Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
After a terrible start to the new Premier League season, losing 2-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford on the opening weekend before being humiliated 4-0 away to Brentford, Manchester United have made a good account of themselves under new boss Erik ten Hag - for the most part, anyway.
It's hard to ignore that 6-3 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad at the beginning of this month, but that was the Red Devils' first Premier League defeat in four games and they did pick up admirable wins over out-of-sorts Liverpool (2-1) and table-toppers Arsenal - dealing the Gunners their only defeat so far this season with a 3-1 triumph at Old Trafford.
Man United now sit eagerly on the cusp of the top four, hot on the heels of Graham Potters' revived Chelsea - who they face at Stamford Bridge in west London on Sunday, 22nd October - and they are beginning to look like contenders for a place in the Champions League spots come the end of the season in May.
That defeat to their cross-city rivals aside, as a loss to Pep Guardiola's side was expected, the victories over Arsenal and Liverpool already this campaign are proof that Manchester United can compete with the big six under the Dutchman and this week is going to be vital to their hopes of finishing in the top four.
The Red Devils host third-place Spurs at Old Trafford on Wednesday night and they are the slight favourites in the Man Utd v Tottenham odds as they hope to close the gap on Antonio Conte's side in the Premier League table with a game in hand over the north London outfit.
Of course, a third victory over another member of the esteemed big six at this stage of the season would be massive for United on their pursuit of the top four and the fact that Spurs just about salvaged a point away to Chelsea before losing to Arsenal at the start of the month will perhaps give Ten Hag's men a boost going in to the fixture.
The 3-2 victory over Tottenham at Old Trafford back in March, when Cristiano Ronaldo's hattrick sealed all three points, could also give the hosts the edge and 'CR7' might just be the deciding factor again as he appears to have rediscovered some form after bagging his 700th career goal in the 2-1 win over Everton a couple of weeks ago.
Aside from that 6-2 win over Leicester City last month, Spurs haven't looked all that convincing this season despite their place in the table. It has been more a story of narrow wins, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-0), Fulham (2-1) and Brighton (1-0) by a single goal as Conte sets up defensively.
But that tactic arguably hasn't worked against the better attacks, with Arsenal putting three past Hugo Lloris and Chelsea finding the back of the net twice, and with Ronaldo, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho and so on, Manchester United could have no problem breaking down the Spurs defence.
The Red Devils have turned things around well since their terrible start to the season, and two more victories over Spurs and Chelsea would not only solidify their challenge for the top four. But it might also be proof that they can once again become a real threat under Ten Hag.
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