Abhranil Roy
Spurs vs Manchester United: 3 Key Battles
Tottenham Spurs enter the final phase of the season seven points adrift of league leaders Leicester City, and they face Manchester United at White Hart Lane on Sunday. A win over the Red Devils will give a huge boost to the white half of London, and maintain the pressure over the Foxes. Spurs are having a terrific season under Mauricio Pocchetino and are currently second in the league. They have had several standout performers this season, and their fans will hope that their stars can shine again against the Red Devils. Spurs lost 1-0 thanks to a Kyle Walker own goal the last time these two sides faced, and United, who are currently sixth on the table and only a point of Manchester City at fourth, will be banking on their wins against City and Everton to give them the injection of confidence. Overall, one expects that this will be a hard-fought game, and here are the 3 key battles that might decide it’s outcome:
1. Harry Kane v Chris Smalling and Daley Blind
Harry Kane became the first Tottenham player to score 20+ goals in successive seasons, and the youngster will be looking to add to his tally against United. He has also been in fine form for England, and in this game he will be up against his national team colleague Chris Smalling and the Dutch defender Daley Blind. These two have successfully contained Sergio Aguero and Romelu Lukaku in successive games, and van Gaal will be hopeful that these two can replicate their performances against the lethal Kane.
