Solskjaer’s side are generally excellent away from home and they could take advantage of Tottenham’s increasingly brittle belief.
Pick:
Manchester United to win.
How to Watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United
| Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United |
| What |
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United |
| Where |
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England |
| When |
Sunday, 11 April 2021, 11.30 AM EDT |
| How to watch |
Peacock Premium |
Tottenham’s 6-1 victory over Manchester United earlier this campaign feels an awfully long time ago now. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side actually took the lead in that match, but Spurs hit back with two quick-fire goals and then took full advantage of Anthony Martial’s sending-off around the half-hour mark.
Much has changed in the six months since that memorable match at Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho, not Solskjaer, is now the manager under pressure, and his former club could inflict further misery on the Portuguese this weekend. Back Manchester United to beat Tottenham on their own patch.
Mourinho Under Scrutiny as Spurs Seek Top-Four Finish
That 6-1 triumph at Old Trafford was part of an 11-game unbeaten run that propelled Tottenham to top spot in the Premier League in the middle of December. Back then, Mourinho’s methods looked to have been vindicated as Spurs eyed an improbable title triumph. But as they prepare for the reverse fixture this weekend, Tottenham sit 11 points behind United – who are themselves 14 adrift of league leaders Manchester City.
There are many reasons why Mourinho has come under pressure of late, but failing to remain at the summit of the standings is not one of them. Yet although Spurs – two points outside the top four – are probably where most people expected them to be at this stage of the campaign, there is a sense that all is not well in this corner of north London. Mourinho has become increasingly critical of his players in public, and such a high-risk approach only tends to end one way in the modern era.
Tottenham have lost six of their last 12 Premier League matches. They should have been beaten by Newcastle United last weekend but managed to secure a 2-2 draw despite being outclassed by the relegation contenders. Mourinho’s team has become incredibly reliant on Harry Kane of late, while doubts over the defense grow larger with each passing week.
Tottenham are unlikely to sack Mourinho this summer, chiefly because it would cost them a huge amount to do so. It is clear, though, that trouble is brewing at the club, and that is one of the reasons why United will be quietly confident of taking all three points away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Editor’s pick:
Second Place a Prize Worth Winning For Manchester United
A few weeks after Tottenham topped the table, Manchester United were sitting pretty in the first place. They probably should have done more to grasp the opportunity that seemed to have fallen their way, but Solskjaer’s side proceeded to drop points against Liverpool, Arsenal, Sheffield United, Everton and West Bromwich Albion, and soon found themselves trailing Manchester City by an insurmountable margin.
United go into the weekend 14 points behind their rivals, so the title is no longer a target. Some might argue that it, therefore, does not really matter where the Red Devils finish as long as it is in the top four, but second place is actually a prize worth winning for United. It would be another mark of progress following last season’s third-place finish and would cement the feeling that United is a club moving in the right direction.
It was puzzling to hear Solskjaer play down the importance of silverware last month. United are a club defined by trophies, and the Norwegian won plenty of them during his time at Old Trafford as a player. However, he was right to say that the league is the ultimate measure of progress, and United will therefore be keen to finish as runners-up this term.
They are currently four points clear of Leicester City, but the Foxes may well have closed the gap by the time Solskjaer’s players take to the field in north London. The Europa League may well be United’s foremost priority from here on in, but they must not neglect the bread and butter of the Premier League.
Counter-Attacking Verve Could See United Triumph
One area where United have been virtually faultless this season is their away form. They are the only team in the division that has yet to be defeated on the road, although Manchester City and Leicester have amassed more points. United are difficult to beat on their travels, where they find it easier to implement a game plan built on quick transitions between defense and attack.
Sunday’s game could be a slow burner. United are always willing to sit a little deeper away from home in an attempt to open up space on the counter-attack, and Tottenham often take a similar approach. Mourinho will not want to give much away in the opening stages, and DraftKings Sportsbook offer of +210 on a goalless first half will be tempting to some.
Our recommendation, though, is a United win at +140. Solskjaer’s side have plenty of pace in attack, and that will trouble a Tottenham backline that has looked shaky in recent weeks. The Red Devils are strong on the road and are in better form than Spurs, whose fragile confidence could be exposed if they concede the first goal.
It is unlikely to be 6-1 to the visitors as it was at Old Trafford in October, but United should have enough to emerge victorious here.
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