- May 20, 2005
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Manchester United v Tottenham
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 24 April 2010 Kick-off: 1245 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, full match commentary on BBC Radio Manchester 95.1FM, DAB and online, Final Score, live on Sky Sports 1 & highlights on Match of the Day
For more details on coverage please check out Geez's Live Media Thread Click Here
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Manchester United will be looking to lay down a title marker when they face Tottenham on Saturday lunchtime.
Manchester United v Tottenham
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 24 April 2010 Kick-off: 1245 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, full match commentary on BBC Radio Manchester 95.1FM, DAB and online, Final Score, live on Sky Sports 1 & highlights on Match of the Day
For more details on coverage please check out Geez's Live Media Thread Click Here
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Manchester United will be looking to lay down a title marker when they face Tottenham on Saturday lunchtime.
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The Red Devils closed to within a point of league leaders Chelsea last weekend and know they will go top of the table for at least 24 hours with another win this time out.
They had wobbled slightly ahead of their crunch clash with local rivals Manchester City last Saturday, but will hope that derby day heroics have provided the spark for a final flourish.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side will also head into their meeting with Spurs buoyed by a commanding recent record against the capital club.
United have won 13 and lost none of their last 17 Premier League fixtures against Tottenham and are unbeaten in 23 meetings between the two sides at Old Trafford in all competitions.
Surprisingly, the Red Devils have failed to score the first goal in each of their last four league games against Spurs, but have emerged with two wins and two draws from those contests.
Tottenham will provide stiff opposition once again this time around, with Harry Redknapp's side pushing hard to secure fourth spot.
Seven wins in eight top flight outings have seen them into the UEFA Champions League places, and they have no intention of surrendering that standing.
A morale-boosting victory over Chelsea last time out has raised spirits within the camp and they will head to the North West with no fear.
They have, however, failed to win any of their last 66 away games against the so-called 'Big Four' and need to start putting that right if they are to avoid an untimely slip.
Team news
Manchester United could welcome Rio Ferdinand back into the heart of their back four this weekend.
The England captain missed the derby date with City with a groin problem but is now back in contention.
Wes Brown is also pushing hard for a first-team recall after recovering from a broken metatarsal, but Owen Hargreaves' planned return has been delayed by a slight calf strain.
Danny Welbeck (knee), Michael Owen (hamstring) and Anderson (knee) remain long-term absentees.
Tottenham have been boosted by the return of Aaron Lennon for the trip to Old Trafford.
The flying winger has shaken off a groin complaint and will be in Redknapp's travelling party.
Jermaine Jenas could also be welcomed back after coming through 45 minutes in a friendly date with West Ham on Tuesday.
Niko Kranjcar has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ankle knock, while Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (wrist) remain on the sidelines.
SKY BET ODDS
Man U 2/5, Draw 3/1, Tottenham 13/2.
Match facts:
Spurs have won none of their last 23 trips to Old Trafford to play Man Utd in all competitions
Wayne Rooney has scored five goals in his last five Premier League matches against Tottenham
In the last four Premier League meetings with Spurs, Man Utd have never scored the first goal, but they have won two and drawn two of those games
There have been exactly three goals scored in each of the last four Premier League games at Old Trafford
Spurs have won seven of their last eight Premier League matches
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BBC Preview
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon will make his comeback as a substitute after a four-month lay-off with a groin injury.
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Jermaine Jenas and Ledley King could also be available, while Wilson Palacios is free from suspension.
Manchester United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown both return to the squad.
Ferdinand has overcome a groin problem and Brown has recovered from a broken toe, but Owen Hargreaves is sidelined with a calf strain.
Manchester United
Injured: Anderson (knee), Hargreaves (calf), Owen (hamstring)
Tottenham
Doubtful: Jenas (groin), King (knee)
Injured: Corluka & Kranjcar (both ankle), Cudicini (broken wrists), Woodgate (groin)
Match Preview
Spurs have won only five of their 63 league matches against Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal since the turn of the Millennium.
Two of those victories have come in the last 10 days, and a hat-trick at the expense of Manchester United would be quite some feat - especially when you consider it is a barely believable 66 matches since Spurs won away at one of the Big Four.
They last triumphed at Old Trafford 21 years ago, but this match looks a close one to call. Spurs are made of sterner stuff than last season when they let slip a 2-0 half-time lead in this fixture and eventually lost 5-2.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping the 93rd-minute winner by Paul Scholes against Manchester City last week, which kept alive their hopes of a fourth successive title, will give his side the momentum to see off Spurs and leapfrog Chelsea at the top of the table.
Win or lose, Tottenham will be looking for a favour on Saturday from the unlikeliest of sources. They will be hoping bitter rivals Arsenal can beat Manchester City as the race for the fourth Champions League spot nears its climax.
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MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 17 league matches against Tottenham since a 3-1 defeat at White Hart Lane in May 2001.
• They have only beaten Manchester United three times in 35 matches in the Premier League; 4-1 in 1996, 3-1 in 1999 and 3-1 in 2001.
• United have won 80 of 171 previous meetings, with Tottenham winning 46 games and 45 drawn.
Man United
It is six years since the club last won their final four matches of the season. In 2002-03 they beat Blackburn, Tottenham, Charlton and Everton on their way to the title.
• United have won, and kept a clean sheet, in six of their last eight league matches.
• They have the best defensive record in the division, conceding 27 goals in 35 matches.
• Wayne Rooney has scored 148 club goals, while Paul Scholes needs one more to register 150 for Manchester United.
• Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick are poised for their respective 200th and 100th starts for United.
Tottenham
• Spurs have not won in their last 66 Premier League visits to the Big Four clubs (D20, L46) since beating Liverpool at Anfield in August 1993.
• However, Tottenham have already beaten Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea this season. If they win at Old Trafford they will be the first club to defeat each of the Big Four in a single season since Leeds United did so in 1995.
• They have won seven of their last eight league matches.
• Eidur Gudjohnsen is set to make his 250th English league appearance.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
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Man United
Rooney: 34 goals (26 league);
Berbatov: 12 goals (12 league)....
Tottenham
Defoe: 24 goals (18 league); Crouch: 12 goals (7 league)...
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant referees: Patrick Keane & Adam Watts
Fourth official: Lee Mason
MOST RECENT MEETING
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8340234.stmTottenham 1-3 Manchester United (12 September 2009)
Tottenham scorer: Defoe 1
Man Utd scorers: Giggs 25, Anderson 41, Rooney 78
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