Premier League football return sees Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur welcoming his former side Manchester United to the London Stadium as the battle for Champions League qualification resumes.
The hosts who are sitting in 8th position—four points behind their visitors in fifth—will be looking to take home all three points and cut the gap between both teams to a single point. Jose Mourinho will hope that the enforced break has helped put his out of form team back in shape as they did not win a single game in their last six competitive matches.
Manchester United meanwhile enter this game unbeaten in eleven games. They will know that their chances of finishing in Champions League spot remain in their hands heading into the season’s home-run. A win here will see them strengthen their grip of the 5th position at the expense of their former manager.
Team News
Jose Mourinho welcomes back fit-again Harry Kane, Son, Moussa Sissoko, Steven Bergwin, and Davison to the squad. But the Portuguese meanwhile still has to do without Japhet Tanganga and Troy Parrott, who are injury absentees for this tie. Dele Alli will miss the tie as he begins to serves his one-game FA ban for a coronavirus video.
The return of Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba from long term injuries will be welcome news for Ole Sloskjaer. The Norwegian who is expected to field a midfield pairing of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes is also be buoyed by the loan extension of Odion Ighalo.
Head to Head
Manchester United have won four of the last five meetings between both sides, with Tottenham’s only victory coming in a 3:0 win at Old Trafford in 2018 in what was the beginning of the end of Mourinho’s Manchester United coaching career.
Team Form
Tottenham last five games in all competition: LDLLL
Man United last five games in all competition: WWWDW
Betting Preview
Tottenham Hotspur are heading into this tie with five wins (L3) in eight home games since Mourinho took charge. In that period, the hosts won 80% of their games with teams outside of the top four.
Tottenham have scored 47 times in the league this season, with 27 of them coming at home. Only leaders Liverpool, Manchester United and Leicester City have scored more goals at home in the league this season.
At the other end of the pitch, Tottenham are horrible and have the league 11th worst defense with 40 goals conceded in 29 matches.
Jose Mourinho’s boys are good before the break with twelve wins (D5, L12) in 29 first halves. Games involving them are likely to see both teams score as they have recorded 20 BTTS games in the league this season—a league-high.
Man United meanwhile have seen both teams score in 14 of their 29 matches—six times as an away team.
They head into this tie unbeaten in five PL games (W3, D2). In their last ten games in all competitions, they have scored 23 times keeping eight clean sheets.
In the first half table, the ‘Red Devils’ are trailing only to Liverpool in the team with the most points in the first half—51 points. They have recorded 15 wins in 29 first halves, scoring 23 times and conceding 13 times.
Each of their last six away games in the league have featured exactly two goals, with victors winning both halves in three of the last four games.
Betting Tips
Both teams to score/Yes @ 7/10
Draw first half/ Manchester United to win second half @ 11/2
Over 2.5 Goals @ 19/20
