Eight games, three wins, one a 7-0 win over League One opposition that was heralded as a new dawn but was followed by two frustrating draws.
Manchester United‘s campaign has been a story of “nearly” so far, as they have perenially looked to be on the cusp of becoming a great team but faltered at the last step.
They will get their next chance to take that step at home vs Tottenham, a team who they didn’t beat last season.
Similar to Erik ten Hag, Ange Postecoglou has also been struggling for results at Tottenham but the pressure at Old Trafford is something different entirely.
Here’s the Manchester United vs Tottenham prediction and analysis as the need for victory becomes urgent in Manchester.
Match breakdown
On paper, this is arguably United’s second-toughest opponent of the season after Liverpool but looking at the form sheet and more importantly, the tactical makeup of the Spurs side, United should feel confident.
Postecoglou has earned rave reviews for sticking to his philosophy through thick and thin while Ten Hag has been hammered for doing the opposite.
However, two trophies in the last two years plus still being level on points with Tottenham this season would be remarkable information to a neutral fan because the coverage the two managers have received has been extremely contrasting.
United have looked one step away from clicking and putting it all together, and Tottenham’s tactical setup is a dream proposition for their forward line.
Marcus Rashford and Co would undoubtedly be looking at that high line and devising ways to get behind that defence.
Vicario is a great sweeper-keeper, but United’s quality on the ball in transition should make up for that through the sheer number of openings United get.
In defence, Son Heung-Min is the obvious threat, while Dominic Solanke is also starting to get his feet under him after scoring midweek in Europe.
However, Spurs come into the game with one less day of rest, as they played on Thursday, and they are sweating over the fitness of their star South Korean winger.
Ten Hag and his team won’t get a better chance to put their campaign back on track than in these circumstances against this opposition.
Manchester United vs Tottenham prediction
Despite the below-par results this season, it seems like the morale of the dressing room has remained unaffected because they can sense the performances are good and the basics are being done well.
It is a far cry from last season where every bad result felt like a giant step towards nothingness as the team conceded for fun and scored little.
Old Trafford will be up for to get over the frustrating draw in Europe midweek and Tottenham’s playing style means it won’t be a case of United banging their head at an 11-man wall trying to score, not their forte.
It will be an end-to-end game and that is exactly what suits this United side that is still getting to grips with controlling the game for 90 minutes through ball domination.
At one point or another, a team is bound to start scoring at the level statistically expected of them and so far, United have bucked that trend to keep firing blanks.
Expect that to change against Spurs when they get many opportunities but the chances of a clean sheet here, especially if Son is declared fit, are slim.
United in Focus predicts Man Utd 3-1 Spurs
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