The Daily Star Ireland
Tottenham, still in search of their first trophy, will look to the EFL Cup as a potential starting point for success, although they face a tough challenge ahead. In recent weeks, Spurs have struggled at home, going without a win in their last four matches across all competitions.
These include losses to Ipswich (1-2), a draw with AS Roma in the Europa Conference League (2-2), a 1-1 draw with Fulham in the Premier League, and a dramatic 3-4 defeat to Chelsea. Before their upcoming match against Rangers in the Europa Conference League and Southampton in the Premier League, Tottenham had managed to win just one of their last six games. However, they did manage a notable 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the previous round of the EFL Cup.
On the other side, we have Manchester United, a club with a rich history but currently in a period of decline. Under Ruben Amorim, who recently took over from Sporting, the team has struggled to regain their former glory. They have not been English champions since 2013 and are now focusing on domestic competitions to salvage some success, including their FA Cup win last season. Under coach Erik Ten Hag, the Red Devils have been inconsistent in the Premier League, most recently suffering back-to-back losses to Arsenal (2-0) and Nottingham Forest (3-2). Last weekend, they faced a struggling Manchester City, followed by a key Europa League match against Viktoria Plzen, making this a crucial week for the team.
Tottenham will be without key players, including the injured Argentinian international Romero, who recently returned from injury only to suffer a relapse. Other absentees include starting goalkeeper Vicario, Brazilian forward Richarlison, Frenchman Odobert, and defender Ben Davies. However, new signing Solanke from Bournemouth has been in fine form, scoring 5 goals and providing 2 assists in the Premier League. Additionally, Brennan Johnson has been impressive with 6 goals, and Maddison has contributed 5 goals and 4 assists. South Korean international Son has also played a key role, with 4 goals and 4 assists to his name.
Manchester United will also be missing defensive players Evans, Lindelöf, and Shaw due to injury. Despite these setbacks, their squad remains strong, with star players like Garnacho, who has scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists, as well as Holjund, who has netted 5 goals in the competition. Bruno Fernandes has also been influential with 2 goals and 2 assists in the EFL Cup, while Rashford, Eriksen, and Casemiro have each scored at least once in the tournament.
Prediction
Considering recent form, Tottenham has struggled against Manchester United, winning very few of their last 16 encounters. United, on the other hand, have been in excellent form, with 8 wins in their last 10 matches.
Prediction: Tottenham 1-2 Manchester United
