Man Utd vs. Tottenham: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Manchester United host Tottenham on Saturday. | Visionhaus/Getty Images (Man Utd), Visionhaus/Getty Images (Tottenham)The Premier League’s crisis clubs are back in action after a much-needed bumper international break, as Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford.

The Premier League’s crisis clubs are back in action after a much-needed bumper international break, as Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford.

Saturday’s clash sees the underwhelming Red Devils take on the Premier League’s basement dwellers, with Spurs notching just a couple of points through five matches. Their first league goals of the season didn’t arrive until Aston Villa rocked up in N17 before the break, but they found themselves 3–0 behind before their late surge.

Saturday’s clash sees the underwhelming Red Devils take on the Premier League’s basement dwellers, with Spurs notching just a couple of points through five matches. Their first league goals of the season didn’t arrive until Aston Villa rocked up in N17 before the break, but they found themselves 3–0 behind before their late surge.

The underlying numbers suggest Roberto De Zerbi isn’t far away from getting things to “click,” having overseen a major rebuild in the summer with a record amount splashed on 10 fresh faces.

The underlying numbers suggest Roberto De Zerbi isn’t far away from getting things to “click,” having overseen a major rebuild in the summer with a record amount splashed on 10 fresh faces.

The drastic overhaul after last season’s frightening relegation flirt heightened expectations heading into the campaign, and Spurs, like Saturday’s hosts, are yet to deliver.

The drastic overhaul after last season’s frightening relegation flirt heightened expectations heading into the campaign, and Spurs, like Saturday’s hosts, are yet to deliver.

No Premier League team earned more points than Manchester United after Michael Carrick arrived on an interim basis last term, with their ascent during the second half of the campaign earning them a return to the Champions League.

No Premier League team earned more points than Manchester United after Michael Carrick arrived on an interim basis last term, with their ascent during the second half of the campaign earning them a return to the Champions League.

However, it’s been a struggle since Carrick took the job on full time. The Red Devils have already exited the Carabao Cup and earned just one league win—a 5–2 rout of the newly promoted Ipswich Town. Before the break, United lost to a 10-man Manchester City in the derby and needed a late deflected strike from Matheus Cunha to salvage a point at Fulham, who were then rooted to the foot of the table.

However, it’s been a struggle since Carrick took the job on full time. The Red Devils have already exited the Carabao Cup and earned just one league win—a 5–2 rout of the newly promoted Ipswich Town. Before the break, United lost to a 10-man Manchester City in the derby and needed a late deflected strike from Matheus Cunha to salvage a point at Fulham, who were then rooted to the foot of the table.

Carrick’s seat had started to warm before the break. | Shaun Botterill/Getty ImagesThe two managers’ jobs aren’t quite on the line yet, but both are certainly feeling the heat. Carrick laughed off sack talk before the break, while De Zerbi still has the goodwill of the Tottenham fanbase after saving the club from relegation last season.

The two managers’ jobs aren’t quite on the line yet, but both are certainly feeling the heat. Carrick laughed off sack talk before the break, while De Zerbi still has the goodwill of the Tottenham fanbase after saving the club from relegation last season.

Still, the malaise cannot persist. For United, Saturday’s clash is the start of a hectic run before the end of October, with five games scheduled in 18 days. Given their indifferent opening to the new campaign, it feels like a pivotal month for the Red Devils.

Still, the malaise cannot persist. For United, Saturday’s clash is the start of a hectic run before the end of October, with five games scheduled in 18 days. Given their indifferent opening to the new campaign, it feels like a pivotal month for the Red Devils.

And this is a fixture that hasn’t been too kind to them as of late. There’s been a lack of “Lads, it’s Tottenham” talk in Manchester, with Spurs enjoying an eight-game unbeaten run before United claimed a 2–0 victory earlier this year.

And this is a fixture that hasn’t been too kind to them as of late. There’s been a lack of “Lads, it’s Tottenham” talk in Manchester, with Spurs enjoying an eight-game unbeaten run before United claimed a 2–0 victory earlier this year.

The Lilywhites have no reason to fear a trip to the Theatre of Dreams, and victory here would surely ignite a season that’s yet to get off the ground.

The Lilywhites have no reason to fear a trip to the Theatre of Dreams, and victory here would surely ignite a season that’s yet to get off the ground.

Carlos Baleba is expected to make his Man Utd debut.There have been a couple of concerning injury updates out of Manchester after the three-week break.

There have been a couple of concerning injury updates out of Manchester after the three-week break.

Carrick has confirmed that Patrick Dorgu, who missed a sustained period due to a hamstring injury last season, will spend another spell on the sidelines this month. The Man Utd boss also revealed that Noussair Mazraoui and Benjamin Šeško won’t be ready for Saturday’s game.

Carrick has confirmed that Patrick Dorgu, who missed a sustained period due to a hamstring injury last season, will spend another spell on the sidelines this month. The Man Utd boss also revealed that Noussair Mazraoui and Benjamin Šeško won’t be ready for Saturday’s game.

Šeško was among those who withdrew from international duty, but there’s more hope surrounding England duo Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford. Amad Diallo is also closing in on a comeback, while Carlos Baleba is set to make his debut for the club.

Šeško was among those who withdrew from international duty, but there’s more hope surrounding England duo Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford. Amad Diallo is also closing in on a comeback, while Carlos Baleba is set to make his debut for the club.

With Šeško absent, Matheus Cunha will likely lead United’s attack.

With Šeško absent, Matheus Cunha will likely lead United’s attack.

Man Utd predicted lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Baleba, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha.

Man Utd predicted lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Baleba, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha.

It’s time for De Zerbi to use his two new midfielders in tandem.Tottenham escaped the international break relatively unscathed on the injury front, with De Zerbi confirming that Dutch defensive duo Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven are available for the trip to Old Trafford.

Tottenham escaped the international break relatively unscathed on the injury front, with De Zerbi confirming that Dutch defensive duo Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven are available for the trip to Old Trafford.

Van Hecke withdrew from Xavi Hernández’s Oranje camp with a foot injury, while Van de Ven has been dealing with a hand problem.

Van Hecke withdrew from Xavi Hernández’s Oranje camp with a foot injury, while Van de Ven has been dealing with a hand problem.

Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski will travel with the group, but neither are playing a part. Porro sustained a hamstring injury before the break, and Kulusevski is edging closer to a long-awaited comeback. The Swede has been out of action since May 2025, yet remarkably, he’s still started a Premier League match more recently than James Maddison.

Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski will travel with the group, but neither are playing a part. Porro sustained a hamstring injury before the break, and Kulusevski is edging closer to a long-awaited comeback. The Swede has been out of action since May 2025, yet remarkably, he’s still started a Premier League match more recently than James Maddison.

The English No. 10 missed the bulk of last season with an ACL tear, and is being carefully managed at the start of 2026–27. De Zerbi said he suffered another fitness setback during the break but is still expected to feature at the Theatre of Dreams.

The English No. 10 missed the bulk of last season with an ACL tear, and is being carefully managed at the start of 2026–27. De Zerbi said he suffered another fitness setback during the break but is still expected to feature at the Theatre of Dreams.

Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mykhailo Mudryk are sidelined for the visitors.

Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mykhailo Mudryk are sidelined for the visitors.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie; Fernandes, Tonali; Sávio, Gallagher, Marmoush; Solanke.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie; Fernandes, Tonali; Sávio, Gallagher, Marmoush; Solanke.

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Published 4 minutes ago | Modified 4 minutes agoJAMES CORMACKJames Cormack is a writer for SI FC. Opting against a football coaching undergraduate degree at the last minute, he instead decided to take on a six-month internship with 90min in 2019 and hasn't looked back. Cormack's current SEO focus means he tends to venture to the land of match previews and predicted lineups, but he also has a wealth of experience in news and feature writing. A passion for soccer's history and the European game often takes his work beyond the familiarity of the Premier League, but it's with Tottenham Hotspur where his strongest allegiance lies.