Big Match Breakdown: Man United v Tottenham Hotspur
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Get ready for an FA Cup cracker
It’s semi-final time in this season’s FA Cup, and the first one should be a classic as Manchester United meet Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.
Both sides face a trophyless season unless they can land the oldest cup competition in the world, so the pressure is on.
And with the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard and the rest on show, it could be a thriller under the arch.
Here’s all the key info for the big game…
Head to Head
Games between United and Spurs have taken on a real top-four edge in recent years, but this is the first FA Cup meeting since 2009.
Overall though, things have been pretty even lately. Both sides have won three of the last six meetings – the home side has prevailed each time. United haven’t won at Spurs since 2012.
Likely XIs
Neither side have any serious injury concerns, but they both rested players in midweek.
Jose Mourinho made several changes for his side’s Wednesday win at Bournemouth, and claimed whoever impressed could start this evening.
But in reality, Romelu Lukaku is getting the nod up front, and Alexis Sanchez will return too. Ashley Young will come in for Matteo Darmian and Eric Bailly is a likely returnee at centre-half.
Mauricio Pochettino is sure to make changes too from the 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday.
Kieran Tripper will come in for Serge Aurier, while Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele will start in place of Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko.
Up front ,Dele Alli will return in place of Lucas Moura, while Son Heung-Min will likely get the nod over Erik Lamela. Harry Kane will be alone up top as expected.
Key Battles
United couldn’t contain Tottenham’s fluidity in Spurs’ 2-1 win back in January.
If Kane, Alli, Son and Christian Eriksen are able to roam, then this one could be heading in Tottenham’s favour.
United’s midfield must be able to track Alli and Son’s moves.
However, Man City tore Spurs apart just a week ago and Mourinho’s men can take heart from some suspect defending from the Londoners.
Lukaku will need to be on it and be in a hustling mood, but the Belgian will need support from Sanchez, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford too.
Match Odds
Coral have Tottenham as favourites for this huge cup tie. Spurs are 6/5 with United a rarely-seen 9/4. The draw and extra-time is 23/10.
As for who reaches the final by any method (90 mins, after extra-time, penalties) Tottenham are odds-on at 4/7, with the Red Devils 5/4.
Both teams have scored in just one of the last eight meetings between these two, but with so much on the line today, there’s 3/4 about both David de Gea and Hugo Lloris being beaten.
That man Kane is 3/1 favourite to score first, with Lukaku and Son sharing 11/2. There’s 9/1 about Alli and 15/2 for Sanchez to break the deadlock.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
