MY ACCOUNT
– Tottenham have Ryan Mason in charge after 6-1 drubbing at Newcastle
– United have been poor away from home this season and have centre-back problems
– Recommended bet: Over 3.5 goals
Plenty of goals are on the agenda as Tottenham attempt to respond to Sunday’s humiliating 6-1 defeat at Newcastle when they host top-four rivals Manchester United.
A chastening defeat at St James’ Park saw another Tottenham manager sacked and now the question is whether Spurs rally under their latest interim appointment or continue their downwards trajectory?
Former Spurs player Ryan Mason has recent experience fire-fighting amid the north London ruins, having been drafted in upon Jose Mourinho’s dismissal to take four wins from six league games while losing a cup final along the way.
It is tempting to posit that things can only get better in the wake of a 6-1 drubbing but with Manchester United up next and a trip to Liverpool to follow, things could get even worse for Spurs.
The Red Devils are not without their own demons to banish, however, with their away form an Achilles heel this season.
Erik ten Hag’s men suffered Europa League heartbreak in their most recent away game and with heavy defeats at Brentford, Liverpool and Manchester City seared into the record of a strange season, supporters will be wary of even these most chaotic of hosts.
Team news
Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur is out for the season and fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma is also unlikely to feature before the campaign ends.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is unavailable through injury and full-backs Emerson Royal and Ryan Sessegnon are not quite ready to return but winger Lucas Moura is back from suspension.
United centre-back Lisandro Martinez and attacking midfielder Donny van de Beek have been ruled out for the rest of the campaign, while Raphael Varane is in a race to be fit for the FA Cup final.
Fellow centre-back Harry Maguire returns from suspension but winger Alejandro Garnacho remains out, while there are doubts as to the fitness of midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay.
The stats
Manchester United have lost all five Premier League trips to fellow top-eight teams this season, losing by scorelines of 7-0, 6-3, 3-1, 3-2 and 2-0, and they also lost 4-0 at Brentford.
Indeed, United’s only wins in their last 10 away games in all competitions have come against Real Betis and relegation-threatened Leeds and Nottingham Forest, with the Red Devils winning at the City Ground in both the league and the Carabao Cup.
Tottenham, however, have lost eight of their nine matches against teams in the top seven — as the table stood before Wednesday’s matches — conceding at least two goals on each occasion.
The only exception was a trend-bucking 1-0 home win over Manchester City.
Prediction
While a reaction can be expected from Tottenham, their lack of any sort of positional structure in recent weeks is a major deterrent from backing them to bounce back in style.
United have looked vulnerable away from Old Trafford all season, suffering humiliating defeats at Liverpool, Manchester City and Brentford, as well as crashing out of the Europa League last week with a 3-0 defeat in Seville.
While neither team is consistent enough to encourage confidence, it is likely there will be plenty of goalmouth action.
Spurs were a defensive shambles in their trip to Newcastle, conceding five goals in 21 minutes, and will surely offer up chances to the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
But on the road United are little better defensively, conceding 29 goals in 15 Premier League games, and the absence of Martinez and Varane will have Harry Kane licking his lips.
It is hard to pick a winner from two teams enduring strange campaigns but the consistent calamity potential in both defences points to a riotous encounter.
Back over 3.5 goals, available at 8/5 with LiveScore Bet.
Win big with LiveScore 6!
Fancy winning up to £100,000?
Simply predict six correct scores from the weekend action for your chance to win, with consolation prizes also on offer if you go close.
Play LiveScore 6 for free this weekend (18+, UK only). Click here for details on how to get involved.
