Manchester United has been facing a challenging period, gradually slipping from their former glory days under Sir Alex Ferguson to a more troubled position in the English football landscape. The transition has proven difficult for Ferguson’s successors, including Mourinho and Moyes, and the trend continues under Erik Ten Hag’s leadership in 2022.
After five rounds in the Premier League, Manchester United appears vulnerable, having suffered defeats against Brighton (2-1) and Liverpool (3-0), and managing only a sluggish 0-0 draw against a struggling Crystal Palace.
Similarly, Tottenham Hotspur finds themselves in an unexpected 10th place early in the season, failing to meet leadership expectations. Tottenham’s season has been mixed, with a draw against Leicester (1-1), a commanding win against Everton (4-0), but disappointing losses to Newcastle (2-1) and Arsenal (1-0) in the North London derby. Most recently, Tottenham secured a 3-1 home victory over Brentford.
In terms of player updates, Mason Mount has rejoined Manchester United’s squad after a muscle injury and missing three matches, though he isn’t expected to start. Rasmus Holjund, after scoring 10 goals last season and an early season injury, played briefly last weekend. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s defense is hampered with players like Yoro, Lindelof, Shaw, and Malacia out injured. No player has scored more than one goal for United this season, a surprising statistic for a club of its caliber.
Tottenham will be buoyed by the return of midfielder Yves Bissouma, who was back last game and promptly received a yellow card shortly after entering. However, Richarlison is sidelined, and Odobert has not been cleared medically to play, having sustained a thigh injury. Heung Min-Son continues to lead Tottenham as captain, topping both goals and assists for the team.
Prediction
Manchester United’s recent home games in the Premier League have typically been high-scoring, with ten of their last eleven featuring at least three goals. Tottenham’s away matches have shown similar trends, with goals aplenty in six of their last seven games. When these two teams meet, a high-scoring match is anticipated.
Prediction: Manchester United 1, Tottenham 2