IT was hardly the most auspicious of starts for Manchester United at Old Trafford last Monday, relying on erratic finishing from their opponents and a farcical non-penalty call to secure three points they barely deserved.
Indeed, it’s hard to figure out which was the most concerning detail for Erik Ten Hag’s men, that they conceded 23 shots – four more than Liverpool managed after thrashing their arch foes 5-0 two years ago – or that Fernandes, Mount, and company posted just three on target in response.
Of the former, it felt like every five minutes a Wolves player was charging into acres of space, taking on an unprotected, back-pedaling back-line, and presumably watching at home, James Maddison will have been licking his lips ahead of this Saturday’s clash. The same goes for Yves Bissouma who completed five successful dribbles for Tottenham at Brentford, the second most of any player across the opening weekend.
In their opening contest, United gave away possession a staggering 81 times.
As for United’s front-line, it is pertinent that Rashford, Fernandes, Mount, Antony and Garnacho were statistically their team’s worst performers. It’s a surprise too given that Antony in particular impressed pre-season.
It is of course far too early to make any firm assertions, or from United’s perspective for any degree of panic to set in, and at least they have recent history on their side when it comes to Spurs away. The last time they lost in North London was in 2018 and – home and away – the Reds have averaged 2.6 goals per game at Tottenham’s expense since that remarkable 6-1 trouncing in 2020.
Yet still, from the scant evidence so far, we can expect the Reds to toil up front and the hosts to be gifted opportunities at the other end in Ange Postecoglou’s first competitive game in front of the Spurs faithful. And from what we saw at Brentford, as the Australian’s attacking mandate was premiered to good effect, they will carve out a few too.
Whether they take full advantage of their new-found adventure, however, is up for debate.
Because for all that Maddison schemed, and Emerson Royal and Udogie inverted intelligently into midfield, and their positional map post-match showed every player to be far more advanced to last season, Richarlison still cut a lone figure up front, isolated and largely ineffective.
A couple of missed chances will also weigh heavy on the Brazilian, with so much pressure on Tottenham’s strikers to score in the nascent days of a post-Kane era.
With just over a fortnight remaining of the transfer window it is not an exaggeration to state that how Richarlison fares against United will ultimately go a long way to defining his Spurs career. Just one goal in ten from previous meetings doesn’t bode well.
Son Heung-min also doesn’t boast an especially prolific return in this fixture but the Korean forward looked bright and dangerous at the Gtech and is fancied to thrive under Postecoglou, in doing so enjoying a much better campaign to last.
It is the 31-year-old who should be backed to score this Saturday and combine that with a low estimation on cards for a decent price. The last ten meetings between these sides have produced a perfectly reasonable three yellows per 90.
Once the crowds have disbursed in the capital, and premature assessments are made of Spurs and United’s chances of making top four this term, our attention switches to the Etihad where the treble-winning Manchester City take on Newcastle in the marquee match-up of the weekend.
If this was a keenly anticipated, early-in-the-season collision when the fixture list came out, that excitement is now ramped up considerably for the away contingent after seeing their side demolish a very decent Aston Villa, doing so in spectacular fashion.
Dream debuts for Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes stood out, both getting on the scoresheet, while 13 shots on target demonstrates how relentless this collective can be when their tails are up. Also worthy of note was an outstanding display by Alexander Isak, whose combination of pace, footwork and finishing will greatly trouble any defence this season.
Now fully assimilated into the Newcastle set-up, expect the Swede to smash last season’s tally of ten.
Yet the player to most look out for on Saturday evening may well be Anthony Gordon, a player in terrific form having won the Player of the Tournament merit this summer at the Euro Under 21s. It’s form the ex-Evertonian took into the Villa game, tormenting them for a very good hour.
In the corresponding game last year, Gordon was subdued throughout by Kyle Walker, eventually subbed off head bowed. On this occasion it will be much more a meeting of equals.
In fact, so impressive were the Magpies it is tempting to overlook their ridiculously poor record at the Etihad in the Premier League, last winning there in 2000. The previous 14 encounters have ended in City wins with an aggregate score-line of 48-7. Newcastle haven’t scored in East Manchester for exactly seven hours.
Will it be different this time out? Considering that City travel to Greece on Wednesday for the Super Cup and will be minus Kevin De Bruyne – and very likely Bernardo Silva – for this one, it’s feasible it could be significantly different.
Perhaps though, it is best to hold fire on backing against the league champions, who have prevailed through such challenges again and again. Newcastle are fancied, but committing to Guardiola’s men losing is always a risky proposition.
Instead, go for a conservative option. A bet of the day in fact.
Last season, both sides topped the table for corners won, the visitors by some distance.
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