MANCHESTER UNITED VS TOTTENHAM
FORM
Manchester
United
Mar 30: Bayer Munich 2-1 Man Utd
(European Cup)
Apr 3: Man Utd 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Apr
7: Man Utd 3-2 Bayern
Munich (European Cup)
Apr 11: Blackburn 0-0 Man
Utd(Premier League)
Apr 17: Man City 0-1 Man Utd(Premier League)
Tottenham
Marh
27: Tottenham 2-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Apr 3: Sunderland 3-1
Tottenham (Premier League)
Apr 11: Tottenham 0-2 Portsmouth (FA Cup)
Apr 14:
Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal
(Premier League)
Apr 17: Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
TEAM
NEWS
Manchester United
Wes
Brown and Rio
Ferdinand could return to the United back line for the visit
of Spurs. Ferguson will monitor the duo on Friday, but will definitely
not be able to call upon Michael Owen or Anderson.
Ferguson had
hoped to also include Owen Hargreaves in his matchday squad to face
Spurs, but the midfielder has missed the last two days' training with a
calf injury.
Last starting XI (v Man City): Van der Sar,
Evra, Vidic, Neville, Jonny Evans, Fletcher, Valencia, Gibson, Giggs,
Scholes, Rooney.
Tottenham
Spurs will be
boosted by news Aaron
Lennon could be fit enough for a place on the bench. The
winger may well return from his four-month groin injury absence that
had threatened his place in England's World Cup squad.
Spurs,
meanwhile, are without Carlo Cudicini, Jonathan Woodgate, Aaron Lennon, Niko
Kranjcar and Danny Rose while Jermaine Jenas featured in a reserve game
this week, against West Ham, and could be available.
Ledley
King, rested against Chelsea after featuring in
the win over Arsenal,
could be made available to return to central defense.
Last
starting XI (v Chelsea): Gomes, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Kaboul,
Bassong, Huddlestone, Bentley, Modric, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe.
PLAYERS
TO WATCH
Manchester
United
It looks like Dimitar Berbatov's
excellent season at Spurs two years ago may have just been a flash in
the pan. A total of 27 goals from the Bulgarian convinced Ferguson to
shell out £30.75m - a UK record at the time - for his services, but it
just hasn't worked out at United. The 'own goals' column reads only two
less than Berbatov this season.
As a result he could be out the
door this summer, but is likely to feature at some point against his
former colleagues and could have a say in the season's outcome. He'll
certainly be keen to prove himself.
Tottenham
Moving
Gareth Bale to left-midfield from left-back could turn
out to be the smartest thing Harry Redknapp has ever
done. The young Welshman has been in superb form on the Spurs' wing;
scoring goals - including against both Chelsea and Arsenal in recent weeks -
and winning penalties with his marauding, twisting runs.
Sadly,
his form has come too late for any awards, and his heritage means he
won't get to continue that in South Africa, but the youngster will be
keen to impress against the title holders. If only he was English...
PREDICTION
Both
teams still have so much to play for that neither will take this tie
lightly, and with each of their respective rivals likely to pick up
points, a win is vital for both.
Spurs are on a brilliant run of
form, but must take it to a venue they have never won at in the Premier League,
against a United side still reveling in their last-minute win over
rivals City.
Expect a very hard-fought game, with little given
either way, but United's quality to just edge them closer to Chelsea.
Manchester
United 2 Tottenham 1
FT 3-1, Manchester United collects 3 points.
yeah...chance for villa to catch up....