Here we go, a bonafide “circle the date” fixture as Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur and their new manager Jose Mourinho. The Special One returns to Old Trafford, this time leading the opponent of the club that sacked him a little less than a year ago.
No more hype needed, so let’s take a look at the team news for this one, starting with the hosts. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who now has a putrid 27% win rate as permanent manager at United, winning just six out of 21 league fixtures since having the interim label removed on March 28, is hoping to have Scott McTominay back for this one.
We probably won’t know until closer to game time if the midfielder will be available or not.
Meanwhile Nemanja Matic (who is no doubt clamoring to move over to the other side probably!), Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah have returned to training, but this match will come too soon for the trio. Finally, Diogo Dalot, Paul Pogba and Marcos Rojo remain long term absentees.
OGS just seems in over his depth right, because even when you include his amazing beginning, when he was just caretaker manager, the Norwegian has still won less than half of his matches while bossing at Old Trafford- 24 wins, 14 losses, 12 draws in 50 matches.
What’s the main problem? Well, according to the team’s best player, David de Gea, it’s a lack of quality, not effort.
Flipping over to the visitors, Mourinho will be out his team captain Hugo Lloris (elbow injury) until into the New Year, while back-up keeper Michel Vorm remains out as well. Also out of commission is Erik Lamela (thigh injury) and Ben Davies (ankle). Spurs have won all three under Mourinho thus far.
Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur FYIs
Starting XI Predictions: Tottenham Hotspur Manchester United
Kickoff: 7:30 BST, Dec. 3, Old Trafford
Google Result Probability: Manchester United win 34%, Draw 29%, Sheffield United win 37%
Form Guide: Tottenham- WWDDL Manchester United- DDWLW
Series history: 91 Manchester United wins 48 Draws 52 Tottenham Hotspur wins
Odds via Betfair Exchange: Manchester United win 15/8, Draw 5/2, Aston Villa 13/8
Prediction: Manchester United 2, Tottenham 2
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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