Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur in a massive game in the Premier League, where both sides will be desperate for the three points to keep in contact with the top four. Join The Roar live from 1:15am (AEDT) Monday for all the action.
It’s fair to say that things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Jose Mourinho this season. He was hired by the United hierarchy in the summer to turn around three years of general malaise that had spread throughout the club. For his part the Portuguese brought with him a wealth of big club experience as well as a track history of winning. However, the beginning of his reign at Old Trafford has fallen well short of expectations.
Mourinho’s star players have failed to perform too often, injuries have ravaged the first team, fallings out with players and just about everyone else around has become the norm, while the managers own aura of success has somewhat diminished over the last two years. The fact that United have not won at home since their September defeat of champions Leicester City, and are already way off the pace at the top, is a marked contrast to what was expected from Mourinho’s side.
Meanwhile, their opponents have strung together two wins on the bounce, scoring eight goals in the meantime. So it seems that after going through a slump where they were only able to claim draws, Spurs have finally regained some momentum back. They may be out of the Champions League already and are seven points off top spot, but just as the busy festive period kicks into gear Mauricio Pochettino’s men have found form at the right time and will test United.
Harry Kane is a massive reason for this return to form, with the England striker banging in the goals. He was badly missed during his spell out of the side through injury, but now he is back spearheading Spurs’ attack they look like the impressive team which came close to winning the league last year. The fact that Toby Alderweireld is also set to return after almost two months on the sidelines will only serve to strengthen the spine further. They should improve defensively while also coupling that with a potent threat going forward.
For United, summer signing Henrihk Mkhitaryan is finally starting to emerge as the star that everyone expected him to be. The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has had an incredibly frustrating and slow start to his career in Manchester, but he has featured in four out of the last five games for his new team and seems to have finally turned a corner, at least in his manager’s eyes. Along with the return to fitness of centre back Eric Bailly, the reason for renewed optimism around Old Trafford is clear.
Despite both side’s injury concerns lifting though, there still remains questions for each as they enter into the game. Can United finally turn their disappointing run of draws into the victories they need to climb up the table, or can Spurs continue with their recent good form against Mourinho’s men?
The London outfit have lost just twice in their last eight meetings in the league with United. It is a marked improvement on a record which used to horribly favour the side from Manchester. Indeed, from 2001 to 2012 they did not lose a game against Tottenham- a run of 22 consecutive matches.
A key element of the game will be whether or not United can handle the relentless pressing from the young Spurs team. Their ability to overwhelm their opponents with their strong running and desire to close down entire avenues of the pitch will put significant pressure on United’s midfielders. If they fail to work their way around the press, their backline will be severely tested with the intelligent runs from deep of Dele Alli and the strike power of Kane. Combined, United’s players have covered just 1490.6km overall this season which is the lowest in the league. That is something they will need to address if they are to cope with Pochettino’s tactics.
Prediction: This game has had a fair few draws in recent history so another one with both sides getting on the scoresheet looks a decent bet.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
Mkhitaryan lashed home the only goal of the game just before the half an hour mark, which was his first ever in the Premier League. However, spirits will be slightly dampened in the United camp after he was then stretched off after a challenge from Rose in the second half. It looks to be an ankle injury, and there will be a nervous wait to see what the diagnosis is for the midfielder who has just started to look like the player he has been during the last few years at Borussia Dortmund. United attacked with vibrancy in the first half and carved Spurs open on a number of occasions, and just about deserved their win after the London outfit dominated possession but failed to make it count in the second 45. Wanyama had their best opportunity but got his header from all of six yards out horribly wrong. Its back to the drawing board for Pochettino as a result, and he will be eager to get his side back to winning ways during the week. Meanwhile for United they play Crystal Palace who are having a dreadful time of it this year. A chance to build a winning run as the busy festive period kicks in?
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
A thoroughly entertaining game ends as United finally get back to winning ways. They've cut the gap down to three points to their opponents today, yet they are still sixth in the table and six points outside of the top four. Meanwhile, Spurs are now ten points off first place.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
FT: Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
96: Then it is Ibra who appeals for a penalty after he goes down under the challenge from Rose. Spurs try to break away for one last chance, but the ref blows the whistle and it's all over at Old Trafford. A massive cheer and sense of relief rings out around the stadium.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
95: Rose whips in a corner that is dealt with well. Then the left back goes down in the box- Jones went rushing in and just won the ball. Fellaini comes on for Herrera. United 1-0 Spurs
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
90+2:The ball evades Kane's outstretched foot and spins behind for a goal kick- he's pretty much been a spectator today.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
90: Six minutes is to be added on and the crowd groans. It is all a bit nervy now as United look to hang on to three precious points. United 1-0 Spurs
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
88: Walker nutmegs Rashford then feeds Winks down the line, but his cross is blocked by Rojo. Fair to say Mourinho wasn't too happy with the defensive work from Rashford there. Just a few minutes left plus a hefty chunk of stoppage time
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
86: Alli goes in hard on Carrick and Madley gives a free kick. That's then followed by another as Pogba is fouled. The frustration is building now between the Spurs players. Rashford in charge but it is smashed well over the heads of all his onrushing team mates.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
85: Eriksen is replaced by Nkoudou, while Mkhitaryan is stretched off after he twisted his ankle awkwardly under the challenge from Rose. The centre back Eric Bailly replaces him. United 1-0 Spurs
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
82: Boos around Old Trafford as pantomime villain Fellaini warms up in front of his own fans- there's nothing like the support of the home crowd sometimes. Meanwhile, Rose gets a yellow card for a foul on Mkhitaryan, who seems to be in a bit of trouble. The stretcher is coming out as the midfielder sits on the turf clutching his leg.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
79: Then Walker dishes out the same medicine as he pulls back Rashford just as he attempted to break down the left. It's a yellow for the right back. The ball pings back and forth enough to give you a sore neck just watching it, before it goes out for a throwing to United deep in the Spurs half. Rose blocks a shot and it goes out for a corner from the result of that- Kane deals with it well
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
77: The Armenian goes into the book for a cynical foul on Winks as he looked to break away from the edge of his own box. That's called "taking one for the team" there
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
75: Still a rapid pace to this one, as Spurs are pressing for an equaliser. United haven't quite been as vibrant in attack as they were in the first half but they still look threatening when Ibra brings Mkhitaryan into play.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
72: Kane is a goal scoring machine, everybody knows that. But out of the 24 teams he has faced in his PL career, he is yet to score against United. He’s currently played against them five times while failing to find the net yet. He's been quiet today. United 1-0 Spurs
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
71: Kane brought down by Rojo on the edge of the box- his mind must have been somewhere else with that kind of foul. Eriksen lines it up and puts it past the wall but he still cant beat that old fox De Gea. Martial is replaced by the teenage Marcus Rashford for United.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
68: Sissoko is taking out a mortgage on that right touchline as he swings in yet another cross- it's about his fifth since he was introduced ten minutes ago. Meanwhile, Dembele is replaced by Harry Winks.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
64: Chance! Pobga with another strike but this time Loris is equal to it. It pings around in the box with Herrera going down looking for a penalty, the ref waves play on though before Pogba chops down Dembele and goes into the book as a result. He'll join Valencia on yellow.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
63: Ibra with a bit of showboating as he brings the ball down then lets off a little no look pass. Chance! A free kick is awarded for United just outside the box which is dead straight- Ibra lines it up with Pogba by his side. The Frenchman takes it and his strike leaves Loris rooted to the spot as it cannons off the crossbar. Unlucky.
Mark Molyneux
Roar Guru
60: After harsh words from his manager, Sissoko has started impressively here. He drives down the touchline and puts in a cross that United just deal with. United 1-0 Spurs