Tottenham Hotspur host fellow mid-table club Man United in the Premier League this Sunday. With fresh legs and key players returning, Ange Postecoglou’s side will look to get back to winning ways after a much-needed break.
It’s been a quiet few days for Spurs fans and the players following their FA Cup exit to Aston Villa, but a rare full week of rest could be just what the squad needed. With a handful of crucial players returning, Tottenham will aim to shift momentum against a Manchester United side enjoying a strong run of form.
What time does Tottenham vs Manchester United kick-off?
- Location: London, England
- Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Date: Sunday 16th February 2025
- Kick-off Time: 4:30 pm BST
- Referee: Peter Bankes
- VAR: Paul Tierney
How both teams go into Tottenham v Manchester United
Tottenham come into this fixture off the back of consecutive domestic defeats. First, they crashed out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of Liverpool in the semi-final second leg, before suffering a 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa just three days later.
However, that was a week ago, and since then, Spurs have had their first real rest after a brutal run of congested fixtures. Before their cup disappointments, they secured a 2-0 Premier League win over Brentford.
Manchester United, like Spurs, find themselves struggling in mid-table. Ruben Amorim’s side currently sit 14th, just two points above Tottenham in 13th. However, unlike Spurs, United are in excellent form, winning four of their last five matches. They arrive in North London fresh from a controversial 2-1 FA Cup victory over Leicester City, though their last league outing ended in a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Notably, Spurs have already beaten United twice this season—a 3-0 win at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture and a thrilling 4-3 victory in the Carabao Cup.
Tottenham team news
For once, this section brings positive news for Spurs fans. Five key players are expected to return: Brennan Johnson, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, and Wilson Odobert. While not all will necessarily start, having them back in the squad is a huge boost.
However, Dominic Solanke, Cristian Romero, Radu Dragusin, Richarlison, and Timo Werner remain sidelined. There were fears that Micky van de Ven had reinjured himself, but Ange Postecoglou has denied this, so he remains a doubt for now. Further updates regarding him will emerge closer to kick-off.
Manchester United team news
United will be without Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount, while Jonny Evans is a doubt. Even if fit, Amorim is unlikely to start him.
Predicted Tottenham lineup
Vicario; Spence, Danso, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Tel, Son.
For the first time in months, Postecoglou has real selection dilemmas. Expect Gray to start over Davies and Porro to replace Udogie if the latter isn’t risked. Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert could get minutes off the bench.
Tottenham vs Man United key info
There’s only one ‘big six’ side Ange Postecoglou has yet to lose to—Manchester United. He’ll want to keep that record intact, but United will pose a real challenge, as seen in their previous meeting.
We’ve analysed United’s latest performances, and here’s what stands out:
- Alejandro Garnacho is a danger in transition. He thrives on through balls, constantly positioning himself deep in the opponent’s half. His heat maps against Leicester and Palace show this. However, this leaves him vulnerable to offside traps. Spurs must be more worried about his low crosses from the left flank over his attempts on target.
- United rank 1st in successful tackles per match. They love interceptions and quick recoveries. This is the last team Spurs want to give away possession to.
- Bruno Fernandes cannot be given space. He doesn’t need a first touch to unleash a powerful, accurate shot from outside the box. Spurs should double-mark both Amad Diallo and Garnacho to prevent supply to him.
- Harry Maguire is having a superb season. He’s made 31 interceptions and does well in 1v1 situations, but has only won 52.9% of his attempted tackles. Spurs should move quickly when he steps forward to press.
- United’s defence lacks pace. Apart from Noussair Mazraoui, their backline struggles against quick attackers. Crystal Palace exploited this weakness well. Spurs should send a third runner (like Maddison who does well in such situations) to attack spaces when Son or Kulusevski stretch the defence.
Our prediction
The main threat will come from Bruno Fernandes, a creative mastermind who has already created 49 chances in the Premier League and is the heart of Manchester United’s play. Another name is Amad Diallo—he always seems to step up in crucial moments for United and offers a well-rounded threat with his passing, dribbling, chance creation, pace, and shooting.
For Spurs, just watch out for everyone returning. James Maddison’s comeback is massive—he scored in his last outing and brings the creativity Spurs have been missing. Guglielmo Vicario’s return between the sticks is another big boost, as his presence and shot-stopping ability have been crucial for Spurs this season.
With most of their starters back, Spurs have no excuses. Ange Postecoglou can’t blame injuries, fatigue, or squad depth if they don’t win this one. Adding to the occasion, Spurs fans have organised a ‘sit-in’ protest against chairman Daniel Levy. A strong performance on the pitch could go a long way in easing tensions.
With home advantage and key players returning, Tottenham should have enough to get the job done.
Predicted score: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Man United. COYS!