Back to winning ways after the horror show at Huddersfield Town and with Spurs losing at home to West Ham United, Jose Mourinho will hope to push the North London team three points below the Red Devils with a victory at Old Trafford and keep chasing the high flying Citizens.
Jesse Lingard starred for Manchester United against Swansea but will it be enough to reward him with a first-team start?
Marcus Rashford is sure to start on the left-hand side being pushed across by returning no.9 Romelu Lukaku who will hope that finally he can end his four-game goal drought (in all comps). The three players to choose from in the no.10 and right wing position (Mkhitaryan, Mata and Lingard) is difficult with Mata having a shocker against Huddersfield and Mkhitaryan not showing his form he started the season with, Jesse Lingard will be rather bemused if he is left on the bench.
It is almost certain that every Manchester United fan is sweating bullets for Bailly and Jons to be fit for Saturday given the shockingly abhorrent performances from Victor Lindelof at Swansea and Huddersfield and needs to be taken out of the spotlights with Alli, Son and Eriksen hungry to capitolise on any mistakes at the back.
Nevertheless, Jose Mourinho will be relieved to see that Harry Kane is in serious doubt over his fitness and may not be ready for the game which will compel him to man-mark the Tottenham target-man Fernando Llorente who was Swansea's top goal scorer last season and a consistent aerial threat for many years.
Given Matt Le Tissier compiled his Manchester United and Tottenham XI this week with some odd choices and with players who are injured, here is a combined XI for the players who are fit:
GK: DAVID DE GEA
Easy choice and while Lloris is a world-class keeper, De Gea is that much better and deserved to be in this XI
RB: ANTONIO VALENCIA
Confused by the choice of Tripper by Tiss but Valencia is one of the best right backs in the world at the moment and leading by example at the back
CB: TOBY ALDERWIERELD
The best central defender in the Premier League. He is consistent, an aerial threat, rarely gets booked and is able to ping a cross field ball like Bonucci can
CB: PHIL JONES
If Bailly is fit then he would be here instead but Phil Jones has started the season fantastically, winning Mourinho's trust and was looking solid until his injury against Huddersfield and certainly in this XI over Vertonghen
LB: MATTEO DARMIAN
At the moment Danny Rose is injured but would be there over Darmian and Shaw looking like he has given up so the Italian starts in this team with his strong tackling and attacking play (putting in a superb cross to Lingard on Tuesday) and his ability to play well with both feet
CDM: NEMANJA MATIC
Easily one of United's best players this season, he has been the difference from sixth to second and could easily be the signing that makes The Red Devils fight for the title to the death
CDM: MOUSSA DEMBELE
Powerful runner, a consistent player for Tottenham and a fantastic overall midfielder
RM: CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN
A superb talent who has established himself in the Tottenham side and is more consistent than his Arsenal counterpart Mesut Ozil with his fantastic crosses and free-kicks, incredible vision and pushes both Mkhitaryan and Mata out of contention for the right hand side
CAM: DELE ALLI
If only he could play as well for England as he does for Spurs with his goal and assist levels climbing to those of Frank Lampard's and looking more like the Chelsea midfielder every season, it won't be long before Real Madrid come knocking...
LM: MARCUS RASHFORD
Another young talent that is sparkling this season and pushing both Martial and Son Heung-Min out of this lineup with his goals and assists and of course, his general pace a threat to any Premier League or Champions League defence
ST: ROMELU LUKAKU
A goal machine that has stalled at the moment but with Kane injured (who would be in this side easily if fit), Lukaku would lead the line with his pace, strength and thuderbolt of a left foot, he is still a great striker who will challenge Kane and Aguero for the golden boot.
Predicted Lineups:
Manchester United:
De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Darmian, Matic, Herrera, Rashford, Mkhitaryan, Lingard, Lukaku
Tottenham Hotspurs:
Lloris, Trippier, Alderwiereld, Vertonghen, Aurier, Dier, Dembele, Son, Alli, Eriksen, Llorente
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