Manchester United visits Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in the weekend’s headliner fixture, and a match where both sides are focused on making up six points this season. Six is the gap that currently separates Tottenham from Liverpool at the top of the table and United from Chelsea in the top four.
For the winner, the gap becomes a lot more manageable while the loser will be staring at a much higher uphill climb. If the result is a draw, then not much will be changed come Monday in regards to the season’s ultimate goal. Let’s take a look at the fitness and availability situation for both teams, starting with the hosts.
Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier are both in contention to feature here after having returned to full training this week. The former has recovered from a thigh injury while the latter has convalesced from having had his appendix removed. The big news with the club this week was the announcement that the stadium opening has been further delayed once again.
At this point, just having it open before the season ends would be considered a major victory.
In switching over to the visitors, central defender Eric Bailly is suspended due to the red card he earned from his reckless challenge in the New Year’s Eve win over Bournemouth.
Marcos Rojo is ruled out through injury, while Chris Smalling faces a late fitness test for this one.
Finally, the biggest question of course surrounded midfielder Paul Pogba, who did not fly out with the rest of the team initially for the training trip in Dubai.
His arrival was delayed due to a leg injury, but United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that the Frenchman will be good to go for this one.
Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur FYIs
Kickoff: Sunday, January 13, 4:30 PM local, Wembley Stadium
Google Result Probability: Tottenham win 47%, Draw 27%, Manchester United win 26%
Starting XI Predictions: Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Press Conference Video
Odds via Bet 365: Tottenham win 21/20, Draw 5/2, Manchester United 15/1
Prediction: Tottenham 3, United 3
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.