A crucial game at White Hart Lane with one side fighting for the title and the other side fighting for a place in the Champions League.
But not the way you would think this time around given past Premier League history.
Tottenham sit seven points off runaway leaders Leicester City and must avoid defeat for the remainder of the campaign should they displace The Foxes off top spot.
Manchester United meanwhile sit a point off rivals Manchester City in fourth place, knowing that a win at the weekend would put huge pressure on a stumbling City side clinging onto that final Champions League place.
Both sides can’t afford to drop any more points, but who will be victorious come Sunday?
Tottenham
Anfield played host to a war of attrition last weekend where Spurs will now feel it was two points dropped against a stubborn Liverpool side, especially given Leicester’s success to Southampton.
Seven points seems too much at this stage to play catch-up, but what will concern Spurs still is Arsenal remain breathing down their necks with a game in hand.
Tottenham haven’t had a great record against the top five, with Manchester City their only pair of successes but must get a win against the second-toughest defence in the league.
Spurs looked sluggish in parts against Liverpool despite playing extremely well in others, with Harry Kane and Dele Alli, Tottenham’s leading lights this season in particular, looking in need of a break.
With a rampant Leicester side in no danger of burnout, Mauricio Pochettino’s side on the other hand look like they could do with a bit of a rest with their high-energy pressing game taking its toll on a few individuals.
The much-missed Erik Lamela will return to the first team fold with Heung-min Son likely to drop out following a disappointing performance against Liverpool.
Otherwise it’s as you were, with Christian Eriksen, Alli and Kane a certainty to keep their places.
Spurs’ record at home to The Red Devils has been shocking with no win since 2001, but given the importance of Sunday’s fixture, there will be no better chance to stake a first win in 15 years.
Manchester United
A stop-start season for Louis van Gaal’s side with his future up in the air, but they have played themselves back well into contention for a Champions League place with back-to-back 1-0 wins.
They enjoyed fortuitous success against Spurs on the opening day of the season, but the gulf of quality between them and Pochettino’s side has massively widened, with many of van Gaal’s signings failing to catch the eye.
Big-money buy Memphis Depay has flattered to deceive and the likes of Matteo Darmian, Ander Herrera and Marcus Rojo have proved unconvincing under the Dutchman.
So much so, that van Gaal has opted for youth over experience with Anthony Martial explosive with raw, exciting potential and a certain Marcus Rashford introducing himself with two goals on his debut against Arsenal.
Jesse Lingard has also enjoyed a regular playing spell this season and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Timothy Fosu-Mensah have all been integrated into the Dutchman’s set-up.
Sunday could be set then for a battle of the youngsters, but with United grinding out results despite the unflattering football, they’ll go to north London full of confidence that they can make it three wins in a row on the back of tough opponents Manchester City and Everton.
Last time out
August 8th 2015 – Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham
The Tottenham view: Mauricio Pochettino, manager
“Our mentality is the same: our challenge is to compete to the end of the season and to have the possibility to fight for the title on the last day at Newcastle.
“Now the gap between us and Leicester is seven points and it will be difficult, but we have to believe.” (The Mirror)
The Manchester United view: Anthony Martial, striker
“Spurs are a team who defend well with a lot of aggression and stay compact as a unit.
“They have a lot of ability up top and that’s why they find themselves currently in second place in the table.
“It was certainly very important that we picked up a win in that game [Everton] and it has put us back on track in the hunt for fourth place. It’s now down to us to do the rest.” (Manchester United)
Prediction
Traditionally White Hart Lane has been a happy hunting ground for United, but with Spurs’ eyes on the prize, they must beat The Red Devils and have the quality to do so.
Tottenham 2-1 Manchester United
