Tottenham vs Manchester United predictions: Premier League tips and odds

Belfast Telegraph
 
Tottenham vs Manchester United predictions: Premier League tips and odds

Our betting expert has three Spurs vs Manchester United tips for the Premier League fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off). Scroll down to see the analysis behind his selections.

Spurs vs Man United betting tips

  • Tottenham to win the second half @ 15/8 with Sky Bet
  • Tottenham draw no bet @ 11/10 with Sky Bet
  • James Maddison to score or assist, Emerson Royal to attempt 70 or more passes, and over 4.5 total home (Tottenham) corners @ 25/2 with Sky Bet

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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Second-half strength still one of Spurs’ characteristics

Both Spurs and the Red Devils had somewhat stuttering starts to their seasons and a cagey encounter is expected in north London.

Tottenham have taken more positives from their performance in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Brentford than Manchester United were able to after their 1-0 home win over Wolves a day later.

Spurs matched the result they achieved at the Gtech Community Stadium on Boxing Day last year when Harry Kane led the line and Antonio Conte was in the dugout, but the manner of the display was very different.

Ange Postecoglu’s side had an even greater share of possession, had more attempts on goal, forced more corners and were clearly more aggressive in hunting to win the ball back than they had been under the Italian’s instruction.

The constant theme between the two games, which ran throughout most of last season, was how much stronger Spurs became after half-time when the visitors registered 72 per cent of their total shots, 66 per cent of their efforts on target and won 83 per cent of their corners.

Despite their lowly eighth-place finish in the Premier League, Tottenham were the division’s fourth-best team in terms of points won in the second 45 minutes.

And that characteristic ought to stand them in good stead against a United team that looked very leggy in the late stages at Old Trafford on Monday.

Spurs vs Man United tip 1: Tottenham to win the second half @ 15/8 with Sky Bet

Red Devils need to learn their lesson

United began last season with back-to-back defeats and things only improved after Erik ten Hag cancelled the squad’s day off and made each player run 13.8km as that was the distance Brentford collectively ran more than them during the previous day’s 4-0 humbling.

The Red Devils went on to lose as many away league games as they won in 2022-23 and will need to significantly increase their points tally on the road if they are to challenge for the title.

The only top-half finishers that Ten Hag’s men defeated away from home were Fulham and it took a very late Alejandro Garnacho goal to do that.

Meanwhile, Spurs won more home games than Newcastle did last term and should be confident of getting at United’s defence and putting some pressure on new goalkeeper Andre Onana.

The visitors, having thrown away two points on their previous trip to north London in April when Spurs surged back on to level terms in a stirring second half, the visitors will be wary and may have to settle for a draw at best.

Spurs vs Man United tip 2: Tottenham draw no bet @ 11/10 with Sky Bet

Maddison the avenue for most of Spurs’ attacking play

James Maddison impressed on his Spurs debut, having a hand in both goals and generally looking like the conductor of Postecoglu’s Spurs orchestra.

The England international managed to register an impressive tally of nine assists, a total bettered by just six other top-flight players last season, despite being relegated with Leicester.

He is likely to be heavily involved in Spurs’ attacking play on Saturday and can be included in bet builders to score or assist a goal at an odds-against price.

Emerson Royal struck against the Bees with a goal that capped a fine performance by the Brazilian.

He racked up more than 100 pass attempts in the game and looks solid value to go over 70 against a potentially stronger midfield on Saturday.

Spurs’ corner count at Brentford eventually stalled on six, but there was plenty of bright wide play from the wingers and full backs to suggest they can notch more than five against a United team that allowed Wolves to get seven at the Theatre of Dreams.

Spurs vs Man United tip 3: James Maddison to score or assist, Emerson Royal to attempt 70 or more passes, and over 4.5 total home (Tottenham) corners @ 25/2 with Sky Bet

Spurs vs Man United odds

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.