Adrian Mills’ tips for Sunday’s clash in north London include plenty of goals with Spurs’ newest signing getting on the scoresheet.
Tottenham and Manchester United will hardly consider this season to be going to plan as they sit 13th and 14th in the Premier League table ahead of their meeting in north London on Sunday.
Spurs have suffered the disappointment of being dumped out of two cup competitions in the space of a week and need to get their home form into gear after seven league games on their own patch without a win.
United, meanwhile, may be glad to get away from Old Trafford where they have lost five of their last six league outings, and will be looking to build on the 1-0 win they claimed at Fulham the last time they were on their travels.
Spurs are narrow favourites in the football betting ahead of a game in which both teams are desperate for points.
Tottenham v Man Utd tips
Over 3.5 goals 11/10
Mathys Tel to score at any time 19/10
Over 11.5 corners 1/1
Defenders unlikely to hold upper hand
Tottenham’s problems with injuries this season have been well-documented and, while some of Ange Postecoglou’s first-choice defenders are beginning to fight their way back into contention, they need to get their act together, especially on their own patch.
However, there is a certain frailty when the manager insists going on the front foot is the only way to play and it is no surprise that both teams have scored in each of their last 10 league games in N17.
Goals can always be expected when you have conceded 16 times in your last five home league games and six of Spurs’ last 10 on their own patch have featured at least four goals.
United scrapped to a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage the last time they were on their travels, but they have conceded at least twice in four of their last seven league games on the road, so there could be more than 3.5 goals in what looks set to be an open affair.
Tel could have a home debut to remember
Postecoglou has also had to come to terms with injuries at the other end of the pitch, meaning that recent loan signing Mathys Tel has been thrown in the deep end with fellow forwards Dominic Solanke and Richarlison sidelined.
So far, though, the signs have been good and the France Under-21 international has made a good start on his secondment from Bayern Munich, opening his account in Sunday’s 2-1 loss at Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
That goal came too late to stop Spurs going out, but his confidence should have received a huge boost and there looks a strong chance he can have a league debut to remember against United.
Expect pair to muster plenty of corners
Despite their lowly position, Tottenham’s average of 7.5 corners per game is the highest in the top-flight and they should make a big contribution to what could be a big tally of flag-kicks on Sunday.
Tottenham only know how to play one way under Postecoglou and, while United’s average of five per game puts them in mid-division, Spurs have averaged 8.17 per game in their dozen home league outings, which means there is a strong chance there could be at least 12 in their match this weekend.