It will take more than a low-key Carabao Cup win over Swansea City for Manchester United to get over their first Premier League loss of the season to Huddersfield Town, and Saturday brings a great chance to make a real statement when Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham come to Old Trafford.
The 2-1 defeat at the John Smith's Stadium followed a week of consternation as many onlookers gathered to point fingers at Jose Mourinho for his tactics in the preceding 0-0 draw at Liverpool, but things are unlikely to get any easier against a Spurs side who had not lost in 11 matches before their much-changed XI's Carabao Cup exit to West Ham United and now sit level with United on 20 points after nine games.
United 5/4 to beat Spurs with dabblebet
Mourinho will be looking for his side to extend a run which has seen the north Londoners win only twice in 28 years at Old Trafford, knowing all the while that another loss would increase the gathering question marks over his team's current form.
MAN UTD INJURIES
Phil Jones was fit enough to take a place on the bench for the midweek win at Swansea having lasted only 22 minutes against Huddersfield. The England defender has been struggling with a knee issue of late, but should be available for Spurs' visit.
Paul Pogba remains unavailable due to his continuing rehabilitation from the hamstring injury which has kept him out since mid-September but is said to be targetting the trip to Chelsea next week as a possible return date, while Marouane Fellaini is also nearing a comeback following the knee injury he suffered playing for Belgium against Bosnia-Herzegovina earlier this month. Michael Carrick is expected to remain on the sidelines through calf trouble.
Eric Bailly could be selected after returning to training following a three-week absence, but Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic remain on the sidelines after ACL injuries suffered in April.
For the second midweek running Marcus Rashford left the field early due to a slight knock but it is hoped the young England star will be fit to start on Saturday.
MAN UTD SUSPENSIONS
Neither side have any absentees due to suspension for Saturday's fixture, and both squads are also free of players sitting one booking shy of a first ban of the season.
MAN UTD POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP
Mourinho could revert to a team more reflective of his favoured possible line-up this week after having shuffled the pack slightly against Huddersfield, although he could be tempted to change shape to play with three at the back as he has done previously against sides also employing a defensive trio.
Marcus Rashford and Henrikh Mkhitaryan should come back in having made second-half substitute appearances in West Yorkshire, while Eric Bailly and Phil Jones could both start so long as both can prove their full fitness between now and Saturday.
Chris Smalling could continue as part of a defensive three but might be the odd one out if Mourinho decides on sticking with a flat back-four, and Jesse Lingard may be considered for a start after his two-goal show at Swansea in midweek. Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic shared a 90-minute workload in south Wales on Tuesday so both should be fresh enough to pair up in the midfield for the fourth time in a fortnight against Spurs.
TOTTENHAM TEAM NEWS
While Wednesday's 3-2 loss to West Ham has blotted their copybook, Spurs will surely remain in high spirits following their recent run of form which has seen them climb up the table off the back of an unblemished away record and an improving return at their temporary home of Wembley. They also took a point off Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Bernabeu and look a good bet to make the last 16 for the first time since 2011.
Mauricio Pochettino has his side playing with a real panache, leaving some amongst United's support wondering what their team might look like had the Red Devils' board favoured the Argentine over Mourinho in the summer of 2016. Harry Kane's 13 goals in his last 10 appearances have helped to fire Spurs up the table, but though he misses this game due to a slight injury, it has been the overall XI which the manager has fashioned has been too much for most opponents to handle of late.
Christian Eriksen has been in fantastic form just behind Kane, while they have seemingly profited from the new back three they have been using since adding Davinson Sanchez to their squad at the end of the summer transfer window. Before the West Ham defeat in midweek, they had conceded just five goals in 10 matches since the Colombian youngster's arrival at the club,
BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS
-
Tottenham have lost 20 of their 25 Premier League away trips to Old Trafford (W2 D3 L20) – their biggest tally of defeats away at any club in the competition.
-
Spurs - who beat Manchester United back in May 2017 - will be looking to record consecutive league victories against the Red Devils for the first time since April 1990.
-
Manchester United have won their last five Premier League games at Old Trafford, keeping a clean sheet in each win – they last recorded six consecutive home league wins without conceding in March 2010 (run of seven).
-
In their last two games, Manchester United have scored one goal, attempted only four shots on target and have an xG total of 0.97. Spurs have faced those same opponents over the last three games (Huddersfield & Liverpool) and netted eight goals, had 13 shots on target and had an xG total of 3.62.
-
Mauricio Pochettino has lost more Premier League matches against Jose Mourinho (4) than he has versus any other manager in the competition.
-
Harry Kane has scored 29 goals in 26 Premier League appearances in 2017 so far – just seven off the all- time Premier League record in a calendar year, set by Alan Shearer in 1995 (36 goals).
-
Romelu Lukaku has scored just 15 goals in 58 Premier League appearances against the ‘big six’ clubs – averaging a goal every 289 minutes.
TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME
The match at Old Trafford kicks off at 12:30BST on Saturday, with TV coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League.
