The Premier League is back this weekend and what a game we have on Super Sunday as Tottenham host Manchester United, looking to complete the league double over their visitors for the first time in 29 years.
Playing Tottenham away used to be a rewarding fixture for United – they lost just three of their 21 Premier League meetings at White Hart Lane under Sir Alex Ferguson.
But, since then, they have failed to win any of the subsequent five under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho – losing three.
Including Ferguson’s final season, it is six without a win at Tottenham – their worst record at any other Premier League side during the same period.
United have now lost on their last three visits to Spurs (including last season’s 2-0 reverse at Wembley) – they have never previously lost four successive away games to a single side during the modern era.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping for a change of fortunes at Wembley this weekend. It has been the perfect start to his role at Old Trafford but his only previous managerial contest against Spurs was Cardiff’s 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane in March 2014.
During his playing days at United, Solskjaer hit seven goals against Spurs – as many as he scored against any side in the top division.
His goals helped him to nine wins from his 11 Premier League appearances against the London club, his joint-most against any opposition – one of which came in a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane 22 years ago this Saturday.
In that defeat for Solskjaer as Cardiff manager against Tottenham, a certain Harry Kane was brought on as a late substitute in his second career Premier League appearance.
Since emerging as one of the division’s most feared goalscorers the following season, only Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero have scored more Premier League goals against ‘big-six’ sides.
Kane’s 21 goals against the ‘big six’ have come in 42 appearances, although he has found the net just twice in nine Premier League games against Manchester United.
Both goals came in his last three appearances: the 2-1 win at White Hart Lane in May 2017, and the reverse fixture in August last year when United lost 3-0 at Old Trafford.
United’s results have improved considerably since Solskjaer took the helm – as has the form of Paul Pogba.
The club have won all four top-flight games since Jose Mourinho was axed – as many as they managed in his final 12 games in charge.
Pogba had found himself very much out of favour under Mourinho, making just one substitute appearance in his final three league games, but has been consistent in the final third as an ever-present under Solskjaer.
Criticism of his form may have been justified for the best part of this season, but the World Cup-winner can still boast team-topping stats for shots, chances created, touches and dribbles in the league this term.
He has also been involved in 13 goals – more than any team-mate. He needs only one more league goal to equal the best-scoring seasons of his career, scoring eight times at Juventus in two different seasons.
United may have to rely on Pogba and co maintaining their rich vein of form in front of goal, as their defence has been uncharacteristically ineffective this season.
The 2-0 win at Newcastle last time out was only their second clean sheet in their last 17 league games, and the stats emphasise fragility at the back.
United have conceded 31 goals – their highest-ever total at this stage of a Premier League season. It is in stark contrast to last season, when their second-place finish was primarily achieved with defensive solidarity.
They have already conceded more Premier League goals this season than in either of the previous two campaigns, and in 11 out of the previous 27 full seasons since 1992.
So, will United’s defence be able build on last week’s clean sheet at Newcastle, or will they lose four consecutive Premier League games at the same opposition for the first time?
First up on Sunday, Everton take on Bournemouth from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Premier League then it is another epic ‘big-six’ battle – live from Wembley Stadium – Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United from 4.15pm.
