results to salvage their season. 

Uncertainties behind the scenes are being cleared up with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS taking control of the footballing decisions and the team must show some form of stability.

On the other hand, Ange Postecoglou’s team poses a stern test having beaten the Red Devils earlier in the season. Despite a shaky run themselves, Spurs turned their form around in December with four wins from the last five Premier League games

The Lilywhites started the season in excellent form as they went unbeaten in the first ten games, winning eight. Spurs clicked right from the off with their new manager overseeing an overhaul in their playing style by bringing a brand of exciting attacking football. 

An opening-day draw at Brentford was followed by consecutive 2-0 victories over Manchester United and Bournemouth. They then beat Burnley 5-2 and Sheffield United 2-1 via two added-time strikes, adding to their credentials with a draw against Arsenal and a controversial late win versus Liverpool. 

Spurs beat Luton with a man sent-off then won consecutive London derbies against Fulham and Crystal Palace. The chance to win a third straight derby was denied as Chelsea inflicted a damaging 4-1 defeat which proved disastrous as the suspensions and injuries from that encounter cost them dearly. 

Tottenham failed to win any of the following four games but bounced back with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Newcastle featuring a brace from Richarlison. The Brazilian’s contributions would prove vital over the next few weeks as he netted five times in five matches with Spurs winning four. 

The year ended with a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth that took Tottenham to within three points of second place and just one behind fourth-placed Arsenal. Postecoglou will be keen to build on that momentum which could propel his team in the decisive part of the season. 

The victory over United in the reverse fixture delivered a statement of intent and the Londoners are looking for more of the same. 

Match tickets

This game will be played at Old Trafford on Sunday, 14 January 2024, with kick-off at 4:30 PM UK time. Match tickets are available for sale on each club’s website and you can visit either for allocation details. 

The game will almost certainly be a sell-out as it is always exciting whenever Man United meets Tottenham. Getting tickets via official sources could prove difficult so supporters who want to purchase Manchester United vs Tottenham tickets may be lucky enough to find theirs on a ticket resale site.   

Team news

Ten Hag might be seeing an end to his lengthy injury malaise with Luke Shaw likely to return from a muscular injury. Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Casemiro, Mason Mount and Anthony Martial are also reportedly close.

Andre Onana is set to feature an incredible 24 hours before Cameroon’s opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations, although Sofyan Amrabat will be unavailable for the same reason. Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho seems set for the Old Trafford exit doors after a public falling-out with the manager and subsequent negotiations to leave the club this month. 

With Hugo Lloris leaving the club, Son Heung-min is off to the Asia Cup while Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are also jetting off to international duty. Sarr is one to watch as he only lasted 32 minutes in Tottenham’s final game before the AFCON commences.

Spurs are also sweating on the fitness of Alejo Veliz but Dejan Kulusevski returns from suspension. However, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison and Cristian Romero are still sidelined alongside long-term absentees like Alfie Whiteman, Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon and Ryan Sessegnon.

Line-ups

Their long list of absences has denied United the chance to select a preferred team consistently, which is likely to be true when they host Tottenham. Rasmus Hojlund would be eyeing a start to build upon his first Premier League goal having missed the trip to Forest. 

Manchester United: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot; Mainoo, McTominay; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

Spurs have fielded four full-backs in defense for most of their recent matches, which could also be the case at Old Trafford. The national team commitments could see the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Bryan Gil and Rodrigo Bentancur handed considerable game time. 

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Royal, Davies, Udogie; Hojbjerg, Lo Celso, Bentancur; Johnson, Richarlison, Gil

Prediction

Spurs are in better form but United’s record against them cannot be ignored. Par for the course, the many absences in the away side would cause an imbalance and United must punish them. 

Nevertheless, it will be an open and exciting game with neutrals enjoying the show. The Red Devils should be able to see out a win here. 

Man Utd 2-1 Tottenham

(editor … nah 3-1 Spurs win!)