Manchester United v Tottenham: Preview, Team News and Predicted Line-ups
Two of the biggest clubs in England meet at Old Trafford on Saturday evening and the most interesting question is which manager survives the weekend. Manchester United have won one of five. Tottenham have won none of five, sit bottom of the table and have scored two goals all season. Alan Shearer has called it the biggest game of the round on the basis that defeat could cost either man his job, which is a slightly grim way to sell a fixture these two have contested 207 times.
Kick-off is 5.30pm BST on Saturday 10 October, the last game of the day as the Premier League returns from the international break.
This is a MUST WIN for both United and Spurs…
Five points against two points
United go into it 12th with five points, a record of one win, two draws and two defeats. The win was a 5-2 thrashing of Ipswich on the second weekend, and since then it has been a 2-2 draw at Everton, a 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City and a 1-1 draw at Fulham, with a 3-2 Carabao Cup collapse against Brighton in between that remains the low point of Michael Carrick’s tenure.
Tottenham are in a considerably worse place. Two points from five games, both from 0-0 draws with Nottingham Forest and Everton, no goals in four of the five matches, and a 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa that accounted for their entire attacking output of the campaign. It is the first time they have been bottom after five games in 18 years, and it follows consecutive 17th-place finishes.
Tottenham are dominating the dribbling stats in the Premier League, but not the results. 📉 Sávio leads the league with 4+ successful dribbles per 90, yet Spurs are still without a win and have only 2 goals. 😬 https://t.co/cOpPTWhCWX
— 365Scores (@365Scores) September 24, 2026
Spurs have spent £300m and scored twice
The number that makes this season remarkable is the outlay. Tottenham spent more than £300m in the summer, the largest in the club’s history: Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for around £100m, Savio from Manchester City and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for roughly £85m apiece, Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m, Tosin Adarabioyo from Chelsea, with Mykhaylo Mudryk and Omar Marmoush arriving on loan and Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dúbravka on frees.
TOTTENHAM ARE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR FIRST WIN! ⚪️ After 5 Premier League games, Spurs have 0 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses, scoring just 2 goals and conceding 8. 😬 When will the first win finally come? https://t.co/r8an8FjaN7
— 365Scores (@365Scores) September 19, 2026
What that money has produced is the lowest average expected goals per shot in the division. Roberto De Zerbi inherited a squad with more than half of a recent starting eleven new to the club within the past year, lost Cristian Romero’s leadership in the summer and has João Palhinha unavailable, and his team have not won a league game after conceding first in nearly two years. Dominic Solanke is short of fitness and form. The grimmest statistic doing the rounds is that the stadium has hosted more Beyoncé concerts than home league wins since November 2024.
Carrick is under pressure, but a loss here won’t signal the end for him
United’s own position is barely more comfortable. Carrick was excellent after taking over in January, guiding them to third and 71 points and back into the Champions League, and was given a permanent two-year deal for it. The start to this season has undone some of that goodwill.
The underlying numbers are not flattering either. United have conceded eight league goals in five games with a back four that has been assembled and reassembled for four years, and they are among the teams covering the least distance and recording the fewest sprints in the division. Bruno Fernandes, with three league goals, has been the one consistent source of production.
Team news
Both sides come out of the international break with a casualty list.
United are without Manuel Ugarte, who is early in a long recovery from a cruciate injury, and Tom Heaton with an abdominal problem. Patrick Dorgu returned early from Denmark duty with a suspected hamstring issue and is a serious doubt, Noussair Mazraoui came back from Morocco with a back complaint, and Benjamin Šeško has a shin problem that kept him out at Fulham. Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Karl Darlow all withdrew from international squads with knocks and are being assessed.
On the brighter side, Carlos Baleba and Matthijs de Ligt both started a closed-door friendly against Lausanne this week, with De Ligt closing in on his first appearance since back surgery, and Amad is back in training. Carrick was due to give a full update on Friday.
Tottenham have the longer-term problems. Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are both out with cruciate injuries, Dejan Kulusevski remains a major doubt with a knee issue, Mudryk has managed one appearance because of an ankle problem, and Pedro Porro has a hamstring complaint after being withdrawn against Villa. Van Hecke and Micky van de Ven both picked up knocks on international duty, though neither is thought to be serious and both could feature.
Expected line-ups
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martínez, Shaw; Tielemans, Baleba; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha.
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Kinský; Gray, Tosin, Senesi, Robertson; Bentancur, Tonali; Savio, Fernandes, Marmoush; Solanke.
Where it will be decided
For Tottenham the route is obvious and uncomfortable: score first. A side that has not won after conceding the opener in two years, and that has managed two goals in five matches, cannot afford to spend an afternoon chasing. Savio is the one creating consistently, and Marmoush needs to start converting.
For United, the opportunity is equally obvious. They have conceded first in several matches this season and are an attacking team with a soft centre, which is exactly the profile that makes an opponent in Tottenham’s state look dangerous and harmless at the same time. If Fernandes gets time on the ball and Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo can run at a back line missing Porro, this should be comfortable. If they let a desperate team settle, Old Trafford will turn quickly.
FAQs
What time is Manchester United v Tottenham?
Saturday 10 October 2026, 5.30pm BST at Old Trafford, in Premier League matchweek six. It is live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Where are Manchester United and Tottenham in the table?
United are 12th with five points from five games. Tottenham are bottom with two points and have yet to win.
Is Michael Carrick under pressure at Manchester United?
Yes. One win in five has brought scrutiny.
How much did Tottenham spend in the summer?
More than £300m, a club record, including Sandro Tonali, Savio, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke. They have scored two league goals so far.
What is the head-to-head record?
The clubs have met 207 times, with Manchester United winning 97, Tottenham 58 and 52 drawn.
By Nicky Helfgott – NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter)
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