New-look Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur open their campaigns on Saturday at Old Trafford.
If recent years are anything to go by, the season’s opener has been a poor forecast of things to come for Manchester United. Their opening day demolition of Swansea in David Moyes’ first Premier League match in charge papered over many of the cracks, which would later emerge as the Red Devils crumbled to their worst league finish in more than two decades.
In Louis van Gaal’s first match, they were thoroughly outclassed by Swansea prompting a spending spree in which high-profile flops Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao were hastily brought to the club.
Unlike its 2014 counterpart, United’s opening fixture this season should be a fairly good indicator of how van Gaal wants to structure his side this campaign. Getting a good result to start the season is essential. The Dutchman will be given no honeymoon period to get his lineup right this time around.
There should be no such drama this year but history teaches us to expect the unexpected on opening day.
Key Battle – Phil Jones v Harry Kane
Harry Kane cut an isolated and frustrated figure on his sole appearance at Old Trafford last season. But United would be foolish to write him off too soon. Kane possesses all the keys to hurt the Red Devils on the break if they dominate possession as is widely predicted. Kane should be marked by fellow Englishman Phil Jones in what will be a juicy match-up of two of England’s finest young talents.
Team News
United have conducted the majority of their transfer activity, adding Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sergio Romero to the squad. With Di Maria’s departure now official, the Manchester club will perhaps only lose David De Gea to Madrid, bringing in a replacement goalkeeper and Barcelona winger Pedro into the squad. Neither of these potential inclusions will feature this week.
The real questions surround van Gaal’s midfield make up. Marouane Fellaini will miss through suspension but it is doubtful the Belgian would have featured even if available. A fitness cloud hangs over Schweinsteiger and the German maestro may have to make his Old Trafford debut off the bench with creative Spaniard Ander Herrera assuming his midfield spot. Michael Carrick and Schneiderlin should get first crack at forming a midfield base with Juan Mata and Ashley Young supporting Wayne Rooney up front. Promising youngster Depay may also be in line for a start but van Gaal may opt for a conservative approach for one the Premier League’s most precocious young talents.
Manchester United Expected XI (4-3-3): Romero (GK); Darmian, Jones, Blind, Shaw; Herrera, Carrick, Schneiderlin; Mata, Rooney, Young.
Tottenham, on the other hand, have had a subdued summer in the transfer market. The majority of their dealings have been cutting dead weight from the squad and fixing their leaky defence which let through 53 goals last season, equal to 19th placed Burnley and two more than 18th placed Hull. Despite that, Mauricio Pochettino did well to steer Spurs to a respectable fifth, above Liverpool and an impressive Southampton side. This was possible in large part to the stunning season of Kane.
Unlike his infamous Welsh predecessor, Tottenham have done well to hold onto Kane’s services for the upcoming season and he once again will be crucial to his side’s chances. He may find some joy against a United defence that has not been entirely assured in the preseason so far.
An injury cloud still lingers over captain Hugo Lloris in goal. Lloris should be fit for this one but his absence would be a devastating blow. Toby Alderweireld is poised to make his Tottenham debut after moving across from Atletico Madrid having spent last season on loan at Southampton. Spurs may also look to play a five-man midfield in an attempt to congest United’s build-up play, hitting on the break through the likes of Andros Townsend, Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen and of course Kane.
Tottenham Hotspur Expected XI (4-5-1): Lloris (GK); Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Townsend, Carroll, Erikson, Mason, Chadli; Kane.
Head-to-Head
Manchester United and Tottenham have played each other a total of 184 times. United have claimed 86 of those contests; Spurs just 48.
United had previously held a stranglehold over Tottenham but that grip has weakened in recent seasons. Spurs had won at Old Trafford in two consecutive seasons before van Gaal’s men ended their run last season.
Previous Meeting
Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney all got on the scoresheet in the first half as United ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Old Trafford last season.
https://youtu.be/ewaVzyopYT4
Prediction
United have shown an increased cohesion and efficiency in possession this offseason and until Tottenham’s defensive woes from last season are cured, it is hard to see them overcoming a redoubled and determined Old Trafford outfit in this one.
Manchester United 3 Tottenham 1
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