Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United - prediction, team news, lineups

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to boost their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League when they welcome Manchester United to North London on Sunday afternoon.

Spurs are currently sixth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed West Ham United, while second-placed Man United are relatively secure in the Champions League spots with eight games left.

Match preview

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Tottenham's shock elimination from the Europa League in the middle of March has placed enormous pressure on head coach Jose Mourinho to deliver a top-four finish in this season's Premier League, with the Portuguese potentially losing his job if he is unable to deliver Champions League football for next term.

Spurs will have the chance to end their long wait for silverware later this month when they take on Manchester City in the EFL Cup final, but there is simply no downplaying the importance of their next eight league games.

The North London club would have been looking to make it back-to-back league victories last weekend when they travelled to Newcastle United, but Joe Willock struck a leveller in the 85th minute as the Magpies recovered from 2-1 behind to secure a share of the spoils.

Tottenham are currently sixth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed West Ham, while they are only two points off fifth-placed Chelsea on the same number of matches.

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Spurs will be eyeing a huge three points against Man United on Sunday, but they have only won half of their 14 home Premier League games this term, suffering four defeats in the process, including losses to Liverpool and Chelsea in the early stages of 2021.

Mourinho's side have won each of their last three league fixtures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, though, scoring 10 times in the process, and their home form could be key to their chances of finishing in the top four.

In terms of what is ahead for the capital outfit in the league, they will take on Everton at Goodison Park on April 16 ahead of a home game against Southampton on April 21, before opening the month of May with a clash against Sheffield United in North London.

The speculation surrounding Harry Kane's future continues to gather pace, and the England captain is likely to have a big decision to make this summer if there is no European football on offer at the club next term.

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Man United, like Spurs, have certainly had their problems this season, but the Red Devils will be in a confident mood heading into Sunday's clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium courtesy of a run of four wins from their last five matches in all competitions.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side disappointingly lost to Leicester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup before the international break but have won their last three in the Premier League to place themselves in a strong position to secure Champions League football for next term.

The 20-time English champions are currently second in the table, 14 points behind leaders Man City but nine clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, and they are very much in control of the spot just behind Pep Guardiola's side.

Man United's last away league game brought a 2-0 success over Man City towards the start of March, while they have won their last two league fixtures at Old Trafford against West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion to make it 10 unbeaten in England's top flight.

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The Red Devils have also put themselves in a commanding position to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Granada in the first leg of their last-eight tie.

Marcus Rashford made the breakthrough in Spain with a well-taken goal in the 31st minute before Bruno Fernandes scored a second from the penalty spot in the final exchanges, and it would be a shock if the club were not present in the final four of the European competition.

Solskjaer's side have three more league games before the end of the month, facing Burnley and Leeds United after this weekend's clash; Liverpool will then visit Old Trafford at the start of May, but there is every chance that will be a much bigger contest for Jurgen Klopp's side, who are chasing a top-four spot.

Not since January 2020 have Man United lost an away Premier League match, and the English giants have won nine of their 15 league fixtures on their travels this term, although four of their last five away from Old Trafford have ended in draws.

Team News

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Tottenham will again be without the services of Matt Doherty and Ben Davies through injury, but the home side are otherwise in good shape approaching Sunday's encounter.

Serge Aurier and Toby Alderweireld are both in contention after missing out against Newcastle last weekend, and the former could return to the starting XI at right-back.

Son Heung-min featured as a substitute against the Magpies and now is expected to return to the side, potentially joining Lucas Moura, Giovani Lo Celso and Kane as part of a front four.

As for Man United, Anthony Martial remains unavailable for selection due to a knee problem, while Phil Jones is a long-term absentee for the 20-time English champions.

Eric Bailly is also out following a recent positive coronavirus test, but Luke Shaw and Paul Pogba should be available despite being substituted against Granada on Thursday with minor problems.

Rashford is nursing an ankle problem but should be in the starting XI on Sunday, while Dean Henderson is expected to replace David de Gea between the sticks.

Fred is likely to return in the middle of the park, and the fact that Scott McTominay is suspended for next week's second leg against Granada means that the Scotland international should start, with Pogba potentially moving out to the left and Rashford going through the middle.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Rodon, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Ndombele; Son, Lo Celso, Lucas; Kane

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Greenwood, Fernandes, Pogba; Rashford

Head To Head

Man United lead the overall head-to-head record between the two teams, with the Red Devils winning 92 times to Tottenham's 53, while there have also been 49 draws throughout history.

Spurs recorded a thumping 6-1 victory in the reverse game at Old Trafford back in October, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season.

Man United's last away league victory over the North London club came in January 2019, when Rashford scored a 44th-minute winner for the 20-time English champions at Wembley Stadium.

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester United

This is a bigger match for Tottenham as Man United are relatively secure in the top four; Mourinho's side have also had much longer to prepare for this encounter and will be fired up, but the Red Devils are so difficult to beat on their travels, and we are predicting an entertaining draw here.

Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below: