Manchester United vs Tottenham: 5 Key Battles

2. Jermain Defoe vs. Rio Ferdinand

Tottenham go into the match with one of the hottest strikers in league at the minute, in the shape of Jermain Defoe. The England international has already claimed 6 goals for club and country so far this season, and looks to be relishing his role up front. One of Defoe€™s biggest assets is his blistering pace, and this is sure to cause problems for the United defence. And with only two fully-fit recognised centre-backs available to him, Sir Alex will look to Rio Ferdinand to snuff out Defoe€™s attacking threat. Whilst he has undoubtedly been one of United€™s best players in his time at Old Trafford, there is no denying that Ferdinand€™s form has declined over the past couple of seasons. And this is understandable of course, the guy is 33-years-old and has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons. Despite this, Ferdinand is probably still one of the best defenders in the league, and will be relying on his years of experience and knowledge to keep his international team mate at bay.
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A sports journalism graduate from the University of Sunderland, I'm also interested in films and games. Football is my main passion, and I'm a huge Manchester United fan. My goal in life is to get a job on Sky Sports News next to Georgie Thompson. If that fails, Jim White and his magnificent teeth are a close second. Why not follow me on Twitter @adam_fishwick2