BBC

That could have been calamitous

Tottenham 0-0 Man Utd

Simon Stone

BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

That could have been a calamity for Senne Lammens.

He ran the ball under his foot as though he was going to push it forward to clear but instead just pushed it further on and out for a corner.

If he had been stood in front of his goal, Tottenham would be in front.

That's why goalkeepers should stay a little bit wide.

'Massive game for Tottenham'

Tottenham v Man Utd (12:30 GMT)

Chris Sutton

Former Premier League striker on Football Focus

It's been an interesting start from Thomas Frank. Defensively, Tottenham seem to have greater stability but Micky van de Ven is their top scorer which says it all.

Richarlison had an OK start to teh season, there are missing Dominic Solanke and it hasn't quite clicked. Tottenham fans are really demanding in terms of wanting that brand of attacking football but it hasn't quite happened for them.

Their home form has been really disappointing in the Premier League, they've lost to Aston Villa, lost to Chelsea, lost to Bournemouth.

Tottenham fans demand more so it is a massive game for Tottenham but Manchester United go into this in pretty good form.

Armed services represented

Tottenham v Man Utd (12:30 GMT)

Simon Stone

BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Today's game will be preceded by a minute's silence as it is the nearest round of Premier League fixtures to Remembrance Day.

All the armed services are represented by the side of the pitch as the teams emerge.

English football is reducing the non-football related times it holds silences before games.

However, this is regarded as a national occasion and it cannot be forgotten former players have died in conflict serving their country.

'Lammens has had a good start'

Tottenham v Man Utd (12:30 GMT)

Chris Sutton

Former Premier League striker on Football Focus

I think it's one of the most difficult jobs in football, being in goal for Manchester United.

I really like that Senne Lammens said he just wants to be reliable, that's what Manchester United need. You don't want a goalkeeper where you are unsure when they are going to come out.

He has had a good start and he has been very steady. I like his temperament.

Post

Tottenham v Man Utd (12:30 GMT)

This has intrigue written all over it.

Tottenham and Manchester United have near identical records in the Premier League.

Spurs start sixth with 17 points from 10 games - the same as United, who are eighth because of an inferior goal difference.

The incentive for both teams is that whoever wins will go second behind Arsenal.

Post

Tottenham v Man Utd (12:30 GMT)

Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United will fancy their chances against a Spurs side who have been dreadful in front of their own fans in the Premier League.

No side has lost more home Premier League matches in 2025 than Tottenham Hotspur (nine).

Only in 1994 and 2003 (10 in each) have Spurs reached double figures for home defeats in a calendar year in their league history.

Assist king

Tottenham v Man Utd (12:30 GMT)

Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes has 53 Premier League assists – since his debut in February 2020, only Mohamed Salah (64) and Kevin de Bruyne (58) have more. He’s assisted in his last two away games and is looking to do so in three away appearances in a row for the first time since November 2020.

Is it Arsenal's title to lose?

Sunderland v Arsenal (17:30 GMT)

Glenn Murray

Former Crystal Palace and Brighton striker on Premier League Kick-Off

Everything is positive for Arsenal.

They're beating teams who they dropped points against last season, and the squad is very much at its best now and most balanced.

When you look at the capitulation of Liverpool, who we thought would be their main rivals, in this first quarter of the season, yes, I do think it is Arsenal's to lose.

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Spurs' conflicting home form

Tottenham's convincing 4-0 victory over FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night extended their long unbeaten home run in Europe, a remarkable contrast to their league form in north London.

Spurs have now won 18 and drawn four of their past 22 European games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, excluding a Conference League fixture against Rennes which they were forced to forfeit in December 2021 because of a Covid outbreak. Their most recent European home defeat on their pitch was 1-0 against RB Leipzig in the Champions League in February 2020.

Home struggles for Thomas Frank's side have been exclusively a Premier League problem. Last weekend's limp defeat to rivals Chelsea was their third of the campaign in N17 and promoted Burnley are the only top-flight team they've beaten at their impressive stadium this season.

The Lilywhites have mustered three wins and 13 points from their 19 home league matches over the past 12 months – the worst record of any Premier League team during that period.

Frank's men will attempt to arrest that lengthy slump on Saturday when they face a team against whom they've enjoyed the upper hand in recent seasons.

Spurs are unbeaten in seven previous meetings with Manchester United across all competitions (W5, D2) and won all four clashes last season, including the Europa League final in May.

Tottenham's last defeat to United? A league meeting at Old Trafford in October 2022.

United's recent away struggles

Manchester United head to north London on a four-match unbeaten run in the top flight (W3, D1) and only sit below their hosts in the table on goal difference.

The Red Devils are enjoying their joint-best run of form under head coach Ruben Amorim but will be keen to start collecting more points on the road.

Just one of their past 10 Premier League away games has resulted in victory (D3, L6) and they also fell to a shock defeat at Grimsby this season in the EFL Cup.

However, this fixture is one that Manchester United have largely dominated during the Premier League era.

United are seeking their 40th Premier League victory over Spurs this Saturday – no other side has beaten the Lilywhites more in the competition. The Mancunians have only enjoyed more wins against fellow Premier League ever-present sides Everton and Aston Villa.

It is hard to know how to view Tottenham at the moment, especially at home where they have been pretty underwhelming in the Premier League so far.

Tottenham have only taken one point from their past four league games in their own stadium since beating Burnley on the opening weekend of the season, including last week's defeat by Chelsea when a couple of their players gave Thomas Frank the cold shoulder afterwards.

They did beat Copenhagen comfortably there in the Champions League on Tuesday, but it's still hard to make a case for them to overcome Manchester United because I'm not really sure where their goals are going to come from.

Mind you, I'm still not convinced by Ruben Amorim's side either. There is no doubt they have shown strong signs of improvement, but I still don't fully trust them to turn up, especially on the road.

Tottenham beat Manchester United four times last season, including in the Europa League final. This time? If I had to pick a winner I would actually back United, but I don't - so I'm going for a draw.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

There are no fresh injuries to report as "everyone came through the midweek game well", but Mohammed Kudus is "touch and go" for this weekend after picking up a knock in training.

Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie, who recently had "small spells" on the sidelines, "responded well" after starting against Copenhagen on Tuesday night.

Frank briefly commented on reports that Udogie was allegedly threatened with a gun by a football agent: "It's a terrible situation to have been in, but I can't speak too much about it because it's a legal case. The club are doing everything to support him."

Manchester United are in "great form" going into the fixture, but his players are "excited and looking forward" to the challenge. Frank added: "We are ready to do everything we can to win the game. We will do everything we can to come out on top."

On Ruben Amorim's side, he said: "We know exactly what to expect from them. They have an incredibly dangerous front three that are starting to get up to speed, so we will need to close them down. We also want to make sure they are running backwards more due to us attacking."

He believes that home advantage should be a "massive boost" and his players should feel "even more confident, aligned and willing to do everything" when playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

On the positive home atmosphere last time out, Frank said: "It was really rocking. It was great to see and experience. It needs to be a collaborative approach between the fans and the players. The more we can push each other to bring that positive energy in, the better."

His time at Tottenham has been "super exciting and a big learning curve", but his ideas are "still a work in progress". He explained: "We are far from where I want us to be, but I've got no doubt we will get there."

When quizzed on how £51.8m summer signing Xavi Simons is settling into the squad, Frank replied: "Every player needs confidence, even the best in the world. When you go to a new club, it's not always easy to hit the ground running. But the more confidence you get, the better you play. I still think there's more to come from him, but I was happy with his performance [against Copenhagen]."

Before the latest round of Premier League fixtures, here is all the key injury news alongside essential Fantasy Premier League statistics.

The game week kicks off with Tottenham Hotspur at home to Manchester United at Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT) - here is the full fixture list.

This article will be updated as Premier League managers give their weekly news conferences.

Manchester United's only fitness concern for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is Lisandro Martinez, although the centre-back is closing in on a return following nine months out because of injury.

Head coach Ruben Amorim has an otherwise fully-fit squad to choose from after Harry Maguire returned to the bench for last weekend's draw at Nottingham Forest.

Tottenham team news will appear here later on Friday.

Doubts: Manchester United - Martinez

Key FPL notes:

With 57 points, Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven (£4.8m) is the fifth-highest scoring defender in FPL. He has three goals, four clean sheets and returned 23 points alone in game week nine. He also ran the length of the pitch to score in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes (£8.9m) has produced two assists in the last three game weeks. His total of 28 chances created is seven more than the next-best midfielder, while only two players in his position have attempted more than his 24 shots.

Only three midfielders boast more FPL points than the 53 of United forward Bryan Mbeumo (£8.4m). Among players in his position, Mbeumo ranks joint top for shots in the box (19) and sixth for chances created (19).

Full-back Antonee Robinson is Fulham's only confirmed absentee before the trip to Merseyside to take on Everton.

Robinson has not played since 28 September because of a knee injury.

Everton team news will appear here later on Friday.

Players out: Everton - Branthwaite, Patterson Fulham - Robinson

Key FPL notes:

Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye (£6.5m) scored his fourth goal of the season in game week 10. Among midfielders, only Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo (£8.1m) has scored more (six).

Had Toffees striker Thierno Barry (£5.7m) not missed from three yards out in game week 10, Jack Grealish (£6.9m) would have claimed his fifth assist of the season. The winger sits joint second among midfielders for chances created (21) and joint seventh for big chances created (four) over the season.

A goal and an assist produced 14 points for Ryan Sessegnon (£5.4m) in game week 10, making him Fulham's highest-scoring player this season with 43 points. The midfielder has served up two goals and two assists in the last six game weeks.

West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo told a press conference on Thursday that he is managing some "knocks" in his squad before the visit of Burnley.

Konstantinos Mavropanos, Niclas Fullkrug, George Earthy and Oliver Scarles are all unavailable because of injury.

Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal is expected to feature after sustaining a black eye earlier this week because of a blow to the face during training.

Lyle Foster, who has missed training this week because of illness, will be assessed.

Jordan Beyer, Connor Roberts and Zeki Amdouni remain out.

Players out: West Ham - Mavropanos, Fullkrug, Earthy, Scarles Burnley - Beyer, Roberts, Amdouni

Doubts: Foster

Key FPL notes:

Only two forwards have attempted more shots than Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) this season. The West Ham captain is up against a Burnley side who have conceded more goal attempts (177) than any other club.

Lucas Paqueta (£5.9m) scored his third goal of the season in game week 10. In the 3-1 win over Newcastle, the Brazilian midfielder produced a team-leading six crosses and 12 successful passes in the final third.

Left-back Quilindschy Hartman (£4.0m) has assisted in each of Burnley's last three away matches.

His four assists on the road is at least double that of any other FPL defender.

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, who has been battling illness, will be assessed after he was restricted to a substitute's role during Thursday's Europa Conference League win against AZ Alkmaar.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner said: "He is still feeling chest and it's not completely free.

"Sometimes we need to cough it out and I hope that happens now.

"He is getting better and better but is it enough to start against Brighton, I'm not sure."

Rio Cardines and Caleb Kporha remain out.

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler confirmed on Thursday that defender Joel Veltman is available after missing six weeks because of a calf injury.

Winger Kaoru Mitoma is "very close" to a return but remains a doubt, according to Hurzeler.

Brajan Gruda and James Milner remain sidelined.

Players out: Crystal Palace - Cardines, Kporha, Doucoure, Nketiah Brighton - Milner, Gruda, Hinshelwood, March, Webster

Doubts: Crystal Palace - Wharton Brighton - Mitoma

Key FPL notes:

Jean-Phillippe Mateta (£7.9m) scored his sixth goal of the campaign in game week 10, placing him joint second in the scorers' charts. Since game week six, no player has had a higher expected goals (xG) tally than the Palace forward's 5.33.

Palace defender Marc Guehi (£5.0m) is the third-highest scoring defender in FPL with 64 points. The England international has produced DefCon points in five of the last six game weeks.

No player has produced more assists than the five of Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m), three of which have come in the last two game weeks.

Liverpool forward Alexander Isak has returned to training following three weeks out because of injury.

However, manager Arne Slot told a press conference on Friday that Isak will need time to achieve match fitness.

"I know I said his pre-season has ended a few weeks ago, but if you've had three weeks with rehab it doesn't bring him back to the levels he was at," said Slot.

"Even though our rehab has done an incredible job you can't replicate games.

"Again, I have to say give him some time."

Full-back Andy Robertson will be assessed after starting three games in a week.

Alisson and Jeremie Frimpong remain out.

Manchester City team news will appear later here on Friday.

Players out: Liverpool - Leoni, Alisson, Frimpong,

Doubts: Liverpool - Isak, Robertson

Key FPL notes:

On his first start since returning from injury, Manchester City midfielder Rayan Cherki (£6.3m) produced two assists against Bournemouth in game week 10.

City striker Erling Haaland is the highest-scoring player in FPL. He is averaging 9.8 points per match, has scored 13 goals and attempted at least 12 more shots (41) than any other player.

Forward Mohamed Salah (£14.2m) is Liverpool's highest scoring player with 52 FPL points. He has scored in back-to-back league matches and produced a goal and an assist in both meetings with City last season.

After their recent uptick in form before their draw with Nottingham Forest last weekend, Amorim feels his said are "more confident", believe they "can win any game" and "have proved that already". But he added: "The last game was tough on us because, in some moments, we weren't the team that we were supposed to be."

He continued: "We know we cannot forget we have a lot to improve. We are more prepared for anything that happens in the game, so that is also a good thing. We are in a better moment, but we also know we have a lot to do, a lot to improve to win this kind of game more and consistently win games in a row."

On what has changed since their last meeting with Tottenham in the Europa League final in May: "First of all, the characteristics of the players. We have different characteristics in our team, but we also have a lot of players who played [last time]. So we are a better team, we play better, we understand the game better."

The United boss added: "We are more confident. We reached that final confident we could win because we were doing well in Europe. In this moment, we play with a different confidence. If you remember that game, they have that shot on goal and they won the game. I expect a different game - that we can play better, but also have a little bit of luck to help us to win."

Asked whether there have been any changes to reduce injuries in the side, he responded: "No, it's not changed. It's one game every week and then, again, a little bit of luck. Sometimes you have problems with players with knocks, and it's not something that is soft tissue [injuries]. So, you never know what is going to happen in the next training [session]. But the big reason is one game every week - you can give an extra day to the players you know could struggle."

After comments made about the club by former player Cristiano Ronaldo, Amorim acknowledged that Ronaldo "knows he has a huge impact in everything he says" but "what we need to focus on is in the future", adding: "We know that we, as a club, made a lot of mistakes in the past, but we are trying to change that. So let's not focus on what happened. Let's focus on what we are doing now - and we are doing that."

On if their lack of clean sheets is a problem: "It is a problem - especially if you see the league nowadays. The team that is winning all the games is not conceding goals. We cannot suffer the amount of goals we are suffering, and that is a thing that we need to improve."

With the countdown to the Celebrity Traitors final under way, we asked you which Tottenham player or manager - past or present - would make the best traitor and faithful.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: The best traitor of all time is Sol Campbell. No-one else comes close. The best faithful would be Harry Kane, who would still be with us if the club were as successful as him.

Oli: Biggest traitor has GOT to be Campbell. Told us he was signing a new contract only to not do that and join our main rivals on a free, denying us any money to replace him. Unforgivable!

Tom: Think this one is pretty obvious! Traitor has to be Campbell (no explanation needed) and faithful would be Ledley King and Son Heung-min for their loyalty, commitment and legend status for delivering our last two trophies!

Tim: Campbell the best traitor. He told us he would never join Arsenal and we believed him, then agreed to join them the following day.

Tottenham's 4-0 thrashing of Copenhagen on Tuesday night means the club have now gone 22 European games unbeaten at home.

So, why can't they repeat those results in the Premier League?

In comparison, in their last 22 league games inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs have won just six times, drawing four and losing on 12 occasions.

The European unbeaten streak consists of 13 Europa League games, three Conference League games and six in the most prestigious of them all, the Champions League.

The opposition has at times been considerably easier than the Premier League elite, with Spurs beating the likes of NS Mura from Slovenia, and Pacos de Ferreira who currently compete in the Portuguese second division.

But they have also played some bigger clubs, facing Frankfurt twice, Italian giants AC Milan and Roma, and this season beating Villarreal - who currently sit third in La Liga.

From those 22 European fixtures, Spurs have scored 60 and conceded just 13, keeping a clean sheet on 13 occasions including in both of this season's Champions League ties. They have also failed to score in just one of those games.

In the league, they have scored just over half that amount with 31 goals, and conceded 34 - nearly three times as many when compared with their European record.

The difference in results might not come as that much of a surprise given their Europa League triumph in comparison with their finish in the league table last season.

However, with just one win from their opening five home league games this season, Thomas Frank will be desperately hoping they can convert some of their European success into domestic wins.

In the league, their next three league games consist of Manchester United, Fulham and Brentford respectively.

After their trip away to PSG, Frank's side face a visit from Slavia Prague before a tougher challenge against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

So, Spurs fans, is the unbeaten European run simply down to easier opposition? Or is there another reason for the stark contrast in form? Have you noticed a difference in performances?

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been a place of dreams and magic for visiting teams in the Premier League over the past 18 months.

But against Copenhagen, just as the match looked to take a disappointing turn, Spurs conjured up enough magic of their own to keep their Champions League story alive.

At the heart of this tale, which will live on for quite some time, was our Dutch centre-back.

Micky van de Ven has been a club favourite for a while. His speed and on-field demeanour make him a likeable character, but over the past 12 months, he has achieved a cult-like status that has now smashed its way to a legendary one. Goals make you great, and Micky scored one of the greatest in our history.

Sensational goals and moments of magic are something us Spurs fans have been brought up on.

Before social media, young fans would lean close to hear the older lot chat about the glory days as you made your way to the stadium. In the modern era, we are lucky that each goal is captured in high definition, and on Tuesday night, Micky added his moment to our story.

It was a goal that actually looked pretty simple, but the greats make brilliance look easy. The physical and technical ability to be able to run at full tilt, controlling the ball while under pressure, is something us mere mortals can only dream of.

It is why we pay the money to go and watch this game. The finish, however, is what made it a masterpiece.

In a season where our strikers have misfired, Micky showed them exactly how it is done. A strike worthy of a Puskas award, a moment worthy of being replayed for the rest of our history, and a goal that eases the pressure on our manager and team.

Spurs have been accused of being boring and mundane in recent weeks, but last night was a fairytale.

Everything went perfectly, and even a missed penalty and a sending off could not take the shine off a big, magical win.