Sports Illustrated

Michael Carrick is hunting a fourth win from four on Saturday afternoon as Manchester United welcome his former club, Tottenham Hotspur, to Old Trafford.

After downing the Premier League’s top two in impressive fashion to kick off his second interim spell in charge, Carrick’s side barely escaped what was regarded as the true test of United’s resurgence at home to Fulham last weekend.

A Kevin stunner had seemingly earned the Cottagers a point, but there was still time for Benjamin Šeśko to strike on the swivel to ensure Carrick’s 100% record was maintained.

As a result, they head into the weekend fourth in the Premier League table and in a considerably better position than the team that beat them four times across three competitions last season.

Tottenham looked on course for another domestic home defeat under Thomas Frank last weekend, but an unforeseen second-half rally helped them to a point against Manchester City, thereby aiding Arsenal’s title charge.

They’re still searching for a first league victory of 2026, but their excellent recent record at Old Trafford should fill them with confidence.

Here’s Sports Illustrated’s preview of the Premier League’s Saturday lunchtime kick off.

What Time Does Man Utd vs. Tottenham Kick Off?

Location: Manchester, England

Stadium: Old Trafford

Date: Saturday, Feb. 7

Kick-off Time: 12:30 p.m. GMT / 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT

Referee:Â Michael Oliver

VAR: Paul Tierney

Man Utd vs. Tottenham Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

Man Utd: 0 wins

Tottenham: 4 wins

Draws: 1

Last meeting: Tottenham 2–2 Man Utd (Nov. 8, 2025)—Premier League

Current Form (All Competitions)

How to Watch Man Utd vs. Tottenham on TV, Live Stream

MORE: Full list of Premier League broadcasters around the world

Man Utd Team News

Man Utd’s injury situation hasn’t drastically changed from last weekend, and Carrick is unlikely to ring the changes from the 3–2 victory over Fulham.

Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu and Mason Mount are out, but the interim manager did say on Thursday that it won’t be long until Mount is back in action. Not much is known regarding De Ligt’s recovery from a back injury, while Dorgu is expected to be sidelined for a couple of months.

Šeško’s late heroics could earn him a promotion, but Carrick is unlikely to break up Bruno Fernandes’ fruitful combination with Bryan Mbeumo in attack. Matheus Cunha came in for Dorgu last Sunday and will keep his place in United’s XI.

Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham

Man Utd predicted lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.

Tottenham Team News

Tottenham manager Frank has confirmed that Micky van de Ven will be back in action this weekend, having recovered from a minor injury. Captain Cristian Romero has also shaken off his illness and won’t be severely punished for taking a swipe at the hierarchy on social media.

Those two could form part of Frank’s back three, with midfielder João Palhinha also filling in. Spurs have lost Kevin Danso to a toe injury.

There’s a chance Djed Spence is back in the team after he missed last Sunday’s draw with Man City due to a calf injury. If he’s deemed unfit, Archie Gray will remain at right wingback, given that Pedro Porro is sidelined.

Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Ben Davies are all still out injured.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Man Utd

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Man Utd (3-4-2-1): Vicario; Palhinha, Romero, Van de Ven; Spence, Gallagher, Sarr, Udogie; Odobert, Xavi; Solanke.

Man Utd vs. Tottenham Score Prediction

These two teams played out a 2–2 draw in the reverse fixture, but it’ll be a fresh and buoyant Man Utd that greet the visitors on Saturday.

Fulham laid bare a few flaws within Carrick’s framework last weekend, especially out of possession, and although Spurs have typically been a stodgy and turgid mess with the ball under Frank, they are somewhat resilient away from home.

However, their depletion means Frank is bound to name a sub-optimal starting XI, and Old Trafford will be in a vengeful mood, given what Spurs inflicted upon the Red Devils last season. There could be a watchable flow to this contest, and United are poised to secure their first win in this fixture since 2022.

Prediction: Man Utd 3–1 Tottenham

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Manchester United hope to claim their first victory over Tottenham Hotspur since October 2022, having endured an eight-game winless run in this fixture.

The "lads, it’s Tottenham" quip from yesteryear doesn’t quite carry the same weight around Manchester anymore, given United’s recent woes against the Lilywhites. Spurs claimed four victories against the Red Devils last season, and were on the brink of a fifth successive triumph in the reverse fixture last November.

However, much has changed at the Theatre of Dreams since that low-quality 2–2 draw. United have their mojo back with Sir Alex Ferguson disciple Michael Carrick at the helm, and their last-gasp victory over Fulham last weekend was reminiscent of a triumph they would’ve secured during their glory days.

Carrick’s gunning for a fourth win from four in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Match Snapshot

🕒 Kick-off time: 12:30 p.m. GMT, 7:30 a.m. ET, 4:30 a.m. PT

📍 Location: Old Trafford

🏆 Competition: Premier League

📊 Recent form: DDWWW

Team News

⚠️ Key injuries, doubts: Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu, Mason Mount

🔢 Predicted formation: 4-2-3-1

Man Utd’s injury situation hasn’t changed from last weekend, although Mason Mount was a surprise absentee from the 3–2 victory over Fulham.

Carrick said in Thursday’s pre-match press conference that the injury-plagued Englishman won’t be sidelined for very long with his current issue, but Saturday’s game has arrived too soon.

United are still without Matthijs de Ligt due to a mysterious back problem, while Patrick Dorgu, one of the heroes of their wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, is nursing a hamstring injury that could sideline him for 10 weeks.

Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Fulham (4-2-3-1)

GK: Senne Lammens—A dull, stable presence between the posts; Lammens is seemingly exactly what United needed. The Belgian better watch out for scorpions in and around his six-yard box this weekend.

RB: Diogo Dalot—Dalot was a favourite of Ruben Amorim’s and remains a mainstay under Carrick, but that’s primarily due to a lack of alternatives.

CB: Harry Maguire—Maguire’s concession of a penalty sparked Fulham’s late revival last weekend, but the Englishman has come to typify United’s resurgence under the new manager.

CB: Lisandro Martínez—The Argentine was sorely missed for much of 2025, with his impact quickly being felt upon his return. Martínez will once again partner Maguire at the heart of United’s defence.

LB: Luke Shaw—Shaw, like Maguire, may soon find himself back in England contention. He’s certainly poised for an extended run in the team if he stays fit, which has been a considerable ask in recent years.

DM: Casemiro—It suddenly looks like Casemiro will be a huge loss when he departs this summer, with the veteran Brazilian midfielder enjoying an excellent campaign. He’s been brilliant under Carrick and found himself on the scoresheet last weekend.

DM: Kobbie Mainoo—The academy graduate has found his feet again, blossoming alongside an experienced head who’s offering him the freedom to express himself with the ball at his feet. Mainoo and Casemiro are set to encounter an energetic Spurs midfield this weekend.

RW: Amad Diallo—The Ivorian has been outshone by his teammates in terms of output, but Carrick clearly values what Amad can provide out of possession. He’ll play a key role in slowing down Destiny Udogie and Tottenham’s combinations down the left.

AM: Bruno Fernandes—United’s star man is in majestic form, and he has plenty of making up to do, given that he was sent off in the corresponding fixture last season.

LW: Matheus Cunha—Cunha came in for Patrick Dorgu and notched his third goal contribution in as many games since Carrick returned for a second bite of the cherry. The Brazilian will retain his place down the left for Spurs’ visit.

ST: Bryan Mbeumo—Mbeumo may start down the right if Benjamin Šeśko is rewarded for last week’s heroics, but it’s unlikely that Carrick will break up the blossoming partnership between the Cameroonian and Fernandes.

READ THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND MORE

Two members of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ lock horns on Sunday afternoon when Tottenham Hotspur welcome Manchester City to the capital.

The upcoming battle provides a rare occasion in which the entirety of north London will be rooting for Spurs, with Arsenal supporters desperate to see Man City drop more points in the race for the Premier League title. The Cityzens, meanwhile, will be seeking to keep firmly on Arsenal’s tail.

City have responded to disastrous defeats to Manchester United and Bodø/Glimt by securing successive victories to nil, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers and Galatasaray to lift spirits. However, Pep Guardiola’s men can ill-afford many more slip-ups if they’re to pip the Gunners to another crown.

Tottenham have proved difficult opposition for City in recent seasons, winning three of the last five battles including the campaign’s first meeting back in August, but the Lilywhites have hardly been pulling up trees domestically under Thomas Frank.

The former Brentford boss is under immense pressure that a fourth-placed Champions League finish has only somewhat helped ease, with Tottenham supporters perhaps fearing the worst ahead of Sunday’s critical contest.

What Time Does Tottenham vs. Man City Kick Off?

Location: London, England

Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Date: Sunday, Feb. 1

Kick-off Time: 4:30 p.m. GMT / 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT

Referee:Â Rob Jones

VAR:Â Jarred Gillett

Tottenham vs. Man City Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

Tottenham: 3 wins

Man City: 2 wins

Draws: 0

Last meeting: Man City 0–2 Tottenham (Aug. 23, 2025)—Premier League

Current Form (All Competitions)

How to Watch Tottenham vs. Man City on TV, Live Stream

MORE: Full list of Premier League broadcasters around the world

Tottenham Team News

Micky van de Ven missed the midweek win over Eintracht Frankfurt and is “touch and go” to feature against City, as per Frank. However, the centre back has been training the past few days and could well be involved up against Erling Haaland and Co.

The same can’t be said of eight Tottenham first-teamers, including Ben Davies and Pedro Porro in the backline. Some huge names are absent further forward, with Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison all sidelined.

In better news, Dominic Solanke continues to build up his fitness and has now scored two in his last three games. He could start ahead of Randal Kolo Muani on Sunday.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Man City

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Man City (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Gallagher; Odobert, Simons, Tel; Solanke.

Man City Team News

Jérémy Doku has joined City’s list of abentees after picking up a small injury midweek and while he will miss the Spurs game, he’s not expected to be out for too long. Fellow winger Savinho is also in the treatment room.

There are continued issues at centre back with Joško Gvardiol, Rúben Dias and John Stones all missing, while Mateo Kovačić is absent in midfield.

More positively, Rodri is back after being suspended midweek and winter recruits Marc Guéhi and Antoine Semenyo are also available having been ineligible to feature against Galatasaray.

Man City Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham

Man City predicted lineup vs. Tottenham (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly; Rodri; Semenyo, Reijnders, Silva, Cherki; Haaland.

Tottenham vs. Man City Score Prediction

Both Spurs and City are unpredictable from game to game but it’s Spurs who flounder more regularly. While their European form has been impressive, they have won just one of their last nine domestic matches and haven’t managed a Premier League victory on home soil since beating Brentford in early December.

City will be buoyed by the returns of Guéhi, Semenyo and Rodri, offering them the quality required to dismantle an injury-stricken Spurs side. They are not fantastic in this fixture but they should taste a third straight league win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Prediction: Tottenham 0–2 Man City

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Tottenham Hotspur are among eight teams considering a move for Raheem Sterling following his departure from Chelsea, a report has claimed.

Chelsea reached an agreement to terminate Sterling’s contract earlier this week after failing to find a buyer for the exiled winger, and now the Daily Mail claim the option of a switch to Spurs could be on the table.

A further seven teams are said to be evaluating a switch for Sterling, with Napoli and Juventus joining five unnamed suitors in the race for Sterling’s signature.

Wage Demands Unlikely to Cause Problems

Part of the issue blocking a traditional transfer away from Chelsea was Sterling’s significant wage. He was earning around £325,000 ($446,000) per week at Stamford Bridge but has not played a minute of competitive action since returning from an underwhelming loan with Arsenal last season. Understandably, there were concerns about the finances of a possible deal.

Having now agreed a pay-off from Chelsea, the details of which have not been disclosed, Sterling is now in a position to reduce his demands, and it is believed he is prepared to do exactly that.

Indeed, the report claims Sterling would not even look for a six-figure salary from his next employers, accepting a drop-off of over two thirds to get himself back into work.

Such a salary will undoubtedly appeal to a number of clubs across the globe. While it has been a while since Sterling was at the peak of his powers, a 31-year-old winger who is four appearances shy of 400 in the Premier League still has the potential to be incredibly valuable to a number of teams.

It was believed that Sterling had been prioritising a move to another club in London, having rejected offers from mainland Europe during the summer, although there are suggestions that he would now be prepared to expand his search outside of England’s capital city.

Crucially, Sterling is not bound by the restraints of the transfer window. As a free agent, he can sign with clubs even beyond Monday’s deadline.

READ THE LATEST CHELSEA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS AND MORE

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Randal Kolo Muani is described as “fine” and expected to feature in Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night despite finding himself involved in a “minor” car accident.

The front tire of Kolo Muani’s Ferrari “blew up,” according to Spurs boss Thomas Frank, while driving to Stansted airport for Tottenham’s flight to Frankfurt. His teammate Wilson Odobert was following him down the M25 in Hertfordshire and pulled over to check on his French compatriot. The pair consequently missed the plane, but were expected to arrive in Germany later on Tuesday.

Frank revealed that “everyone else involved in that accident was just fine,” promptly turning his attention towards the mass of players not available for the league-phase finale with automatic qualification for the last-16 on the line.

Tottenham’s 14 Missing Players

Micky van de Ven: Frank wrote it off as a “minor, minor thing” and opened the talisman centre back up to some involvement against Manchester City on Sunday.

Pedro Porro: The right back is expected to be sidelined with a new hamstring injury for four weeks.

Lucas Bergvall: Ankle surgery has ruled out the Swedish youngster until April.

Richarlison: Tottenham’s top scorer will do well to recover from a hamstring injury in the next month.

Mohammed Kudus: The one reliable creative outlet at Frank’s disposal this season is not expected back until April.

Rodrigo Bentancur: The severity of Bentancur’s hamstring injury was enough to convince Spurs to sign Conor Gallagher.

Ben Davies: A failed move to buy Andy Robertson was ignited by the ankle surgery Davies has been forced to undergo.

James Maddison: Tottenham’s sidelined creator is more likely to appear in another boo-hoo campaign before he gets back on the pitch.

Dejan Kulusevski: The most concerning thing about Kulusevksi’s knee injury is the lack of any return date.

Yves Bissouma: Despite actually being fit, he isn’t registered for the Champions League after falling out with Frank over the summer.

Mathys Tel: Much to the Frenchman’s disdain, he has been removed from Tottenham’s Champions League squad (for the second time this season) to make way for Dominic Solanke.

Radu Drăgușin: After starting the season with an ACL tear, another player Spurs could very much do with is ineligible.

Souza: New signings cannot be registered until the knockout phase of the competition gets underway, denying Souza a spot this week.

Conor Gallagher: The necessity of Gallagher’s signing has been questioned in some quarters, but the need for any warm body at Spurs is clear.

How Thomas Frank Can Set Up Against Eintracht Frankfurt

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Frank. The beleaguered Spurs boss was able to welcome the midfield duo of João Palhinha and freshly crowned Africa Cup of Nations champion Pape Matar Sarr back to the squad, offering some much-needed fit bodies to compete with the likes of Archie Gray and Xavi Simons in midfield.

It will be all change in the middle, which is no bad thing after Bissouma and Gallagher were pulled apart by Burnley in the second half of last weekend’s demoralising 2–2 draw. There will also likely be a shift to a back four in the absence of Van de Ven, although Djed Spence’s return to his natural right back position may be a blessing for all involved.

Frankfurt have the leakiest defence in the Bundesliga and are still in search of a permanent manager. Despite their decimated resources, Spurs still have a good chance of extending their strong Champions League form.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: Guglielmo Vicario; Djed Spence, Kevin Danso, Cristhian Romero, Destiny Udogie; João Palhinha, Archie Gray; Wilson Odobert, Pape Matar Sarr, Xavi Simons; Dominic Solanke.

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GREY WHITEBLOOM

Grey Whitebloom is a writer, reporter and editor for Sports Illustrated FC. Born and raised in London, he is an avid follower of German, Italian and Spanish top flight football.

Sunderland AFC visits Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Sunday, Jan. 4, for Matchday 20 of the Premier League 2025-26.

Regis Le Bris's men arrive for this match in seventh place in the league standings with 29 points after 19 games, with a record of seven wins, eight draws, and four losses.

On the other hand, Thomas Frank's team is currently in 13th place with 26 points after 19 matches, and a record of seven wins, five draws and seven losses, more than the Black Cats.

Sunderland drew 0-0 in its last match against Manchester City on Jan. 1, the same as Tottenham, which drew scoreless against Brentford that same day.

Attacking midfielder Xavi Simons is not part of Tottenham's squad.

Why Is Xavi Simons Not Playing Today for Tottenham vs. Sunderland?

Simons, 22, will not participate against Sunderland because he is suspended, after having been sent off during the match against Liverpool on Dec. 20.

The Dutchman will be able to play again next Jan. 7 when Tottenham visits Bournemouth for Premier League Matchday 21.

In recent matches, Simons has gained prominence with the Spurs. So far, he has played 22 matches with the London club, accumulating two goals and three assists, across the League, Carabao Cup, and Champions League.

His absence represents a significant boost for Sunderland, although the Cats also arrive with multiple absences, mostly due to AFCON.

Dejan Kulusevski (knee), James Maddison (knee), Dominic Solanke (knee), Destiny Udogie (hamstring), Pape Sarr (AFCON), and Yves Bissouma (AFCON) are also unavailable for Frank's side.

Read More:

Sunderland AFC visits Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Sunday, Jan. 4, for Matchday 20 of the Premier League 2025-26.

Regis Le Bris's men arrive for this match in seventh place in the league standings with 29 points after 19 games, with a record of seven wins, eight draws, and four losses.

On the other hand, Thomas Frank's team is currently in 13th place with 26 points after 19 matches, and a record of seven wins, five draws, and seven losses, more than the Black Cats.

Sunderland drew 0-0 in its last match against Manchester City on Jan. 1, the same as Tottenham, which drew scoreless against Brentford that same day.

Star midfielder Habib Diarra is not part of the Cats' squad.

Why Is Habib Diarra Not Playing Today for Sunderland vs. Tottenham?

Diarra, 22, is currently with Senegal playing the Africa Cup of Nations. He and his national team, in fact, just qualified for the tournament's quarterfinals.

Although the former RC Strasbourg player had not had much involvement with Sunderland before AFCON, this was due to an injury. He is now fit to play but is representing his country in Morocco.

This season, Diarra has played five matches in the Premier League, four of them as a starter, so manager Le Bris quickly made his confidence in him clear. He has played a total of 373 minutes and has received one yellow card.

Noah Sadiki (AFCON), Chemsdine Talbi (AFCON), Reinildo Mandava (AFCON), Arthur Masuaku (AFCON), Bertrand Traore (AFCON), and Aji Alese (shoulder) are also unavailable for the visiting team.

Read More:

Sunderland AFC visits Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Sunday, Jan. 4, for Matchday 20 of the Premier League 2025-26.

Regis Le Bris's men arrive for this match in seventh place in the league standings with 29 points after 19 games, with a record of seven wins, eight draws, and four losses.

On the other hand, Thomas Frank's team is currently in 13th place with 26 points after 19 matches, and a record of seven wins, five draws, and seven losses, more than the Black Cats.

Sunderland drew 0-0 in its last match against Manchester City on Jan. 1, the same as Tottenham, which drew scoreless against Brentford that same day.

What Time Does Tottenham vs. Sunderland Kick Off?

Location: London, UK

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Date: Sunday, January 4

Kick-off time: 3:00 PM GMT / 10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT

Referee: Stuart Attwell

How to Watch Tottenham vs. Sunderland on TV, Live Stream

For UK viewers, the match will be broadcast on television or streaming on their regular option, Sky Sports.

If you're in the United States or Canada, for example, there will also be several options. In the USA, the match can be watched on NBCSN and Peacock. As for Canada, the options are fuboTV and DAZN.

United Kingdom:Â Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Football

United States:Â NBCSN, Peacock

Canada:Â DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 5 Canada

Mexico:Â HBO Mexico

India: Star Sports Select HD2, JioHotstar, Star Sports Select 2

Australia:Â Stan Sport

New Zealand:Â Sky Sport 6

Puerto Rico:Â ESPN

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Antoine Semenyo ‘Politely’ Rejects Big Premier League Move, Two Clubs in Race  Sports Illustrated