Why Spurs must win against Man Utd – and Van Gaal mustn't lose

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Manchester United on Sunday for a match that illustrates what a topsy-turvy season it has been in the Premier League.

Spurs are second in the table, while United, for so long the big beasts of English football, are scrambling for a place in the Champions League.

"The north Londoners - like the rest of the Premier League - have been unable to match United's success in the modern era, but their improvement this season has epitomised the changing landscape within English football," says the London Evening Standard.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Quite what is at stake for both teams will not be apparent until kick-off. United's two main rivals for fourth, Manchester City and West Ham United, are both in action on Saturday, against West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal. If they win, then Louis van Gaal's team will have been relegated to sixth in the table.

As for Spurs, their attitude will be determined by Leicester City's match at Sunderland on Sunday afternoon. A Leicester will leave Spurs fighting just to prolong the title race. But if the leaders suffer a shock defeat, then Mauricio Pochettino's boys will have a move to within four points of the top spot in their sights.

However, no matter what the scenario, the bottom line is that both teams need a victory.

The omens are not good for Spurs, notes the BBC. They are at home but haven't beaten United at White Hart Lane since 2001 – and have yet to even score against the Red Devils since Pochettino took over.

"After dropping a couple of points last week - albeit at Anfield - Tottenham simply have to win this game. I think they will," says Mark Lawrenson. "United are back in London on Wednesday night for their FA Cup quarter-final replay against West Ham, which I think will be on their mind at the weekend."

But it is not a game Van Gaal can afford to take lightly, says the Manchester Evening News. Rumours of an Old Trafford exit persist, but the Dutchman has made it clear he wants to stay on, which means he only has a few games to win over the fans,

"United could head to White Hart Lane with their best injury situation since October... This can liberate or condemn Van Gaal," says the MEN.

"Van Gaal has his best opportunity for months to show fans how his United want to look and play."

Team news:

Spurs could welcome back defender Jan Vertonghen after a three month absence, but Pochettino could well keep faith with Kevin Wimmer, who has filled in admirably alongside Toby Alderweireld.

Erik Lamela is also a doubt for the Lilywhites, but key players Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane are all fit and raring to go.

There is good news for Manchester United. The game has come too soon for Wayne Rooney, but the return of Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia means that Van Gaal has almost a full squad to choose from, although there are doubts over Daley Blind, the only member of the United defence not to have been injured this season.

Prediction:

Lawrenson goes for a home win, while Martin Keown of the Daily Mail "can see Tottenham winning easily". Another former Arsenal player, Paul Merson of Sky, can't see "anything other than a Tottenham win".

He adds: "Tottenham are a very good team and I expect them to keep the pressure on Leicester." but does say that if Leicester win, then Spurs may have to settle for second place.