Jose Mourinho returns to Old Trafford on Wednesday night when Manchester United hosts Tottenham Hotspur as he looks to remind his former employers what they are missing.
Mourinho who was sacked last December now turns a rival for Red Devils as he is now the gaffer of Tottenham. Spurs have enjoyed a turn-around in form since gaining the services of the ‘Special One’, winning three games out of three on the bounce.
While Old Trafford will be willing to receive Mourinho with a warm reception, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be much more concerned about his job. The Red Devils’ manager has failed to win a game in his last three matches in all competition which has raised concerns over his ability to manage the club.
While United will be itching to get back to winning ways, there are fears that a defeat to Spurs could force Ed Woodward to pull the strings in December once again.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Venue: Old Trafford
Date: Wednesday, December 4
Time: 19:30 GMT
Manchester United have lost three of their last seven home league games against Spurs (4), including this exact fixture 0-3 last season. They’d only lost two of their previous 36 at home against them in the top-flight (W27 D7).
Tottenham have lost more Premier League games against Man Utd than they have vs any other side in the competition (34).
The away side won both Premier League meetings between Manchester United and Tottenham last season, after the home side had won seven in a row such games.
Manchester United have picked up just 18 points from their opening 14 Premier League matches this season (W4 D6 L4), their worst start to a league season since 1988-89 campaign, when they also had 18 points and went on to finish 11th.
Tottenham won their last away league game against West Ham, picking up as many points in that game as they had in their previous 12 on the road in the Premier League.
TEAM NEWS
Scott McTominay or Paul Pogba’s return will be highly welcomed by the under pressure Solskjaer as he woes continue, with the former looking more likely to start.
The likes of Eric Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Nemanja Matic are all back in training but lack match fitness while Marcos Rojo and Diogo Dalot remain sidelined.
Hugo Lloris remains absent for Jose’s team as he proceeds with his rehabilitation. Erik Lamela and Ben Davies are also out of this tie .
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Man Utd: De Gea; Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; James, Lingard, Rashford; Martial.
Spurs: Gazzaniga; Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Ndombele, Dier, Sissoko; Alli; Son, Kane.
PREDICTION
Manchester United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
