There’s been a sense of dread and anxiety about Manchester United fans in recent weeks. They have been winning matches, indeed they have only lost two of their last 18 Premier League encounters, yet the football on display is far from inspiring and there are still many quietly whispered fears about an unspeakable second season away from Champions League football. A crucial determining factor over whether United will finish in the top four this season will surely be how they cope with their next six games, a run in which they face five of the Premier League’s top six last season (and Aston Villa), starting with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford tomorrow.
The United faithful will be keen to flush Monday’s crushing FA Cup defeat to Arsenal out of the system with a comprehensive victory over Spurs, but recent form suggests that this will be easier said than done. There was once a time when a defeat to Tottenham was almost unheard of at Old Trafford - up until late 2012, United had gone 22 league games unbeaten against Spurs - but as United fans have quickly learnt in the post-Ferguson era, times change. Now, the Red Devils are winless in five against Spurs (D3, L2) with the visitors winning both of the last two encounters at Old Trafford, and there is a real aura of pessimism as the two do battle again on Sunday afternoon.
The main concern for the hosts is, of course, Harry Kane, the season’s undoubted surprise package. The young English striker remains Tottenham’s top scorer with 26 goals so far (16 in the league), a tally that Jermain Defoe, Dimitar Berbatov and Terry Sheringham all failed to reach in their time at White Hart Lane, and on Friday, he became the first player to win back-to-back Premier League Player of the Month Awards since Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2006. Kane has also netted in his last six league games on the road and his battle against David De Gea, arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the league this season, will be one to watch.
Spurs seem to have bounced back from their Capital One Cup and Europa League heartbreak as well, with back-to-back victories in the two games since, and another win at Old Trafford on Sunday would surely build a head of steam that would catapult them right into the midst of the top four battle. A loss, and they’ll be left quite a bit off the pace, six points off United and probably seven points off local rivals Arsenal. For the hosts, a victory is just as vital. Louis van Gaal seems to be in the process of making Old Trafford a fortress once again - their home record is the second best in the league this season - and will be eager for United to start their challenging run of matches with a victory at the Theatre of Dreams. Win, and confidence will be soaring. Lose, and the consequences would be unthinkable.
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Angel Di Maria (one match) and Jonny Evans (six matches) are both serving suspensions, the former for a sending off on Monday night, Evans for a six-match ban after a spitting incident with Papiss Cisse against Newcastle last week. Robin van Persie (ankle) is still a few weeks away from fitness. Marcos Rojo is also another concern for van Gaal with a groin problem and will face a late fitness test ahead of the match.
Pochettino was able to give his players a two-day break in the lead-up to tomorrow’s clash and has no injury worries at all, with a fully fit squad at his disposal.
