Manchester United v Spurs Preview: January 2014

New Years Day 2014 top clash comes from Old Trafford in the Manchester United v Spurs clash (17:30 KO)

Manchester United will assess the fitness of Wayne Rooney, who missed the win at Norwich with a groin problem and has yet to return to training but may come too soon for Robin van Persie but Antonio Valencia returns after a one-game ban.

Tottenham are without midfielder Paulinho, who is likely to be out for four weeks with an ankle injury and right-back Kyle Walker returns from suspension…..Jermain Defoe is doubtful with a hamstring problem.

MATCH PREVIEW

Both of these clubs have suffered ups and downs in the one month since they last met.

It will be interesting to see whether Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood sticks to his guns and goes on the attack. Sherwood has done well since taking over, winning two and drawing one in the league, and there is not too much wrong with his squad.

Following their 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane, United lost successive home league games in the most difficult days yet under David Moyes’s management. But six wins in a row since then have lifted the gloom to the extent that many see them as genuine title challengers again.

As the momentum builds, there seems to be a change in Moyes. On Boxing Day at Hull he was the most animated he’s been yet as United boss.

Animated and angry; contesting every decision – and still bristling after the game even following a potentially significant comeback win. He’s basically settled in!

In relative terms though, it was a dull December for United compared to Spurs’ month. After that 2-2 draw they won their next two games, and yet one thumping by Liverpool later it was all change at the Lane.

Tim Sherwood couldn’t have believed that he’d start 2014 as a Premier League manager (head coach, officially), but he’s begun pretty well. So well that Spurs have the chance to go four league games unbeaten for the first time this season.

They’ll be under no illusions as to how difficult avoiding defeat will be of course, but will be buoyed by winning their past three away league games, boasting the third-best away record in the Premier League this season, and having broken their own Old Trafford hoodoo with last term’s first win there since 1989.

That’s something else for those into omens and fortunes at the turn of the year – it was that match that ended United’s last six-game winning streak.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Spurs won this fixture 3-2 last season, claiming their first victory at Manchester United since 16 December 1989. The victory ended a winless run of 26 games (D4, L22) away to the Red Devils.
Since then the sides have drawn twice at White Hart Lane, meaning Tottenham are unbeaten in their past three games against United.

Manchester United

The Red Devils have won their past six games in league and cup. It is their best winning run since a six-match streak between August and September 2012 which ended with a 3-2 loss at home to Tottenham.
They have claimed eight wins from their past 13 top-flight matches, losing twice.
Danny Welbeck has scored four goals and assisted one in his past four Premier League appearances.
Manchester United have not conceded a penalty in their past 76 Premier League games.

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs have scored more Premier League penalties than any other side this season – all four of them converted by Roberto Soldado.
Tottenham have scored seven goals in their past three Premier League games, as many as they managed in their final seven top-flight matches under Andre Villas-Boas.
The 3-0 win against Stoke was Spurs’ biggest Premier League victory since beating Aston Villa 4-0 on 26 December 2012.
The result also gave Tottenham their first clean sheet in nine league games.
Spurs players embarked on 29 dribbles, more than any other Premier League side, at the weekend.

Suggested bets

Spurs have won twice since Tim Sherwood took charge, and they scored three times in both wins – something they failed to do in any of AVB’s last 21 games. United, meanwhile, come into this on a six-game winning streak in all competitions.

Spurs have been excellent on the road this season, as they were last term, and with United seemingly much more vulnerable at Old Trafford than in previous seasons they look good value.

The champions dropped points in just three of their home games last season but have already failed to win five times here this term. Moreover, one of those failures last season was against Spurs, and while they’ve been winning recently their performances are still somewhat unimpressive.

If recent meetings are anything to go by this should feature plenty of goals as six of the last 10 head-to-head clashes in the league have had at least four goals. United have conceded in six of their last seven home games and continue to look vulnerable even as their results have improved.

Spurs have been more adventurous under Sherwood but one clean sheet in nine is the result of a greater emphasis on their attack in the past six weeks. Spurs’ last seven trips to top-six teams have seen 28 goals

Over 2.5 Goals is the best bet in this game at 1.8 with BetButler or BTTS @ 8/13 bet365

>>>Stop Press<<<<

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12:45: Swansea v Man City (Sky Sports 1)

15:00: Southampton v Chelsea (BT Sports 1)

17:30: Man Utd v Spurs: (BT Sports 1)

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Manchester United v Spurs Preview: January 2014