The Top Flight
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English Premier League: Tottenham face down Man United at Old Trafford

By Orri Benatar

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team's second goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Wembley Stadium on August 18, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team's second goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Wembley Stadium on August 18, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Spurs can stay in the perfect club while Man United is one more bad result away from asking some serious questions. Time for Monday night football.

Matchday three is set to conclude tonight in Manchester when Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils look to bounce back against a perfect Tottenham side. Spurs have been sharp in their first two matches this season with a 2-1 win at Newcastle and a 3-1 over Fulham at Wembley. The World Cup stars Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier look to continue this impeccable form in their first top-six clash of the season.

The main talk of last week was Manchester United’s shocking loss to Brighton & Hove Albion at the AmEx. The defeat has begun more “Mourinho is leaving United” discussion and has pinned United for a down season. A win over a perfect Tottenham side would brush these discussions away, for now.

Last Season’s Encounters

These two met three times last season, twice in the league and in the FA Cup semifinals. Man United won two of the three times, including a 2-1 victory at Wembley to make the FA Cup final. That loss thwarted Spurs any chance of winning a trophy last season, a run they desperately would like to end in 2018-19.

Team News

Mourinho has changed his team quite significantly for the third match of the season. Antonio Valencia and Nemanja Matic return from injury, two very welcome additions to the eleven. The centerback pairing of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof will sit for Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. New attacking options include Jesse Lingard and Ander Herrera. Sanchez sits on the bench.

Tottenham will stick with a similar eleven with Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Lucas Moura highlighting the frontline. The only change for Spurs is Mousa Dembele entering for Davinson Sanchez. Pochettino has switched between three centerbacks and a standard four at the back. Today, it will be a 4-2-3-1.

Prediction – Man United wins 1-0

Mourinho tends to have some bounce back after a devasting defeat. United welcome back two very important players in Valencia and Matic. Valencia can lead the defense and move forward from the right wing while Matic can ease the pressure off of Fred to win possession in the midfield. The big question will be can United’s attack perform?

Sunday recap - Chelsea, Watford, and Fulham pick up victories. dark. Next

I still don’t think they will, but I think Matic will be able to stop the Spurs midfield and David De Gea will prove once again to everyone how good of a keeper he is. The Red Devils will bounce back with a 1-0 victory coming from a late second-half goal.

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