Tottenham have had a rollercoaster week. After a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Chelsea that saw their own supporters boo them off the pitch, they roared back to form in midweek with a dominant 4-0 Champions League win over Copenhagen.
Despite being reduced to ten men after Johnson’s red card, Spurs didn’t slow down. Defender Micky van de Ven produced a stunning solo run from his own half to score a goal that even Thomas Frank jokingly described as “something Lionel Messi would do.” Joao Palhinha then sealed the emphatic victory with a late strike, giving Spurs their second win from four League Phase games.
Tottenham fans are now eager to see this level of performance more consistently. Head coach Thomas Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou earlier this season — believes his team has made real progress in terms of both style and structure. But whether their midweek fireworks can spark a long-term turnaround remains uncertain.
Currently sixth in the Premier League and just a point behind third-placed Liverpool, Spurs have a chance to make history by winning three straight league games against Manchester United for the first time since the 1959-60 season.
They completed the double over United last term, but their home form in 2025 has been worrying nine defeats already, more than any other Premier League team this year. In fact, Spurs have only lost ten home league games in a single calendar year twice before, in 1994 and 2003.
Frank’s own record at home also raises eyebrows, with nine defeats in his last sixteen league matches across his time with Brentford and Spurs.
Manchester United, meanwhile, appear to be finding their rhythm again under Ruben Amorim. After a tough 3-1 defeat at Brentford in September, the Red Devils have responded well with three straight Premier League wins followed by a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
United’s 1-0 lead at halftime at the City Ground slipped away after quick goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona, but Amad Diallo came to the rescue with a brilliant late volley to secure a point. That strike extended United’s run of scoring at least twice in four consecutive games.
Amorim, recently nominated for October’s Manager of the Month award — praised his players’ work ethic but admitted there’s still room for improvement. He’s urged his side to maintain their intensity after noticing a slight dip in energy against Forest.
United sit eighth in the table, level on points with Spurs and Chelsea but behind on goal difference. They’re now aiming to go five games unbeaten for the first time since early 2024 — a stretch that also saw them score two or more goals in five straight matches.
However, the Red Devils will have to overcome a frustrating record against Spurs. They are winless in their last seven meetings with the North London club (two draws, five losses) and have lost each of the last four. The last time a team beat United five times in a row was Liverpool between 2000 and 2002 — a piece of history Tottenham would be thrilled to repeat this weekend.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Tottenham will head into Saturday’s clash with Manchester United missing several key players through injury. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Radu Dragusin are all sidelined with knee problems, while Dominic Solanke and Yves Bissouma are both nursing ankle issues. Ben Davies and Kota Takai are recovering from thigh injuries, and young midfielder Archie Gray remains out with a calf problem.
Lucas Bergvall will also be unavailable as he continues to follow concussion protocols after a recent head injury. Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus remains a doubt after missing the midweek win over Copenhagen due to a knock. If he fails to recover in time, Brennan Johnson could be handed a start on the right wing, while Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert will compete for a place on the opposite flank.
Up front, Richarlison will once again challenge Randal Kolo Muani for a spot in the starting lineup, with Joao Palhinha expected to return in midfield. Djed Spence is also likely to earn a recall and could replace Destiny Udogie at left-back as manager Thomas Frank looks to rotate his options.
On the other side, Manchester United’s injury list is far shorter. Their only major absentee remains Lisandro Martínez, who has been out since February with a serious knee injury. Although the Argentine has resumed training, head coach Ruben Amorim is likely to delay his full return until after the upcoming international break.
Harry Maguire made it back to the bench for last weekend’s draw with Nottingham Forest, and Amorim now faces a decision on whether to bring him straight back into the starting lineup or continue with Leny Yoro alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw in defence.
In midfield, Bruno Fernandes is expected to partner either Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte with the Brazilian likely to get the nod. The United captain will be aiming to provide an assist in three consecutive away matches for the first time since November 2020, having set up goals against both Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Bryan Mbeumo remains a man to watch he has scored four Premier League goals against Spurs, with three of those coming at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr; Kudus, Richarlison, Simons
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Lammens; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Mbeumo, Cunha; Mount
EXPERT PREDICTION
Tottenham 2-2 Manchester United
