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Manchester United will look to secure their fourth straight league victory as they host Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Michael Carrick could not have hoped for a better start as United manager, and a victory against Spurs would put them in a commanding position to secure Champions League qualification.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the clash:

Kick-off time

How to watch

TNT Sports 1/ TNT Sport Ultimate

Streaming available on discovery+

Injuries and suspensions

Manchester United: Patrick Dorgu (out), Mason Mount (out), Mathijs De Ligt (out)

Tottenham Hotspur: James Maddison (out), Rodrigo Bentancur (out), Mohammed Kudus (out), Ben Davies (out), Lucas Bergvall (out), Richarlison (out), Pedro Porro (out), Kevin Danso (out), Dejan Kulusevski (out), Dominic Solanke (doubt), Djed Spence (doubt)

Predicted line-ups

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo

Tottenham Hotspur: (3-4-2-1): Vicario; Palhinha, Romero, Van de Ven; Gray, Gallagher, Sarr, Udogie; Simons, Odobert; Solanke

Recent form

Manchester United continued their fine league form last Sunday, following up wins over Manchester City and Arsenal with a dramatic, narrow triumph at home against Fulham.

United looked set to see their winning run halted after going 2-0 up through Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, before Fulham scored twice late on. Yet in the 94th minute, Benjamin Šeško delivered a dramatic winner to seal all three points.

Spurs’ last league victory came in December, but their spirited second-half display against Manchester City will give fans some encouragement.

After falling 2-0 behind in an extremely tepid first half performance, Spurs came out firing after the break, with Dominic Solanke scoring twice, including a spectacular scorpion kick to level the game. Spurs looked the more likely side to snatch a winner but ultimately had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

What’s been said?

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said: “Spurs certainly bring a challenge. The way they finished the game the other day, they’ve had, over a period, players injured, a lot of changes to the team which makes things more difficult. They’re getting players back, they have really good attackers that look to stretch the backline and play forward and attack the box an awful lot.

“A slightly different game to what we’ve played in recent weeks but we’re looking forward to it. We are in a good place, the boys have worked well again this week. Feet on the ground, let’s not get carried away. It’s about what’s next. Big challenge ahead.”

Spurs boss Thomas Frank said: “I think Carrick has had a great start. It seems like he has injected a little bit of energy into the team. I think it looks like some of the players are in a good place.

“We know the threats that I also think they posed before from Bryan Mbeumo, Amad, Cunha and Bruno Fernandes, he’s getting this team ticking. He has done that the last, I don’t know, four or five years. It has been incredible. It is a threat, it is a challenge, but we are looking forward to it.”

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Live updates from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs take on West Ham in the Premier League.

Both sides come into this one off the back of poor runs of form.

Tottenham fans and West Ham fans have both voiced their dissatisfaction at the boards and managers of their clubs in the lead up to the fixture.

Tottenham Hotspur have announced the appointment of Carlos Raphael Moersen as director of football operations.

The post is a newly created role which the club say is part of their “approach to build a modern, high-performance football structure which they believe will drive long-term success”.

Sporting director, Johan Lange, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rafi to the club in the newly created role of Director of Football Operations. He was the outstanding candidate from a highly competitive process and brings a wealth of experience in this critical area of our football operation.

“His appointment is an important step as we continue to strengthen our football structure and support long-term success.”

He joins from City Football Group, where he spent more than a decade in senior roles, most recently as director of football transactions.

The news comes just a day after it was confirmed that joint sporting director Fabio Paratici would be leaving the north London club at the end of January.

Moersen’s appointment comes in tandem with the appointment of Dan Lewindon as performance director, who will join the club in February.

He will lead football administration, player care, and training ground operations, and join the club’s executive leadership team. A key part of his role will be overseeing women’s football, with a brief to drive a renewed focus and ambition for Tottenham Hotspur Women.

Increased investment in Tottenham’s academy is a third strand to the major rebuild which they hope will have a long-term boost to first-team manager Thomas Frank’s attempt to make the first team competitive again.

Tottenham have confirmed that sporting director Fabio Paratici will leave the club in February to join Fiorentina.

Paratici first joined Spurs in June 2021 and served as managing director of football up until April 2023 before the so-called Italian plusvalenza scandal, when he was found guilty of false accounting whilst at Juventus. This resulted in a 30 month ban from football.

Since the end of his ban in October, he has been one of Spurs’ two sporting directors alongside Johan Lange.

Tottenham Hotspur Chief Executive Officer Vinai Venkatesham confirmed the Italian’s departure when he said: “We have agreed that Fabio will return to Italy following the conclusion of the January transfer window, in line with his wish to move back home. We thank Fabio for his contribution to the club and wish him well for the future.

“Our management structure is designed to be resilient to personnel changes, and it will be business as usual moving forward.”

Paratici explained his reasons for leaving Tottenham just 16 weeks after resuming his role at the club.

“I want to thank Vinai and the board of Tottenham Hotspur for accommodating my desire to return to Italy and join Fiorentina.

“I have loved my time at the club, however this opportunity, together with the need to be based in my homeland, has led me to this decision.

“Spurs is a club that is very close to my heart. It has great people working for it, who are as passionate about the project as I am and want to bring sustained success. I have no doubt that they will achieve that and I will be watching closely from Italy.”

Thomas Frank has praised the Tottenham fans for their continued support despite being knocked out of the FA Cup after losing 2-1 to Aston Villa.

Goals from Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers secured Unai Emery’s side’s passage into the Fourth Round, despite Spurs pressure late on after Wilson Odobert had pulled a goal back for the hosts.

Defeat for Frank’s side means the north Londoners are now out of both domestic cup competitions and lie in 14th place in the Premier League, as the Dane’s difficult start in charge continues.

With boos ringing round the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium throughout the match, the 52-year-old knows that getting back to winning ways is the only way to turn the mood of the fans around.

“It’s the players and the performance that’s got to get the fans rather than the players asking the fans to back them without any doubt,” Frank said. “We all know there’s only one way to have everyone happy.

“That is performing consistently and winning enough games. That’s the only way. And we could see in the second half, especially the energy, how they feed off each other, the players and the fans. It was a fantastic experience to be in the middle of it.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get that fantastic comeback, which sometimes kicks start a momentum. And that’s what we’re working very hard to do. But I think the fans, the way they backed the team and pushed them forward in the second half was very, very good.

“We need to perform and then they can feed off the energy. But of course, we also need them in tough times, which they are. They’re travelling in big numbers to away games and they’re backing us. So that’s a two-way.”

Frank also confirmed that Richarlison, who came off in the 31st minute, appears to have injured his hamstring, and raised concerns about the current restraints in the footballing calendar.

“Yeah, it could look like that. I think we’ve done a lot of things right to get him where he is now. I think he’s done a lot of things right. I think it’s not only about us, it’s about every club.

“I think there’s a few injuries across the Premier League. I think it’s something for the football authorities to look into as well. We’ve played five games in 13 days, four in ten.

“That’s one of the few clubs who did that. This is our third time this season. That’s the most tricky thing with two days in between. We’re dealing with it. We’re doing everything we can to compete in it, but that’s a tough schedule.”

Tottenham Hotspur face Premier League opposition in the FA Cup third round as they welcome Aston Villa to north London on Saturday evening.

With Spurs already out of the Carabao Cup and facing an uphill battle in the league, the FA Cup represents Thomas Frank’s side’s final realistic opportunity to secure silverware this season.

Defeat would also mean a fourth consecutive loss to Aston Villa in all competitions.

It remains to be seen how seriously Unai Emery approaches the competition this time around, given Villa’s strong position in the Premier League and their chance of success in the Europa League.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game…

Kick-off time

Saturday 10 January, 5:45pm UK time

How to watch in the UK

Live on BBC One

Coverage also available on TNT Sports

Injuries and suspensions

Tottenham Hotspur: Mohamed Kudus (out), Lucas Bergvall (out), Destiny Udogie (out), James Maddison (out), Dejan Kulusevski (out), Dominic Solanke (out), Yves Bissouma (AFCON), Pape Matar Sarr (AFCON)

Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez (out), Amadou Onana (out), Tyrone Mings (doubt), Ross Barkley (out)

Predicted line-ups

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Lindelöf, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Gray, Palhinha; Tel, Simons, Richarlison; Kolo Muani

Recent form

Aston Villa arrive in excellent form, having won 13 of their last 16 Premier League matches, despite a crushing defeat to Arsenal at the end of December.

Their rise comes alongside Morgan Rogers emerging as one of the top young players in world football.

Tottenham, by contrast, come into the FA Cup tie after a mixed run of results across domestic and European competitions.

Frank’s side have won just three of their last ten matches in all competitions, with inconsistency continuing to undermine any hints of progress.

Every game feels pivotal for Frank, with some media outlets and fans already deliberating over who might be best placed to take his spot.

What’s been said?

Franks ahead of the tie: “The FA Cup is a good opportunity against Villa.

“It’s a good opportunity to progress in the FA Cup, a tournament that is very important for the club, for the fans.

“We’ve won eight times in history. I’m working hard with the staff, with the players, with the leadership.

“This is just a tough spell. We’ll get through this.”

Villa boss Emery on the FA Cup: “FA Cup, last year we played semi-final. It was a big defeat we had against Palace, and they deserved to beat us, but we enjoyed one day in semi-final in London.

“And this is the objective for the supporters, the exciting moment we can share with our supporters, to be in some moments, a special moment.”

Tottenham have confirmed that Maika Hamano has joined Tottenham on loan for the remainder of the season from Chelsea.

The Japanese international becomes Spurs’ fourth signing of the window after Signe Gauspet, Hanna Wijk and Matilda Nildén had already joined the club.

Hamano expressed her excitement about the move: “Watching the team this season, I really felt they’ve been playing some great football and I thought if I joined this team,” she said. “I could develop a lot as a player.

“I want to show fans the connection with my team-mates and exciting plays. At the end of the day, football is about winning and I’ll do my best to contribute to the team’s success.”

Spurs head coach Martin Ho was also very pleased about the forward’s move to Spurs.

““We are pleased to welcome Maika to Tottenham Hotspur,” he said. “Maika is a technically gifted and intelligent attacking player who brings creativity, movement and composure in the final third. She has experience at the highest level and will add quality and depth to our attacking options.

“This is a good opportunity for Maika to continue her development in a demanding environment, and we are looking forward to working with her for the remainder of the season.”

Thomas Frank hopes Xavi Simons’ performance against Brentford can be a sign of things to come from the forward.

Simons scored his first goal for the club in the 2-0 win over the Bees, after earlier setting up Richarlison for the opening goal.

And Frank says it can give the £52m summer signing a huge confidence boost having found himself in and out of the team since his arrival.

“I think every player needs that extra good performance,” Frank said.

“I’m so happy for him. He’s been working very hard. He’s a top pro. He’s so determined. He wants it so badly in every aspect of his game, and it’s just a little bit of adaptation, also the team is a little bit out of sync. Everything is coming more and more together and now we need to build on it.

“I think every player needs that extra bit of confidence and that comes from his performance, the team’s performance and I think that assist and the goal gave him that extra bit of lightness in his steps, in his touches and everything. So for him it was also an all-round very good performance.

“That’s what I believe from the beginning, that Xavi can produce that out of nothing. And I will say, everything just needs a little bit of adaptation sometimes. With everything, him, the team, everything, and this was a very good step.

“Now it’s the next thing to do it again and again and again. But yeah, very happy for him.”

Destiny Udogie missed the win through injury but Frank says he hopes it will not keep him out for long.

“He got a soft tissue issue, unfortunately against Newcastle,” he said.

When asked if it would keep the defender out for long, Frank responded: “Not too long.”

Frank also praised the fans for the support they gave the team, following a difficult atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium of late given Spurs’ poor home form.

The Tottenham boss also pointed to the backing they gave goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, following Frank’s criticism of some fans who booed the Italian during the defeat to Fulham.

“The Spurs fans are great fans,” Frank said. “Sometimes there’s ups, sometimes there’s downs in football and life, but I like how the team responded. I like how the whole stadium and the fans responded.

“I noticed, maybe it was me, but I noticed when Vicario’s name was showed up, I think an extra high roar. I love that. That makes me warm inside because that’s where you support your player. Because they should… No-one, like no-one, how can you say, (should be) talking bad about our players.

“The fans should feel like that. They should protect them. I think today there was fantastic energy between both the team and the fans.”

Thomas Frank admits the reaction from some Spurs supporters towards his side’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea was “painful”.

Many of the home fans booed their team at the final whistle after a drab 1-0 defeat to their London rivals in which Spurs struggled to create any real chances.

“Yes, 100 per cent,” Frank responded when asked if he understood the boos.

“I think we all sense the frustration and the emotions, that’s part of football.

“It’s extremely painful. Of course, that’s part of the job to face you guys now, to answer the very good questions when you’re just burning inside and you like to find solutions, watch the game back, see what went wrong, all that.

“But I think it’s about trying to stay calm in general. I think Chelsea were good. We were definitely second best. We performed badly.

“I think we lacked energy and intensity. That freshness, we didn’t have that. Then I think the high pressure they came with, I don’t think we solved it well enough, even though we worked on it. So that, we need to keep working on.

“I think our high pressure, we lacked a little bit in the beginning until we got on top of it.

“Then they went up 1-0 and then we were chasing, and that was just a bad circle. Chasing, lacking intensity and energy, bad decisions.”

Tottenham had a figure of just 0.05 expected goals against Chelsea – their lowest on record in a single Premier League game.

“I would say that, of course, hurts massively,” Frank said when asked about that stat.

“I’ve never been in charge of a team that created that little in one game, never. So that, of course, I will look into what we can do to make it better.

“But I think that’s one thing. I think everything is a little bit linked. And today, yeah, we didn’t hit the level.”

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has confirmed a double injury blow for his side, with both Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie ruled out of the game against Monaco.

Spurs have travelled to face Monaco in the Champions League, but they will be without captain Romero.

“It’s an adductor strain,” Frank confirmed. “We will assess it more this week before we confirm any timeframe.”

The Argentine defender had been set to start against Aston Villa on Sunday but picked up his injury in the warm up. He was removed from the lineup and will be absent again tomorrow night.

“No I don’t think so, it’s a strain,” Frank answered on whether fans should be concerned about Romero’s injury.

Udogie also missed last weekend’s Premier League match and he will not be in the squad to face Monaco either. The Dane said: “The latest is that he got that knee irritation after international duty.

“We are assessing and working very hard to get on top of it.

“We’ll know more day by day.”