The pick of the action in the Premier League is the early kick-off this weekend as Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford.
With the game starting on Saturday lunch time, neither team will have had a great deal of time to prepare for the match. Manchester United played on Tuesday night at Swansea City in the League Cup while Tottenham Hotspur met West Ham United in the same competition on Wednesday night.
However, with second playing third in the Premier League, the adrenaline will be kicking in for the players and any thought of previous exertions will be long forgotten once the players are on the pitch.
Manchester United come into this match having defeated Swansea City 2-0 away from home in the League Cup on Tuesday night. It was a good win as Jose Mourinho came under a bit of pressure following their defeat at Huddersfield Town in the Premier League last weekend.
The 2-1 loss was Manchester United’s first defeat of the season and unexpected considering the start they have made to their league campaign.
Trends show Manchester United have played fourteen competitive games this season, winning eleven, drawing two and losing just the one at Huddersfield.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United have become very difficult to beat under Mourinho and have remained undefeated in their last thirty-six home matches in all competitions. The Red Devils have also kept a clean sheet in their last five home Premier League games.
Tottenham Hotspur make the trip north having lost 3-2 at home to West Ham United in the League Cup. With Tottenham winning the match 2-0 and seemingly heading into the next round, they conceded 3 goals to West Ham in quick succession which saw them eliminated from the tournament.
However, form is generally good for Tottenham and they have lost only one of their last twelve games in all competitions and two matches all season, just one more than their opponents, Manchester United.
Trends show Tottenham have been playing well away from home and have won each of their last six away Premier League games. They have also kept a clean sheet in four of their last six Premier League games and will be feeling good following excellent results and performances against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Liverpool in the Premier League.
Team news and Manchester United are still without Paul Pogba, Marouane Felliani and Michael Carrick, giving Mourinho little choice in midfield. Ander Herrera, Marcus Rashford and Phil Jones are doubtful.
Tottenham Hotspur are without Victor Wanyama but Mauricio Pochettino’s main concern will be the fitness of Harry Kane, who did not play against West Ham but should return for this match.
Tottenham are enjoying a good start to the season, but this will be a real test of how far they have come. Tottenham have only defeated Manchester United twice in their previous twenty-eight league visits to Old Trafford and have lost each of the last three.
With the way they have been attacking, Tottenham will test the Manchester United defence but at home, Mourinho’s men look good and should take maximum points despite conceding.