Man Utd vs Spurs: Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups

by Jamie Clark

Premier League champions Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have drawn their last two meetings. They start 2014 level on points and next to one another in the table both looking to close the gap on the top four.

David Moyes's Red Devils have hit fine form in their festive fixtures by recording six successive victories after failing to win the first three matches in December. Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood meanwhile got the second win of his reign against Stoke on Sunday.

Spurs are also buoyed by the fact they won on their last visit to Old Trafford in September 2012. Clint Dempsey netted the winner then, but has re-joined former club Fulham on loan from MLS franchise Seattle Sounders.

Team News

United will assess Wayne Rooney's groin injury that kept him out of the away victory at Norwich last time out. The England talisman has been unable to train and remains doubtful. Ecuador captain Antonio Valencia returns from suspension and could be restored to the right flank.

Star striker Robin van Persie may find this fixture comes too soon for him and the Red Devils are definitely missing the versatile Phil Jones. Javier Hernandez or Danny Welbeck should deputize in attack.

Hotspur's box-to-box midfielder Paulinho will miss a month after sustaining ankle ligament damage in a challenge with Charlie Adam last time out. He joins a lengthy list on the White Hart Lane treatment table, but left back Danny Rose should return after being rested.

Compatriot Sandro remains sidelined by a calf problem whilst defenders Jan Vertonghen (ankle) and Younes Kaboul (thigh) and winger Andros Townsend (hamstring) will not figure. Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is also a doubt with a hamstring problem, but right back Kyle Walker is available after a ban.

Source: BBC, Spurs official website

Likely Line-Ups

Man Utd: 1 David De Gea, 12 Chris Smalling, 15 Nemanja Vidic, 6 Jonny Evans, 3 Patrice Evra, 25 Antonio Valencia, 16 Michael Carrick, 23 Tom Cleverley, 18 Ashley Young, 10 Wayne Rooney/26 Shinji Kagawa, 14 Javier Hernandez/19 Danny Welbeck 4-4-1-1

Spurs: 25 Hugo Lloris, 2 Kyle Walker, 20 Michael Dawson, 6 Vlad Chiriches, 3 Danny Rose, 7 Aaron Lennon, 15 Etienne Capoue/19 Mousa Dembele, 14 Lewis Holtby/23 Christian Eriksen, 21 Nacer Chadli, 10 Emmanuel Adebayor, 9 Roberto Soldado 4-4-2

Contributor
Contributor

Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.