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Manchester United go into their New Year’s Day match with Tottenham off the back of four consecutive victories and David Moyes’ team is looking more and more his own as the season progresses. In the Red Devils’ last game against Norwich, they were able to secure victory despite a poor performance and the absence of Wayne Rooney, and the fact that his team were able to beat a stubborn Canaries side without its talisman will have undoubtedly pleased Moyes.
Spurs will prove a significantly tougher test than Chris Hughton’s men, however, and as such it will be relief to Moyes that Rooney should be fit to return to the team. Despite this, Robin van Persie, Rafael, Phil Jones and Nani are all absent through injury, limiting the options available to the Man United manager. Here, we give you the lineup which will give Moyes’ team the best chance of victory to begin their 2014.
Goalkeeper: David De Gea
De Gea has silenced any lingering critics this season and has performed well throughout the season, keeping five clean sheets in an, at times, faltering team. The Spaniard has been successful with 95% of his claims and is an ever present in this Man United team in the Premier League this season; with an average of 2.37 saves per game, it is easy to see why.
Right-Back: Chris Smalling
If Rafael was fit, this position would be his; with Adnan Januzaj likely to start on the right wing, the right flank is in desperate need of the full-back to provide width due to the Belgian’s tendency to cut inside, something which Rafael offers in abundance. Smalling does not do this as much, although against Norwich he was frequently seen in an advanced position. This is something which will be demanded of Smalling once more on New Year’s Day and the dribbling skills which have seen him win 50% of his take-ons will be required from the full-back.
Centre-Back: Nemanja Vidic
Vidic remains one of the most dominant centre-halves in the Premier League today and, despite often missing games through injury, is still an excellent defender. This is highlighted by his 73% header success rate and 60% tackle success rate, as well as the fact that he has made 133 clearances in his 12 appearances this season. Moreover, Vidic has completed 86% of his passes this season; the Serbian is a terrific player whose position is assured when he is fully fit.
Centre-Back: Jonny Evans
At the start of his Man United career, Evans was the target of a lot of criticism; he has, however, performed significantly better in recent seasons and blossomed into an adept defender. His Performance Score of 280 is higher than Rio Ferdinand’s and he has won 64% of his tackles and 74% of his headers. Against a strong Spurs attack, Evans’ discipline will be tested, but, if he performs as he has done throughout this season so far, he should perform very capably.
Left-Back: Patrice Evra
In all honesty, there is no other player who would play this role – neither Fabio nor Alexander Buttner are up to the standards which Man United demand and as such Evra is a guaranteed selection for the champions. However, his place is justified; he has created the second highest amount of chances in the United squad this season with 22 and has won 55% of his tackles.
Man United Top Chance Creators This SeasonDefensive-Midfield: Michael Carrick
The Englishman’s presence was sorely missed whilst he was injured and his return against Norwich was greatly welcomed by Man United fans. The midfielder is an assured, guiding presence at the heart of the Red Devils’ side, as evident by his 87% pass completion rate and 40 interceptions made this season. Carrick will direct his side’s attacks throughout the game and help them win the midfield battle against Spurs.
Defensive-Midfield: Tom Cleverley
Whilst this spot could go to Darren Fletcher, Cleverley performs an under-appreciated role in Moyes’ system, which places an emphasis on wingplay. Whilst he is not the most creative player, Cleverley has completed 90% of his passes this season and links up play well, providing his team’s wide men with the ball and as such performing a valuable role in the system which Moyes aims to employ. Against Norwich, he misplaced just two passes to attain a pass completion rate of 97% and it is Cleverley who will keep Man United ticking over alongside Carrick.
Right-Wing: Adnan Januzaj
The Belgian’s emergence into the Man United team this season has been spectacular at times and he has been a dynamic presence in a side which has sometimes otherwise looked dull. The 18-year-old has beaten a defender on 57% of occasions and frequently draws fouls – 39 times this term, to be precise. Januazaj tendency to drift inside will overload the Tottenham defence and the burst of pace he carries will be a perpetual threat to the likes of Michael Dawson; moreover, by moving inside, he will create room in which Chris Smalling can be effective on the right flank.
Attacking-Midfield: Wayne Rooney
Rooney has been by far Man United’s best player this season. His Performance Score of 512 easily outstrips those of his team-mates’ and he has been the Red Devils’ biggest attacking threat – it is no coincidence United scored nine goals in the last three matches in which Rooney participated, whilst in his absence against Norwich they found the net only once. The Englishman has created a huge 38 chances this season and scored nine goals, making him Moyes’ top goalscorer. He will be the biggest threat to Spurs and, if he is given space, he will cause a lot of damage.
Man United Top Performance ScorersLeft-Wing: Ashley Young
Like Januzaj, Young likes to cut into the middle of the pitch and by playing him on the left-wing Moyes ensures that he does so onto his stronger right foot – it is this which has produced some spectacular goals in the past from Young. Moreover, in a symmetrical fashion to the right wing, Young’s moves to the inside will create room for Patrice Evra – a full-back renowned for his attacking talent – to burst into.
Striker: Danny Welbeck
Whilst many have written Welbeck off, he has flourished in Robin van Persie’s absence and was unlucky to be left out of the starting line-up against Norwich; when he was brought on as a substitute, he showed exactly why by scoring the only goal in the match. Indeed, Welbeck has scored four goals in his last four appearances and is in a purple patch of form; this could be extended against a Spurs side which conceded five goals against Liverpool.
Is This Man United’s Strongest XI To Face Spurs?
