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The Premier League have confirmed the full list of officials for Tottenham Hotspur’s big clash against Man United on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney thinks the result of Saturday’s game could be season-defining for both Spurs and Man United, and one can certainly understand why he feels that.

Both clubs are tied on 17 points, and while United have recovered after a poor start to the season, the Lilywhites appear to be sliding after a solid start, with the pressure now starting to mount on Thomas Frank.

Spurs will take confidence from their morale-boosting win over Copenhagen on Tuesday, and they have now discovered who the officials will be for the big upcoming clash.

Samuel Barrott will be the referee for Tottenham v Man United

The Premier League have announced that Saturday’s lunchtime kickoff at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be refereed by Samuel Barrott.

His assistants will be Tim Wood and Nick Greenhalgh, while the fourth official will be Rob Jones. John Brooks will be the VAR for the game, and he will be assisted by Tony Harrington.

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According to Transfermarkt, Barrott has only been in charge of three Tottenham games, out of which Spurs have won two and lost one.

Spurs won a 1-0 FA Cup match against Burnley and a 2-1 Premier League win over Brighton under Barrott. However, they did lose 6-3 to Liverpool in a crazy 2024/25 fixture.

He has only handed out four yellow cards to Tottenham players across those three matches, which indicates that he is not trigger-happy in going to his notebook.

Can Spurs turn around their home form?

Tottenham have only won three of their last 19 Premier League matches at home, and they are winless this season in the league at home since the opening day of the season.

Spurs’ performance against Chelsea was the poorest of the season so far, and the Tottenham supporters will be keen to see a response when the players come out on Saturday.

Thomas Frank desperately needs a good performance and a win in front of the Spurs fans to relieve some of the pressure that has been building on him.

A former Tottenham defender, who hung up his boots from the game in the summer, has announced that he will soon appear on the big screen.

Toby Alderweireld played 236 times for Tottenham across six years, being an integral part of the side which challenged for the Premier League title and made the Champions League final.

The 36-year-old hung up his boots in the summer after three seasons back at his boyhood club, Royal Antwerp, and he has been keeping himself busy since his retirement.

Alderweireld was unmasked as the mystery Eagle Owl in Belgium’s version of The Masked Singer last week, and he has announced that he is also trying his hand at acting.

Tottenham legend Toby Alderweireld confirms acting role in action film

The defender has now announced that he will make his debut as a film actor in an action film, ‘Paradise’, which will be out in Belgian cinemas during the New Year, according to The Sun.

While it is only a small cameo, it is a role that the former Tottenham Hotspur man is very excited about.

The centre-back is quoted as saying: “I have a cameo role in the film Paradise. It is the role of my life. I don’t play myself – instead, I am a prison warder. When they asked me if I wanted to do it I thought, ‘why not?’

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“But let’s put things into context. I only appear in the opening scenes. I do have lines to say, but it is just two sentences. I can’t say what they are. It is down to the filmmakers to reveal them. But I have seen the pictures, and can say it’s going to be a film that’s full of action. Lots of action.”

The 36-year-old is taking a route that few footballers have post-retirement, drifting towards an entertainment career rather than the typical punditry or coaching route.

After spending three decades obsessed with football, Alderweireld admitted that he is extremely keen to try new things.

He added: “Ever since I was five years old, I have been fully involved with football and nothing else. I’m happy that I now have the chance to do other things – and I find it hard to say no.”

Tottenham Hotspur got back to winning ways in the Champions League with a thumping win over Copenhagen, and the result has seen them move up Opta’s prediction table.

Spurs were held to two back-to-back draws away from home against Bodo/Glimt and Monaco after beating Villarreal at home in their first game of the competition.

The Lilywhites thus needed to get a win on the board against Copenhagen, and they got the job done easily, brushing aside the Danish side 4-0 despite playing with 10 men for more than 30 minutes.

Tottenham are still on course to finish in the top eight if they continue winning at home and drawing away from home, as 16 points were enough for a top-eight spot last season.

Tottenham move up Opta’s Champions League prediction table

After playing out a 0-0 draw at Stade Louis II two weeks ago, Opta predicted that Spurs would finish in 12th place, accumulating an estimated 13.17 points.

However, their comprehensive victory at home against Copenhagen has seen Opta revise their predictions, with the Lilywhites jumping two places up their predicted table.

The supercomputer now suggests that Tottenham Hotspur will finish in 10th place by accumulating an expected 13.98.

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According to the algorithm, that would see them just miss out on the automatic Champions League knockout spot by a point to Newcastle United.

What are Spurs’ chances of qualification for the knockout stages?

Tottenham have a difficult end to the league phase of the Champions League, with the club due to face Eintracht Frankfurt, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.

Opta puts Spurs’ chances of finishing in the top eight and securing direct passage to the quarterfinal at just 28.14 per cent.

However, the North Londoners are overwhelming favourites to make it to the knockout stages (which requires a top 24 finish), with the supercomputer giving them a 71.17 per cent chance of doing so.

Opta’s Supercomputer has made an interesting prediction ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s clash against Manchester United on Saturday.

Spurs have won both their home matches in the Champions League, but their record at home in the Premier League has been shocking.

The Lilywhites have not won at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since the opening league game of the season against Burnley, and even more worryingly, Spurs have won just three of their last 19 league matches in front of their supporters.

Manchester United will be the next side to visit N17 this Saturday, and Tottenham fans will be surprised by Opta’s prediction ahead of the game.

Opta’s Supercomputer claims Tottenham are big favourites against Man United

Saturday’s game is huge for both sides, who are tied on 17 points, and Tottenham fans have very little reason for optimism, given their shocking home record.

However, despite that record, Opta’s website have made Spurs big favourites, giving them a 47.5 per cent chance of beating Man United.

The Red Devils are given just a 26.4 per cent chance of taking all three points on Saturday, while a draw is deemed just as likely at 26.1 per cent.

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Thomas Frank and Spurs players have urged fans to do more

The Tottenham boss acknowledged that the team deserved to bood after the final whistle against Chelsea, but Frank has called for better support from Spurs fans during the game.

He suggested that the fans getting behind the side could be the difference between winning and losing, given the fine margins in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for another heated battle with Manchester United, as both sides prepare to renew their rivalry in what promises to be a fiercely contested Premier League encounter. Let’s take a look at our predicted Tottenham XI to face Man United.

For the first time since the UEFA Europa League final back in May, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will be locking horns once again.

Last season, it was a clean sweep for Spurs, who secured victory in each of their four encounters against the Red Devils, including their triumph in the Europa League final.

Ruben Amorim’s side will be desperate for revenge this time around, while Thomas Frank will be looking to extend Tottenham’s six-game unbeaten run against the Manchester club at the weekend.

We have now attempted to predict Tottenham’s starting XI for their clash with Manchester United.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Manchester United

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario: The Italian secured a clean sheet in goal last time out against Copenhagen, as it was a less hectic outing for him, and we expect him to retain a starting spot at the weekend.

Right-back – Pedro Porro: The Spanish full-back featured again from the off last time out following Djed Spence’s knock and is yet to have sufficient rest, but he should still start here on Saturday.

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Centre-back – Cristian Romero: Returned to the starting XI in the Champions League, and Spurs put in one of their best displays of the season. He is vital and should continue at the back against the Red Devils.

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: A wondergoal last time out against Copenhagen saw Van de Ven right the wrongs of his error against Chelsea last weekend. He is in good goal-scoring form and should be lined up at the back with Romero.

Left-back – Djed Spence: Destiny Udogie got the majority of the game time last time out and could very much be given a nod once more against United, but we would be backing Spence to return to the starting XI.

Pivot midfielder – Joao Palhinha: The Portuguese continues to impress for Spurs since his move. He added another goal to his tally on Tuesday, and we do not expect him to be dropped despite not featuring from the start against Copenhagen in the Champions League.

Pivot midfielder – Rodrigo Bentancur: Frank should return to his double pivot against United, as he would want to keep things tight at the back, and that should see Bentancur and Palhinha start together.

Centre midfielder – Xavi Simons: Put in his best performance in a Tottenham shirt against Copenhagen, which should do his confidence a lot of good. We expect him to build on that with yet another start.

Right winger – Mohammed Kudus: Missed the Champions League tie against Copenhagen last time out because of a knock, but he should have shaken it off and would be in line to start here.

Striker – Randal Kolo Muani: Showed glimpses of his quality during the midweek and managed an assist for Wilson Odobert’s goal. He needs game time to build his confidence, and we expect Frank to stick with him as his number nine.

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to head into the November international break on a high as they prepare to face Manchester United in North London this weekend. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and Man United.

The last time Spurs played before a break, they secured a 2-1 victory over Leeds United, ending a frustrating two-year run without a win in their final fixture before a pause in club football, and they would be hoping to keep that run going at the weekend.

Thomas Frank’s men come into the clash against Manchester United full of confidence, following a solid display against Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League, where they claimed all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after beating the Danish side 4-0.

Frank will be keen to see his side build on that momentum and make it two wins on the bounce before his players depart for international duty.

When and where is Tottenham vs Manchester United

Tottenham will host Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, 8 November 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 (UK time).

How to watch Tottenham vs Manchester United in the Premier League

Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch Tottenham vs Manchester United live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage is expected to begin shortly before kick-off, providing full build-up and post-match analysis.

Team news for Spurs and Manchester United

Heading into this league encounter, the injury situation remains largely unchanged for Thomas Frank, though the Tottenham boss will be hopeful that Mohammed Kudus can make his return after missing the win over Copenhagen with a minor knock.

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Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero and Wilson Odobert all featured from the start in midweek after spells on the sidelines, which will please Frank as he continues to manage his squad’s fitness levels.

However, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Kota Takai, Yves Bissouma, Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray, Dominic Solanke and Ben Davies are all still unavailable for selection.

For Manchester United, Ruben Amorim will be without Lisandro Martinez, who remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury.

Spurs Web prediction for Tottenham vs Manchester United

Tottenham have built an impressive recent record against the Red Devils, having beaten them in each of their last four meetings, including that memorable victory in the UEFA Europa League final last season.

Spurs are also unbeaten in their last six games against United across all competitions, a run that highlights just how well they have matched up against the Manchester club in recent times.

However, United enter this fixture in stronger league form, having won three of their last five matches, while Tottenham have managed two victories in the same period.

Despite that, with home advantage and a point to prove before the break, Spurs should have enough to extend their unbeaten streak.

Teddy Sheringham believes two of Tottenham Hotspur’s players deserve far more recognition than they get when compared to their Arsenal rivals.

Tottenham Hotspur started their 2025/26 season strongly, with the Lilywhites keeping four clean sheets in their opening five matches under Thomas Frank.

Last season Spurs managed six clean sheets after 38 games, but are now two clean sheets away from equally that and three away from beating it altogether.

The availability of centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven has undoubtedly played a huge role in that.

Both defenders missed large parts of last season through injury, but their partnership has been vital to Tottenham’s defensive resurgence.

Teddy Sheringham backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero as elite Tottenham pairing

Tottenham legend Teddy Sheringham has made a bold claim regarding Spurs’ current defensive duo.

The former Premier League striker believes that Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are operating in the same bracket as Arsenal’s William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, as well as Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

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The Gunners have been solid at the back this season, having conceded just three goals in their opening ten league fixtures this term, and that is largely down to the strong partnership between Saliba and Gabriel.

Yet, Sheringham feels Tottenham’s central defenders deserve similar recognition.

“Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are in the same category as Gabriel and William Saliba,” the former Spurs striker told Oddspedia.

“Everyone talks about the best Premier League centre-back pairing being Gabriel and Saliba. You can also make a case for Liverpool’s defensive partnership: Virgil van Dijk is still a fantastic player, although there are still question marks around Ibrahima Konate. But I would place Van de Ven and Romero in the same bracket as those two pairings.

“They both complement each other very well; if one gets beaten, his partner is there to cover for him. It is unusual for a centre-back pairing at Spurs to be likened to the Premier League’s elite defenders, but they are the bedrock of a stable team.

“We saw last year how Spurs struggled without that pairing and it ultimately contributed to Ange Postecoglou’s downfall. If you took both Van de Ven and Romero out of the team, it becomes very stressful for Spurs, so Thomas Frank will be glad they are back in the team and showing their class.”

Spurs’ defensive resurgence under Thomas Frank

Romero and Van de Ven are both vital to Tottenham, but the same can be said of Gabriel and Saliba for Arsenal; however, there is an argument to be made that Spurs might have the better all-around centre-backs.

When Romero is absent, there is a noticeable drop in Tottenham’s overall quality, not just defensively, but also in their build-up play.

The Argentine’s ability to step out from the back and play forward passes helps set the tone for Spurs’ attacks.

Van de Ven, on the other hand, offers something unique that neither Gabriel nor Saliba possesses: his extraordinary pace and ability to drive the ball up the pitch while maintaining full control.

His goal against Copenhagen was a perfect example of that quality, while his assist last season against Manchester United showcased his composure and athleticism in equal measure.

It is difficult to imagine either Gabriel or Saliba producing such moments in open play.

Xavi Simons has now delivered a message to Tottenham Hotspur fans and his critics following a much-improved display on Tuesday night.

Tottenham Hotspur’s season has been filled with inconsistency as they have struggled to go on a winning run since the opening three games of the Premier League season.

Tottenham fans have since voiced their dissatisfaction with the display of their side, with many demanding a more attacking style of play.

The defeat to Chelsea at the weekend was the breaking point for supporters who booed off Tottenham for their lacklustre and toothless display in a derby game.

Xavi Simons sends a message to Tottenham fans

In response on Tuesday, Thomas Frank made a few tweaks to his side, dropping his double pivot of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha, and his team looked far more dangerous at the top end of the pitch.

Those adjustments seemed to favour another man, Xavi Simons, who was outstanding for Tottenham, creating Brennan Johnson’s goal while also fashioning four big chances and earning the Man of the Match award.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Simons, who has struggled for form in recent weeks, sent a message to Tottenham fans, expressing his desire to keep improving and the importance of staying mentally strong through challenging moments.

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He said: “Obviously people want to perform and to play good. I came into a new situation that has never happened to me before, and I have to keep working, to trust in myself, and I have my teammates have my back, so I’m not worried about that.

“I know what I can bring to the team, so I will keep working hard and things will come, 100%.

“It’s a new place. It was the first time that it was a little bit hard for me, but I will never let myself down, I will keep working. Nobody will keep me on the ground, and I will keep going forward.”

Simons also highlighted how important it was for the side to give the fans something to cheer about after the disappointment of the weekend.

“It was really important to bounce back from last weekend and to come here in front of the fans and win,” he added.

Spurs fans pleased with Simons after latest display

Simons has indeed shown glimpses of his quality, and Tottenham fans have been quick to praise the Dutchman, with many believing he was just as good as anyone on the pitch.

However, the next big step for the 22-year-old would be putting in these sorts of performances consistently.

Simons managed an assist in his first game against West Ham United, but then went 11 games without a goal contribution.

If he is to truly announce himself to the Tottenham faithful, he will need to turn moments of brilliance into regular match-winning performances.

Heung-min Son is currently plying his trade in the MLS, but the former Tottenham captain has sent a three-word reaction to Micky van de Ven’s wonder goal.

Micky van de Ven’s solo strike against Copenhagen has been making headlines and rightfully so, as it is as good a goal as one might see throughout this season.

The Dutch defender showcased his immense power, speed, athleticism, dribbling, and composure in a move that saw him carry the ball from his own half to the opposition box, beating several players before finishing coolly.

That strike now takes van de Ven’s tally for the season to six, making him Tottenham’s top scorer, which is quite remarkable for a defender.

Heung-min Son reacts to Micky van de Ven’s goal for Tottenham

Tottenham fans, however, are no strangers to such a goal, having witnessed Gareth Bale pull off similar runs in his prime, while Heung-min Son himself managed one in 2020 against Burnley.

Van de Ven’s goal has already drawn comparisons to Son’s stunning solo effort against the Clarets, a goal that earned the South Korean the Puskas Award that year.

The former Tottenham captain has now reacted to van de Ven’s recent strike with a brief comment on Instagram. The Korean international simply wrote, “wow.. Just wow.”

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Micky van de Ven’s scoring form for Spurs

With the Dutch international already on six goals this season, Micky Van de Ven has made it clear that he believes he can add a few more to his tally.

The most a defender has scored in a top-flight season stands at 24, with Lothar Kobluhn achieving that feat in 1970-71 after 32 matches.

Van de Ven is 18 goals away from equalling that record and 19 from surpassing it, but the question remains whether he can at least reach double figures this campaign.

Xavi Simons has now opened up on his man-of-the-match performance that caught the eye in the Champions League for Tottenham vs Copenhagen.

Tottenham Hotspur got back to winning ways at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they put four past the Danish champions, cruising to a 4-0 victory.

It was a convincing display from Thomas Frank’s men, with Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Micky van de Ven and Joao Palhinha all getting on the scoresheet in a night that reflected complete control from start to finish.

Among the standout performers was Xavi Simons, who dictated play with calm precision and creative flair. His assist and four big chances created earned him the man of the match award, marking one of his most complete performances since his move to north London.

Simons reflects on his display against Copenhagen

The Dutch midfielder has now opened up on his performance against Copenhagen, sharing his thoughts on the victory and what it meant to him after a testing start to life at Tottenham.

Speaking to the official Tottenham Hotspur channel, Simons reflected on the atmosphere and the team’s collective effort, saying: “Yeah, I’ve enjoyed this game together with the fans, the most important thing is the three points.”

When asked if he had done anything different in his approach, the 22-year-old emphasised the importance of consistency and hard work: “Yeah, at the end like what I said before, everyone wants to perform, everyone wants to play good, this is life, you have to keep working hard and every day is a new day, a new challenge and your opportunity to perform well.”

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He also touched on how the current setup under Thomas Frank suits his playing style, adding: “Yeah, what I said before, I am a guy that needs to enjoy playing football and that’s what I do the most, and tonight you can see it, together with the team, it was special.”

Speaking on Wilson Odobert’s goal that doubled Tottenham’s advantage, Simons admitted it was a moment of relief: “It was relief, because I think in the first half we could kill the game, a little bit with Kolo, these two actions, but at the end this is football, and lovely Wilson scored the second one, it was a relief for everyone.”

Xavi Simons on settling in at Tottenham

Xavi Simons also opened up on his adaptation period in England and how life at Tottenham has been since his arrival.

The Dutchman has had to adjust to a new league, a new style of football, and the expectations that come with playing for a top Premier League club.

Reflecting on his journey so far, he told the club channel: “Yeah, I have enjoyed it obviously, together with the team we want to perform always, but yeah things went a little bit different, but what I said before we are working hard every day at the club to try to do our best and to bring the best performance together.”