Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United

It’s a return to league action this weekend, in what’s our only game in January against a team in the top four.  Sir Alex takes his men to London on Sunday, to face a re-invigorated Tottenham Hotspur, aiming to be the first team to do the double over the reds this season.

United entered the weekend seven points clear at the top, fresh off the back of two home wins against mid-table sides Liverpool and West Ham United.  A sterner test will surely come at White Hart Lane.

The weekend is likely to see neighbours City close the gap in someway, as they take on Fulham at home on Saturday, so the seven point cushion for this one will more than prove its worth.

Team news:

United have Nani and Anderson available for the first time in the league in 2013, which is a much needed boost to the squad – especially with the news that Darren Fletcher will be out for the rest of the season.

Ashley Young and Jonny Evans (hamstring and knee) are missing, and Nemanja Vidic is a doubt after receiving concussion in the game against Liverpool next week.

Wayne Rooney is also in line to start upfront for the reds, alongside Robin Van Persie, but after missing his tenth penalty for United in midweek, it remains to be seen if he’ll still be on spot kick duty.

For Spurs, Kaboul is out of the reckoning, and William Gallas faces a fitness test to see if he is available.

Emmanuel Adebayor is on African Cup of Nations duty, so Villas-Boas only has Jermaine Defoe at his disposal as his sole senior striker.

The game:

Spurs are definitely a big threat this term.  Perhaps not for the title, but definitely in individual matches.  They seem a more tactically aware, astute, and organised side.  For me, I’m more pumped up and nervy about this one than I was for the Liverpool game last week (something I never thought would be possible), so that shows how far the mighty have fallen, and how well Spurs have built up patiently over the years.

We’ve seen how good we can be in games this term, but in those same games we’ve also capitulated and made life hard for ourselves.  We’ll have to go in to this game without the possibility of that happening, otherwise Tottenham could do Man City a favour.

It’s certainly the biggest game of the weekend, and when any of the top three teams play each other this season, there could be any outcome.  We have to take points at White Hart Lane though to keep the cushion open at the top of the table. If it drops to four points it’s still a great margin, but the morale boost that’ll give our neighbours will also put a bit of pressure on us.

Wherever you’re watching it, enjoy the game.