Can Spurs prove they can challenge for the title away at Manchester United?

Manchester United v Tottenham, Premier League, October 30, 2010

Manchester United 1.61; Draw 4.12; Tottenham 6.40

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Sir Alex Ferguson often attempts to play up challengers for the Premier League title, presumably to keep his well-paid stars on their toes. In the last week Fergie has once again claimed I wouldnt be betting against it being a five-horse race. Whilst Manchester United will look to prove there is life without Wayne Rooney this is a big opportunity for Tottenham to show they can live with the big boys and truly challenge.

It is now 21 years since Spurs won at Old Trafford, Gary Lineker scoring the winner, and whilst performances have improved for the north London giants at the Theatre of Dreams in recent seasons, this fixture usually only ends with one victor.

Harry Redknapps side have been decent away from home in 2010/2011, securing the three points at difficult away grounds such as Stoke and Fulham but their soft underbelly has been sighted against Young Boys and Inter Milan in the Champions League as well as rock bottom West Ham domestically.

Eleven different central defensive partnerships have been used by Redknapp this season, against United Spurs will likely start with Younes Kaboul and William Gallas which is the pairing that faced Everton last time out. It would be no surprise if Heurelho Gomes is called upon during the course of this match and Alan Hutton and Benoit Assou-Ekotto will also have to be defensively sound.

The Tottenham midfield is where the match could be won for the north London side. A central three of Tom Huddlestone, Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart will look to control possession and get the ball wide to Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale. Peter Crouch will lead a lone furrow up front ! and will be eager to get on the goal trail again having missed a few chances against Everton last week.

The home side will though be full of confidence and appear to be relishing life without Wayne Rooney. Whilst Gareth Bale was man of the moment following his display in the San Siro last week, in recent days Javier Hernandez has trumped the Welshman with goals that secured victories over Stoke and then Wolves in the Carling Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes for the 3-2 Carling Cup win over Wolves and most of the players that appeared against Stoke will probably start this encounter. Although it would be a surprise if Patrice Evra started left wing again and Gary Neville may not start after coming close to being sent off and then substituted at half-time at the Britannia.

The main worry for Spurs is that they may struggle to contain the front pairing of Dimitar Berbatov and Hernandez which has looked increasingly threatening in recent weeks. Nani is also a player who usually excels against Tottenham, scoring a fine chip over Gomes in April last year, in a game where the away side were built up as credible challengers to Manchester Uniteds ability to secure all three points, but lost 3-1.

With Spurs just two points behind Manchester United after nine games this is a crucial encounter for both sides at the start of a Champions League week that sees them face Inter Milan and Bursaspor respectively. On paper the home side look like the favourites if only because of their strong partnerships in central defence and attack, Spurs may have an eye-catching midfield but there is little to suggest they can finally turn flattery into points at Old Trafford.

Manchester United 1.61; Draw 4.12; Tottenham 6.40

Bet on the Premier League with Pinnacle Sports.

101gg predicts: Manchester United 2 Tottenham 1

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