PREVIEW: Can United Maintain Their Record At The Lane?

Tottenham

Team news

The big news for Spurs this week is the knee injury which is likely to keep influential Brazilian midfielder Sandro out for the rest of the season. Scott Parker will slot in to his position while the other likely change in midfield would see Clint Dempsey come in to the starting XI. Emmanuel Adebayor is away on Togo duty, so expect to see Dempsey playing behind the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1.

Form

Tottenham’s form coming into this match is simply excellent: the team have lost just one of their last 13 in all competitions. Equally pleasing is the fact that we have conceded just twice in our last seven. The defence seems as solid as a Spurs back four has ever been but it will face its biggest test on Sunday.

Head-to-head

Despite Tottenham’s historic win at Old Trafford back in September, our record against United is poor – both home and away. Last season’s fixture ended in a 3-1 away win and we haven’t beaten Ferguson’s men at the Lane since the end of the 2000-01 season. There have been a few draws in that time, however, and the current squad should be capable of earning a point at least.

Best bets

Both teams to score at 1.53. Spurs may be more potent with Jermain Defoe as the lone striker while United will test our defence.

Gareth Bale to score anytime at 3.35. The bigger teams bring the best out of Bale and that’s an excellent price.

Over 3.5 goals at 2.55. Over 2.5 at 1.65 may have been safer but this is a fixture that usually produces plenty of goals.

Score prediction: Spurs 2-2 Man United (11.50)

Predicted Side

Lloris

Walker

Assou-Ekkoto

Dawson

Vertonghen

Parker

Dembele

Lennon

Dempsey

Bale

Defoe

Man United

Team news

Manchester United are finally getting back to full strength, with Wayne Rooney and Nani returning from injury during the week. Vidic’s suspected injury against Liverpool turned out to be a minor concussion, although Young, who picked up a knock in the same game, will miss the trip to White Hart Lane as will Jonny Evans.

Form

United are on a roll and haven’t lost a Premier League game since November, with a draw against Swansea last month the only blemish in an almost perfect ten-game run. The win against Liverpool last week was impressive and United remain seven points ahead of Man City.

Head-to-head

United haven’t lost to Tottenham at the Lane since 2001, going 11 games without defeat since then. You have to look back even further for when they last did the double over us. In this fixture last season United were second best for large parts of the first half but took the lead and never looked back.

Best bets

Both teams to score at 1.53. Neither side’s defence is the best: United have conceded 29 whilst Spurs have shipped 27.

United to win at 2.40. I fancy us to continue our strong form even against tough opponents.

Van Persie to score first at 4.75. Has scored in United’s last seven wins, so is likely to be crucial again.

Score prediction: Tottenham 1-2 Man United (10.00)

Predicted side

De Gea

Rafael

Evra

Vidic

Ferdinand

Carrick

Cleverley

Kagawa

Valencia

Welbeck

Van Persie

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