Tottenham vs Manchester Utd Predictions and Betting Tips

⚽ EPL Round 2 Match Preview

⏰ 20 August 2023 - 2:30 AEST

🏟 Stadium - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Football fans in England are eagerly looking forward to August 20th 2023 in Australia, when Tottenham Hotspur will host Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the second matchday of the Premier League. Approximately 60,000 people will be in the stands at 2:30 AEST to watch referee Michael Oliver blow the opening whistle.

These historic rivals just met recently on April 27th, 2023, so fans can expect another thrilling match this time around. We'll soon see if either club can best the other, as their last meeting ended in a draw. But since Manchester United have won most of the last three matches, the pressure is high on Tottenham. Over their last three exciting matches, Manchester United scored seven goals, while Tottenham Hotspur only managed four.

Tottenham began life without Harry Kane in entertaining fashion when they were held to a 2-2 draw by London rivals Brentford at the weekend. New boss Ange Postecoglou urged his side to be “more creative” in the wake of his Premier League (PL) debut, and the Australian will be particularly keen to avoid seeing Spurs fail to win either of their first two games of a new league season - a fate they’ve not suffered since 2015/16!

That looks a significant challenge given that opponents Manchester United have beaten Tottenham 39 times in PL history - more than any other opposition. Spurs have also won just one of the last nine H2Hs (D2, L6), while they’re yet to beat United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (D2, L2). If Postecoglou is to turn that record around, then it looks set to be a high-scoring affair as Spurs’ PL matches last season averaged a league-high 3.5 goals - a trend that continued last weekend against Brentford.

Man Utd will travel to the capital after opening their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Wolves at Old Trafford, but an underwhelming display has left supporters and pundits alike questioning their credentials. Manager Erik ten Hag was pleased his side “found a way to win”, but the Dutchman is bound to be concerned after seeing Wolves fire in 23 shots on their goal - only once in the 22/23 PL season did they face more (a 3-2 loss to Arsenal).

United’s away form from last season will need to be improved if they’re to break into the top-two, as Ten Hag’s men managed a league-lowest one point against fellow top-nine clubs on the road (D1, L7). Tightening up their defence could go a long way to making that happen, as the 33 goals they conceded on their travels represented 76.7% of their season total, 28 of which came against clubs who finished in the top half.

Tottenham vs Manchester Utd Head-to-Head

The head-to-head record between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United over the last 6 years shows an edge for Manchester United. Out of 13 total matches played between the clubs during this period, Manchester United has 8 wins compared to just 3 for Tottenham. There have also been 2 draws. Overall, Manchester United's recent dominance in the rivalry gives them an advantage psychologically whenever these two Premier League giants meet on the pitch. With the clubs set to face off again soon, Tottenham will look to reverse their fortunes against a Manchester United side that has had their number in recent seasons.

Tottenham Performance

🟥🟩🟩🟥⬛ Tottenham Hotspur's form over their last 5 matches has been inconsistent. Out of those 5 games, they managed 2 wins and 2 losses, along with 1 draw. Without being able to put together a good run of consecutive positive results, Tottenham has struggled to gain momentum. Their 2 wins came against weaker opposition, while the 2 losses were against top sides. The inconsistency and inability to beat other top teams will be a worry for Tottenham. If they are to meet expectations this season, they will need to improve their form and start stringing together more wins, especially against the league's best clubs. Their mixed recent results show a team still searching for the right balance and combination to succeed consistently. Tottenham will aim to use the next few matches to turn their form around and build confidence heading into the pivotal stages of the season.

Manchester Utd Performance

🟩⬛🟩🟥🟥 Over their last 5 matches, Manchester United's record stands at 2 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. However, crucially, they are undefeated in their last 3 games. This recent unbeaten run has provided a timely boost for Manchester United after a patchy spell beforehand when they suffered 2 losses in 3 matches. With back-to-back wins now behind them, they will aim to maintain this momentum moving forward. The team seems to be finding form at just the right stage of the season. If Manchester United can avoid defeat again in their next match, the confidence gained could propel them through the coming weeks. Their improved performances and results in the last 3 games suggest.

📋 Key battle: New Spurs captain Son Heung-min may have suffered a miserable opening day as he conceded a penalty, but he did net a late equaliser in the most recent H2H. Looking to keep him at bay will be United goalkeeper André Onana, who made six saves on his Red Devils debut; the Cameroonian also kept a clean sheet on his only previous trip to Tottenham.

⚡ Hot streak: Man Utd have netted at least twice in each of the last five H2Hs (W4, D1).

💡 Match Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Manchester United