STAR PREVIEW Sat: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United

Two managers under pressure face-off in North London on Saturday when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United travel to Nuno Espirito Santo’s Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.

Despite defeating Burnley 1-0 in the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday night, Spurs boss Nuno still finds himself under huge pressure with supporters unhappy with the style of play and lack of entertainment at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium so far this season.

They currently sit sixth in the Premier League, but there are only four teams in the division who have scored fewer goals than them and they rank 19th in the league in shots per game. Harry Kane – so often Spurs’ talisman at the top of the pitch – has struggled to get going; only scoring one Premier League goal so far.

Although results haven’t been overly troubling, the direction of the club is for many fans. Daniel Levy promised an appointment that would see a return to attacking football in the summer and yet it seems that Spurs are heading in the other direction.

New signings Bryan Gil and Christian Romero – who were considered marquee signings in the summer – are yet to settle in North London, but Tanguy Ndomble’s upturn in form has been a boost after the skilful midfielder’s Spurs career looked dead in the water in the summer.

They will need big performances from him as well as a resurgence in form for Kane if they’re going to knock on the door of the top-four this season.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
Premier League
17:30 Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Ultra HD

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
APR 2021 PREMIER LEAGUE Tottenham 1-3 Man Utd
OCT 2020 PREMIER LEAGUE Man Utd 1-6 Tottenham
JUN 2020 PREMIER LEAGUE Tottenham 1-1 Man Utd
DEC 2019 PREMIER LEAGUE Man Utd 2-1 Tottenham
AUG 2018 PREMIER LEAGUE Man Utd 0-3 Tottenham
APR 2018 FA CUP Man Utd 2-1 Tottenham
JAN 2018 PREMIER LEAGUE Tottenham 2-0 Man Utd
OCT 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE Man Utd 1-0 Tottenham
MAY 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE Tottenham 2-1 Man Utd
DEC 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE Man Utd 1-0 Tottenham

After Sunday’s humiliating 5-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is skating on very thin ice as Manchester United manager and is the current favourite with Star Sports to be the next Premier League manager to leave their post.

With Naby Keita and Diogo Jota putting Liverpool 2-0 up inside the first quarter of an hour, it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for United – and that was even before Mohamed Salah got in on the act. The Egyptian rubbed more salt into the wound with a stunning hat-trick before United’s misery was compounded by the sending off of Paul Pogba just 15 minutes after he came on as a substitute.

Rumours have been swirling ever since about the future of Solskjaer as United boss with many wondering whether, after two years of ship-steadying, whether it’s time for someone else to come in and drive the club forward.

Zinedine Zidane and Antonio Conte have both been linked with the job with the United board reportedly finally starting to consider the possibility of replacing their Norwegian coach. Check out our market on the next Manchester United manager here: www.starsports.bet/event/866198/next-permanent-manager-must-be-in-charge-for-10-competitive-matches-

It does look like Solskjaer will be in charge on Saturday, but the 48-year-old really needs a result or could well find his head on the chopping block. Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to be the man he turns to for inspiration; the Portuguese already has six goals since returning to Old Trafford and has always been the man for the big occasion.

Although Spurs have hardly been impressive of late, it is difficult to back United on the back of Saturday’s performance against Liverpool. A home win for Spurs looks like good value at 15/8 and that’s what we’re backing in this one.

RECOMMENDED BETS
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