Premier League Matchday Live: Manchester United Host Tottenham as Carrick’s Revival Meets Spurs’ Hoodoo

Old Trafford is bracing for a lunchtime showdown that feels anything but routine. Manchester United, unbeaten in three matches since Michael Carrick returned to the dugout, welcome a Tottenham side that has not lost to the Red Devils in eight consecutive meetings across all competitions. The 12:30 p.m. GMT kick-off carries the weight of history and urgency in equal measure.

Carrick has overseen three straight victories, re-energising a fan base that had grown restless during an indifferent start to the campaign. Tottenham, now managed by Thomas Frank, arrive in 14th place yet with the comfort of knowing they have won on their last two Premier League visits to M16. The visitors’ solitary away defeat this term came at Turf Moor; five of their seven league wins have been secured on the road.

Team news confirms Carrick sees no need to tinker. André Onana is replaced in goal by youth product Thomas Lammens, while the back four of Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw sits in front of the midfield axis of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo. Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha complete an attack-minded lineup designed to stretch a Spurs defence that has conceded 18 first-half goals—only Burnley and Wolves have shipped more before the interval.

Frank opts for experience between the posts with Guglielmo Vicario, protected by a back line of Archie Gray, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie. In midfield, João Palhinha and Yves Bissouma’s stand-in, Sarr, will attempt to shackle Fernandes, the league’s leading creator with 12 assists. Ahead of them, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Gaston Pereira Simons and Dominic Solanke—who has five goals in his last five appearances against United—form a fluid front three.

The numbers lean United’s way at first glance: the hosts are unbeaten in nine league fixtures when enjoying minority possession this season, winning seven of those in which their share dropped below 45 per cent. Yet Tottenham’s recent dominance in the head-to-head cannot be ignored. United’s last victory over Spurs came in October 2022; since then, three draws and three defeats have left Carrick’s men searching for a first triumph in this fixture since Erik ten Hag’s departure.

Off the pitch, Barcelona formally notified the remaining European Super League stakeholders of their withdrawal, leaving Real Madrid as the sole hold-out from the doomed 2021 breakaway. La Liga, meanwhile, postponed Rayo Vallecano’s home meeting with Real Oviedo after heavy rain rendered the Vallecas surface unplayable. Rayo players had earlier protested against owner Raul Martin Presa, citing unsafe training and match-day conditions.

Back in England, the Women’s Super League serves as the curtain-raiser, with second-placed Manchester United visiting Leicester at noon. Marc Skinner’s side, spearheaded by new signing Elisabeth Terland, seek to keep pace with leaders Chelsea, while Leicester aim to climb into mid-table after a bright start under Amandine Miquel.

By the time the women’s final whistle blows at the King Power Stadium, attention will shift entirely to Old Trafford. Can Carrick extend his perfect start and end Tottenham’s hex, or will Frank’s Spurs compound United frustrations and keep their own season alive? The answers begin to unfold at 12:30 p.m. sharp.

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