Two teams that need a Premier League points on Sunday, since Tottenham Manchester United welcomes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
If you mention the 2024-25 season, an understatement would be for both.
Spurs did claim a much needed victory-han first in the top flight since mid-December-Brentford to be beat 2-0 on 2 February, but they have since been dumped from both EFL cups (4-0 losing Liverpool in the second stage of Their semi-final) and the FA Cup (2-1 to Aston Villa).
Ange Postecoglou has had many injuries to do, but he was also well under expectations, leaving Spurs in 14th place in the weekend.
Here we dive into the OPTA data prior to Sunday's collision.
What is expected?
Tottenham has already beat United twice this season, 3-0 in the competition and 4-3 in the EFL Cup. Since 1989-90, Spurs have not been beaten three times in a single campaign, while the last side to beat the Red Devils three times in a season were Chelsea in 2012-13.
United has admitted at least twice in each of their last four Premier League matches against Spurs – the last side they have given several goals against in 5+ consecutive league matches was Arsenal (five between 1975 and 1978).
Tottenham is unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches against United (W2 D2) and want to complete the competition for the Red Devils for the first time since 1989-90.
The Opta-Supercomputer predicts a tightly affected luminaire, with the chances of Spurs on the victory of 39.8%, while United has a chance of winning of 35.7%. The chance of a draw is 24.5%.
Stop the rot?
Tottenham is Winless in their last seven Premier League competitions (D2 L5), their longest run in the competition since eight without a victory from March to October 2008.
Their five defeats in these last seven games are more than they suffered in their previous 17 at home in the competition (W13 D0 L4).
This season, Spurs wants to win back-to-back Premier League matches for the second time and do this earlier in September.
At that time they also defeated Brentford and United, so there is a good omen.
Postecoglou is unbeaten in all three of his Premier League matches against United – Only three managers have ever remained unbeaten in each of their first four against the Red Devils. Those are: Ruud Gullit, Nuno Espirito Santo and Unai Emery.
Out to work
@Betmgmuk pic.twitter.com/2nhtsdgtjv
– Tottenham Hotspur (@spursofficial) February 13, 2025
Amorim's struggles do not relax
United lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace in their last competition, and then almost passed Leicester City in the FA Cup, took advantage of a Harry Maguire goal that should not have been allowed for offside.
Since Ruben Amorim took the lead in November, only five parties have picked up fewer points in the Premier League than United (14).
Amorim is also only the fourth manager who loses seven of his first 13 top matches who are responsible for the Red Devils, together with John Chapman (10), AH Albut (seven) and Jimmy Murphy (seven).
The former sporty CP boss has only four competition winning to his name at United, while his side has only kept his side two clean sheets. Only Ipswich Town, Leicester and Southampton have kept fewer shutouts in the competition at that time.
United also stagnates in attack. They have had 50 shots on goal in the Premier League under Amorim, a count that only improves four teams – Leicester (38), Everton (40), Southampton (42) and Ipswich (48) – since the Portuguese took over.
Players to watch
Tottenham – son Heung -Min
In helping Pape Sarr's efforts against Brentford, Son became the outright leading assister of Spurs in the Premier League, with 69 to his name, caught up Darren Anderon (68).
Manchester United – Amad Diallo
No player has scored more goals (six) or this season gives more assists (six) for United in the Premier League than the wing player.
However, Diallo did not score or helped in one of his last three league games, but only tried two shots in this time, while creating 10 chances without leading to a goal, so perhaps that initial eruption of activity has disappeared.
Comments