Man Utd vs. Spurs predicted line-ups: fives changes made ahead of crunch Premier League clash

One of the biggest matches of the weekend takes place at Old Trafford on Sunday, when Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur in a game which could have significant implications for the race for the top four.

United’s recent results have been inconsistent at best, with just two wins in a tough December, but a victory could reignite their season – while defeat to Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs would leave them with a mountain to climb and keep the visitors in a great position to achieve Champions League qualification.

Both sides will also have to contend with significant injury disruption this weekend. United could be missing up to ten men with several players down as doubts ahead of the game, and while Spurs’ injury crisis is slowly abating they will still have to make do without at least nine players, with three key men away on international duty.

We’ve assembled all of the latest team news and injury updates ahead of Sunday’s showdown below, and hazarded our best guesses at the line-ups that Erik ten Hag and his Australian counterpart will put out onto the field.

Manchester United team news

United have a string of players who are on the cusp of a return from injury, with Harry Maguire (groin), Casemior (hamstring) and Luke Shaw (unknown) the most likely to take part against Spurs. There is some chance that Lisandro Martínez (foot), Mason Mount (calf) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) will be deemed ready, but in his most recent comments on their condition, Ten Hag suggested that would need a little more time. The FA Cup fourth round match in a fortnight’s time seems more likely target for each of those players.

To complicate matters further, illness has swept through Carrington recently with Anthony Martial, Christian Eriksen and Amad Diallo all unwell. Ten Hag has said that Martial remains under the weather, while Eriksen and Diallo are back in training. With Diallo recovering from a long injury lay-off, the young forward is unlikely to play a substantial role this weekend.

Two players who will certainly miss out are Victor Lindelöf, who has a groin problem, and Sofyan Amrabat, who has joined up with the Morocco squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast. AFCON won’t stop André Onana playing, however – he had planned to play against Spurs and then start for Cameroon against Guinea on Monday, but has now decided to prioritise club over country and will miss the Indomitable Lions’ first game of the tournament in favour of playing at Old Trafford.

Manchester United predicted line-up vs. Spurs

Onana; Shaw, Varane, Evans, Dalot; Mainoo, McTominay, Fernandes; Garnacho, Rashford, Højlund

Spurs team news

The good news for Spurs is that they should welcome key defender Micky van de Ven back to the starting line-up this weekend, with the Dutchman apparently recovered from a hamstring injury. Unfortunately his preferred defensive partner Christian Romero won’t be available, thanks to a hamstring injury of his own, while recent stand-in Ben Davies (also hamstring) is not expected to be fit in time to face United and Eric Dier has left for Bayern Munich.

Van de Ven will most likely be partnered either by Emerson Royal or by new signing Radu Drăgușin, although the 21-year-old Romanian only completed his transfer on Friday. Further up the field, Giovani Lo Celso may be a doubt after feeling discomfort during the FA Cup win over Burnley, but the Argentinian is expected to play. Ryan Sessegnon, who has yet to play this season, is believed to be back in training but Ivan Perišić (knee ligament), James Maddison (ankle), Alejo Véliz and Manor Solomon (both knee) are all still out.

Spurs will also have to contend with three key players being absent for up to a month thanks to international call-ups – midfield duo Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are playing in AFCION for Senegal and Mali respectively, while club captain Son Heung-Min has joined up with the South Korea squad ahead of the Asian Cup. They will also be able to call upon new signing Timo Werner, who has completed a loan move from RB Leipzig.

Spurs predicted line-up vs. Manchester United

Vicario; Udogie, Van de Ven, Royal, Porro; Højbjerg, Bentancur; Richarlison, Lo Celso, Kulusevski; Werner