United hunt for revenge against Spurs as top four battle intensifies
Manchester United’s visit to London on Sunday, April 11, 2021, to face a familiar foe, Tottenham Hotspur, is the biggest clash in the English Premier League this weekend.
There is a lot at stake for the Red Devils and Spurs in the Premier League clash that will be live on SuperSport Premier League (DStv channel 203) at 4:30pm on Sunday.
United go on the hunt for revenge against after the humiliating 6-1 loss to their former manager Jose Mourinho’s side at Old Trafford in the first leg last October.
This clash is also about European ambitions, with United looking to consolidate their status as a top-four finisher and the UEFA Champions League berth that will come with it. Spurs, sitting three points behind fourth-placed West Ham, are fighting to reach that same bracket, or at least fifth-place and a spot in the UEFA Europa League.
Mourinho will be hoping to see his side show more togetherness as the season enters the final stretch.
“The selfishness is around, the individual interests are around, the agents are around, the connections between agents and press are around,” said the Portuguese. “And instead of developing a feeling of a team, empathy, ‘I do for you, you do for me’, ‘I win if I play 90 minutes, I win if I am in the stands’. This is something that you need time to develop in a group.”
United, meanwhile, still boast an unbeaten away record in the Premier League and will be targeting a revenge victory for the shocking 6-1 loss they suffered at the hands of Spurs when the teams met at Old Trafford earlier this season.
“That’s what we’re striving towards. I’ve been impressed, under these circumstances, which are unprecedented,” said manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. “I don’t think anyone in the world, or in England, has experienced these times before and I’ve been impressed by my boys. They’ve been excellent and the run we’ve been on has been excellent.”
Key players
Harry Kane – Tottenham’s captain and talisman is always a highly-influential figure, with his penchant for both goals and assists making him one of the most potent attacking players anywhere in the Premier League.
Paul Pogba – If the French midfielder can remain fit for the remainder of the season, then he could be a massive presence for Man United as they chase a place in the top four of the Premier League and success on the UEFA Europa League front.
Head-to-head stats
In head-to-head stats, Tottenham and United have met in 194 matches across all competitions since their first clash back in 1899. The Red Devils have claimed 92 wins compared to 53 for Spurs, while 49 games have been drawn.
As mentioned above, the previous Premier League clash between the teams, played in Manchester in October 2020, saw a thumping 6-1 win for Tottenham thanks to goals from Tanguy Ndombele, Son Heung-min (two), Harry Kane (two) and Serge Aurier.
Battles to watch
Jose Mourinho vs Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – Tottenham manager Mourinho will hope his side show more control and pro-active play when they welcome Man United, while ‘OGS’ will want to see his charges use their pace and skill to its full and devastating effect.
Serge Aurier vs Luke Shaw – The Manchester United left-back has been one of his team’s best performers this season, providing both defensive stability and an attacking thrust. He will come face-to-face with Tottenham right-back Serge Aurier, who was highly impressive when the teams met in October last year.
Gareth Bale vs Daniel James – Two Welsh wizards who have become increasingly influential in recent weeks, Bale and James will look to utilise their attacking tools on Sunday evening. Bale has the edge in skill and experience, but James has pace and energy to burn.
It’s another opportunity for viewers on DStv to see all their favourite stars from the African continent dominating Premier League pitches across England.
