5 point preview of Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United

Manchester United haven’t made it to a cup final this season yet but it’s still Wembley time as they head to Tottenham Hotspur’s temporary home for a crucial midweek Premier League game.

The fight for Champions League places is well and truly on and this battle between two of the ‘Big Six’ teams is sure to have implications on the outcome of the season.

Spurs go into this match fifth on the table, 8 points behind Manchester United in second place.

While the club from London would be looking to cut the gap between the rivals, the Red Devils would be looking to keep the momentum goin and hoping that their noisy neighbours drop some points before the end of the season.

The last time the clubs met in the Premier League, it was a very close encounter and only a late Anthony Martial goal in the 81st minute gave United 3 points.

This match is sure to be another close one, so let’s jump right into the 5 point preview.

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#5 Manchester United’s Unbeaten Run

Since their home defeat against Manchester City on December 10 which derailed their title challenge, United have been on an unbeaten run of sorts – no team are on a longer current Premier League unbeaten run than the Red Devils's 8.

The Reds have also started 2018 brightly, with a 100% winning record across competitions without conceding a goal.

They would be looking to maintain that winning run against a club who are currently struggling for momentum – the last two games for Spurs have resulted in 1-1 draws.

4. Toby Alderweireld Returns

Toby Alderweireld will be back in action

Every unbeaten run has to end at some point, and the chances are higher when you face a top club. This is even more so when star players return.

Toby Alderweireld is back in training and is now in contention for his first appearance since November. Alderweireld has now recovered from a hamstring injury that he picked up during the 3-1 win over Real Madrid at Wembley and is expected to play part in this crucial encounter which has major implications on their Top 4 hopes.

It might not be wise to put him directly in the starting lineup, but we shouldn’t be surprised if he slots in immediately.

3. Alexis Sanchez’s Premier League debut

Alexis Sanchez is all set for his first full 90-min stint with United

While Alderweireld may return and pose a threat to United’s hopes, one cannot forget that Alexis Sanchez is now a Manchester United player and has already started impressing.

With two assists in his first appearance that lasted 72 minutes, the United #7 gave a perfect attacking performance which gave him his first man of the match award as a United player.

Some would argue that Yeovil is not a strong opposition, but Alexis has been in this league for quite some time now and has shown time and again that he can influence games on his own.

He might be in for his first full 90-minute shift and what a match to do that!

2. Harry Kane's 100th Premier League goal?

Kane is one goal away from his PL century

Alexis might influence one end of the pitch, but on the other side also stands a world-class competitor around whom his team revolves.

While Spurs have been stumbling slightly of late, Harry Kane looks to be getting better and better all the time.

He saved Spurs from what could have been a humiliating fourth-round exit in the FA Cup, with his goal ensuring a replay in a week’s time at Wembley. While the fixtures keep piling up and Spurs are looking for solutions, Kane is looking for records to break.

He recently became the all-time leading Premier League goalscorer for Tottenham Hotspur and he is just one goal away from joining the elite set of players with 100 Premier League goals. Would he do it tonight?

If he does that, he would have taken 140 appearances to do so. This would put him second in the ‘Fastest to 100’ list. The only player to do it faster? Alan Shearer.

1. The Record against the other "Big Six" teams

Spurs accumulated only 3 points out of a possible 15 in matches against Big Six opponents

When all is said and done, talk will emerge about who gives their best when it all matters. Manchester City won 5 out of 5 in the first set of meetings with the Big Six clubs and it has clearly paved the way for their almost inevitable procession to the title.

While things could still change and City might necessarily not become the champion, it is highly unlikely unless another one of the clubs repeats something similar in the second half of the season.

Much has been said about United’s negativity when facing top opposition, and while there is some weight to that argument, they still have got a respectable 7 points out of a possible 15.

Spurs, on the other hand, had a sole victory against Liverpool and lost all the other 4 big games. Who would have a better record at the end of the game, and who would be posed with the same questions?

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Prediction: With a lot of things at stake in this game, this game is expected to be free-flowing yet some cautious enough and things will be kept in check. With two of the best defensive teams in the league facing off, not many goals are expected

A 1-1 draw is what we predict and a chance for rivals to alter their gaps.