Erik ten Hag has announced the line-up for Manchester United’s away match against Tottenham Hotspur. Doubt Bruno Fernandes is fit enough to start and Jadon Sancho replaces Anthony Martial, moving Marcus Rashford into the striker position. Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst are on the bench and Harry Maguire is again missing from the match selection, this time due to injuries. On Sunday in the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton & Hove Albion (0-0, 6-7 win on penalties), he was still suspended. The match starts at 21.15 Dutch time and can be seen on via play.
Hugo Lloris, who fell out against Newcastle United on Sunday, is missing at the ailing Tottenham, leaving Fraser Forster under the crossbar. The fit Clément Lenglet starts in a three-man defense, together with Cristian Romero and Eric Dier. The four-man midfield consists of Pedro Porro, Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Ivan Perisic from right to left. Heung-min Son and Richarlison must provide the supply to attack leader Harry Kane.
Interim manager Ryan Mason has now returned to Tottenham with Lucas Moura, who returns from a suspension but is not yet in the match selection. In addition, Lenglet returns from the infirmary to start immediately in defense. The Spurs will be extremely keen on a good result after the disgrace at Newcastle United (6-1). That defeat led to the resignation of Cristian Stellini. Tottenham must also win to keep the chance of Champions League football alive. However, the last four head-to-head meetings with United were lost. Defensively, Tottenham is also not strong this calendar year. The North Londoners conceded no less than 28 goals in 2023, a performance only ‘surpassed’ by Leeds United (33).
?? The team news is in — and @B_Fernandes8 starts for the Reds ?? #MUFC || #TOTMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 27, 2023
Ten Hag maintains confidence in David de Gea, who excels against Brighton, who will have to deal with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Viktor Lindelöf, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen must ensure the balance in midfield. The offensive intentions are expected from Antony, the fit Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho. Rashford is the point of contact at the front with the visitors from Manchester, who want to get three points in London in the battle for a Champions League ticket.
Things have been going well for United in recent weeks. In the FA Cup, the final was reached at the expense of Brighton, while the last three games in the Premier League were won. Maguire is therefore missing due to injury, so that Lindelöf, who took the winning penalty against Brighton, starts again. Alejandro Garnacho has now resumed training, but the game in London is still too early. Just like the Argentinian, Scott McTominay and Raphaël Varane are also expected to return shortly. United lost all five away games this season against a side from the current top seven in the league.
Line-up Tottenham Hotspur: Forster; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Porro, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Perisic; Richarlison, Son; Kane
Manchester United line-up: DeGea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot; Eriksen, Casemiro; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | v | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 33 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 40 | 75 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 31 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 53 | 73 |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 32 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 32 | 62 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 31 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 60 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 33 | 16 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 54 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 33 | 16 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 54 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 32 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 22 | 53 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 49 |
| 9 | Brentford | 33 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 47 |
| 10 | Fulham | 32 | 13 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 45 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | -5 | 39 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 33 | 9 | 10 | 14 | -11 | 37 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton W. | 33 | 10 | 7 | 16 | -15 | 37 |
| 14 | AFC Bournemouth | 33 | 10 | 6 | 17 | -31 | 36 |
| 15 | West Ham United | 32 | 9 | 7 | 16 | -9 | 34 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 33 | 7 | 9 | 17 | -21 | 30 |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest | 33 | 7 | 9 | 17 | -31 | 30 |
| 18 | Leicester City | 33 | 8 | 5 | 20 | -13 | 29 |
| 19 | Everton | 33 | 6 | 10 | 17 | -25 | 28 |
| 20 | Southampton | 33 | 6 | 6 | 21 | -30 | 24 |