Paul Merson has predicted on SportsKeeda that Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur will play out a draw at Old Trafford this week.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will lock horns with each other at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.
Former Arsenal star Merson believes that the game will end in a 1-1 draw.
The Sky Sports pundit has also said that United manager Ten Hag should include Portugal international forward Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting line against Spurs.
Paul Merson predicts Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Merson wrote: “This is a hard game to call. Manchester United had a couple of good chances last week, and I don’t think Newcastle picked the right pass at times.
“I think Cristiano Ronaldo will play this game. I only say that because I know that Tottenham will play everybody behind the ball. Manchester United will need to put balls into the box, and Ronaldo is the best header of the ball in the world. I’d leave Jadon Sancho out this week and play Ronaldo, Rashford, and Antony up front.
“If United don’t win this game, they take a draw and a defeat on their trip away to Chelsea. They’re facing two of the top four in their next two Premier League games, and it’s a massive week for them.
“Liverpool could go bang-bang-bang for their nine points, and United could find themselves behind Liverpool by the end of the week. Manchester United have the hardest set of games out of everybody this week.
“This is a must-win game for Manchester United, and I don’t think that is the case for Tottenham. Antonio Conte will want to make sure his team doesn’t lose this match, and he’ll be the happier of the two managers with a draw. Tottenham will make sure they don’t lose this match.
“Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur.”
Who will win?
In our opinion, the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford this week is likely to end in a draw.
Antonio Conte likes his Tottenham team to be defensive sensible and then beat the opposition on the counter.
Now, of course, Tottenham do play on the front foot a lot of the times, but Conte’s first priority is to make sure that the North London club do not lose.
United can be suspect defensively, and with Harry Kane in good form, Spurs will feel that they will score at Old Trafford.
However, the Red Devils will have home advantage against Tottenham, and we do not think that Ten Hag’s side will lose.
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