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- May 20, 2005
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Tottenham Hotspur Vs Manchester United
Barclays Premier League
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Sunday, 16th January Kick-off: 1610 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day 2; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Sunday, 16th January Kick-off: 1610 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day 2; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
For more on live coverage please visit Geez's Live Media Thread
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2[ar]
David Beckham will not figure against his former club, but Tottenham should threaten Manchester United's unbeaten run.
Spurs are still in the process of trying to push through a loan agreement for Beckham, with the LA Galaxy midfielder currently training with the club during the MLS off-season.
Any appearance from the ex-England skipper at White Hart Lane on Sunday will generate huge interest, taking into account his United connections, but it is hoped the action on the field will capture the imagination.
Tottenham have clambered into the top four after suffering only one defeat in 10 and will want to keep capital rivals Chelsea, who sit fifth, at arm's length.
One of the factors behind Spurs' success this season has been their ability to grind out results, with 16 points recouped from losing positions - a Premier League high.
They have, however, won none of their last 19 top flight meetings with United, losing 15 of those fixtures.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be keen to see his side extend that run this weekend, with the Red Devils currently perched at the top of the table.
They are the only side yet to suffer a league defeat this season, with 20 games safely negotiated.
Their unbeaten run now stands at 25 games, the sixth best run in Premier League history, while they have also gone 14 games on the road since they last came unstuck.
While they have not been losing, United have endured a few scares on their travels, though, with only two wins taken from their last nine games away from Old Trafford.
Team news
Tottenham could welcome William Gallas back into their plans on Sunday, with the Frenchman having shaken off a hamstring complaint.
Robbie Keane, who continues to be linked with a move elsewhere, is also expected to be in contention following a hamstring problem of his own.
Tom Huddlestone is still a few weeks away from a return as he nurses an ankle knock, while Ledley King (groin), Jamie O'Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) will also be unavailable.
Manchester United will have Wayne Rooney back in their plans at White Hart Lane, with the striker fit again following an ankle injury which has kept him out of the club's last two fixtures.
John O'Shea is a slight doubt with a calf problem, but Paul Scholes is over a groin injury and could return.
Antonio Valencia remains sidelined with the badly broken ankle he suffered earlier in the season, but may be ready for a first-team recall in February.
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2[ar]
Tottenham expect Gareth Bale to be fit, despite missing a few days training this week with a back problem.
Younes Kaboul returns after suspension and but fellow defenders Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate are still out.
Manchester United welcome back Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic after the pair sat out the FA Cup win over Liverpool.
Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar returned to training on Friday after a virus and is expected to be fit enough to replace Tomasz Kuszczak.
Tottenham
Injured: Huddlestone (ankle), King (groin), O'Hara (back), Woodgate (fitness)
Man Utd
Doubtful: Scholes (groin), Van der Sar (illness)
Injured/unavailable: Hargreaves (hamstring), O'Shea (calf), Park (international duty), Valencia (ankle)
When Tottenham ended the 2000/01 season on a jubilant high with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United, Ryan Giggs shrugged off defeat knowing a seventh Premier League winners' medal was already safely in his trophy cabinet.
A decade on, the Welsh winger will make his 600th league appearance in United colours with his place as the most decorated player in the history of English football secure, and his form still as resplendent as ever.
Little did Tottenham know that after a further 23 fixtures against United they would not have enjoyed a single victory. Spurs can rightly point to being on the end of some woeful refereeing decisions in that time, but the gap in class between the two sides over the last 10 years has been vast.
This season though, Spurs have finally emerged as a genuine force, and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson knows protecting his side's unbeaten record this season faces a stern test at White Hart Lane.
Historically, this fixture has always been viewed as one of the most exciting and eagerly anticipated of the season. It has been too one-sided of late, but Spurs look like they may finally be able to fight the fire of the Red Devils.
2[ar]
Head-to-head
• Tottenham have failed to win any of their last 23 meetings with Manchester United in all competitions.
• Spurs' last victory over Man United was a 3-1 success in May 2001 at White Hart Lane. They have failed to win any of the subsequent 19 league matches, two FA Cup matches and two League Cup matches.
• Tottenham have won just three of 37 Premier League clashes with Manchester United.
• David Beckham, who is training with Tottenham Hotspur, played 394 times for Manchester United and scored 85 goals.
Tottenham
• Tottenham are unbeaten in their last four home matches in the league against Big Four opposition. Their only defeat in their last 10 matches at White Hart Lane against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester United was 3-1 against Sir Alex Ferguson's United side in September 2009.
• That match was the only one of Harry Redknapp's 45 home league games in charge that Tottenham have conceded more than two goals at White Hart Lane.
• Rafael van der Vaart has scored nine league goals this season, five of which have been assisted by Peter Crouch.
Manchester United
• Manchester United have now gone 25 Premier League matches without losing, their third longest ever top-flight streak and only four matches short of their record 29 undefeated top-flight matches in 1998/1999.
• The Red Devils are unbeaten in 20 Premier League outings this season, and have lost just one of their 32 games in all competitions (v West Ham).
• Former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov has scored eight goals in his last five Premier League matches.
• Ryan Giggs is set to make his 600th league appearance for Manchester United - only Bobby Charlton (606) has made more.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Tottenham
Manchester United
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistant referees: Stephen Child & Simon Long
Fourth official: Andre Marriner
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