Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur
Michael Carrick is making a compelling case to be Manchester United’s permanent head coach after this season, as he has yet to lose while at the helm this year. Counting his brief managerial stint in 2021 before Ralf Rangnick arrived, the former Red Devils skipper now has five wins and one draw under his belt.
After three consecutive Premier League victories against Manchester City (2-0), Arsenal (3-2), and Fulham (3-2), Carrick is up for a tricky test this Saturday, as his side will host Tottenham at Old Trafford. Win this game, and the Red Devils, with 41 points, can further tighten their grip on a Top 4 spot.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are in a confusing situation. The Spurs are 14th in the English top-flight with 29 points and are winless in their last six league games, a far cry from their exceptional league phase run in the Champions League.
Talking Points
Manchester United star on the verge to hit league feat
Bruno Fernandes has drawn significant interest in the past two transfer windows, and Manchester United were right to hold onto him, as the Portuguese midfielder has been one of their most productive players this season.
The Red Devils skipper has five league goals and a league-leading 12 assists – five ahead of second-place Rayan Cherki of Manchester City. The last Manchester United star to provide more league assists in a single season was Antonio Valencia in 2011-12 (13). With 14 games remaining, Fernandes can challenge Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s single-season joint record of 20 assists.
Two of those assists came against Fulham last weekend, as Fernandes’ floating free-kick was headed home by Casemiro in the 19th minute, and he teed up Benjamin Sesko late in stoppage time for the matchwinner. The 31-year-old is thriving under Michael Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 formation, and he’ll link up with Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha up front again on Saturday.
The only thing to nitpick about Manchester United at the moment is their midfield depth, as the team looks lost whenever Casemiro leaves the pitch. Manuel Ugarte continues to underwhelm as the Brazilian’s replacement and will likely be replaced in the summer.
Tottenham are grinding for points
Tottenham are struggling this season, and it’s not all Thomas Frank’s fault, as the team has dealt with numerous injuries. The Spurs were severely depleted last weekend against the Sky Blues, with James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, Djed Spence, Kevin Danso, Lucas Bergvall, and Dejan Kulusevski all sidelined through injury.
To make things worse, Tottenham’s front office sanctioned Brennan Johnson’s departure to Crystal Palace, although they managed to sign Conor Gallagher and Souza from Atletico Madrid and Santos.
The man to watch out for if you’re Manchester United is Dominic Solanke, as he has scored three goals in his last two appearances. Tottenham would not have saved a point against Manchester City if it weren’t for his second-half brace.
History
Manchester United are winless in their last six league games against Tottenham (D3, L3), matching their previous longest run without a win against them (also six between 1914 and 1921). Including their most recent EFL Cup and Europa League encounters, the Spurs are unbeaten in their last eight with the Red Devils across all competitions (W5, D3).
However, Manchester United are undefeated in their last seven Premier League games (W4, D3) and have won all three since Michael Carrick took over. The Red Devils last won four in a row in February 2024 under Erik ten Hag, while they last had a longer run without a loss in February 2022 (eight under Ralf Rangnick).
As mentioned, Tottenham are winless in their last six Premier League matches (D4, L2), their longest run since their last seven in 2024-25. Five of their seven league victories this term have been on the road.
Betting Tip
The Premier League 2026 odds predict another all-out battle at Old Trafford this Saturday, filled with Premier League 2026 highlights. Manchester United are 1.62 favourites to take maximum points, while Tottenham are 4.36 underdogs, and a draw is at 3.93 in the 1X2 market.
Besides going for another victory for Michael Carrick’s side, SBOTOP punters may also add Over 2.75 at 1.69, Over 3.00 at 1.90, Over 3.25 at 2.16, and even Total Goals 4-6 at 2.62 to the parlay. Furthermore, a Correct Score of 2-2 – the result of their reverse fixture – yields a tidy payday of 14.00 your bet.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
