Manchester United face Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, aiming to secure back-to-back victories following their 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round win over Leicester City.
Spurs, currently 14th in the table and two points behind United, are under mounting pressure, making this an intriguing matchup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Patrick Dorgu made his debut against Leicester, starting on the right instead of his expected position on the left, a decision that sparked some debate. However, United boss Ruben Amorim defended the selection, explaining post-match:
“He played on both flanks at Lecce, which is something we value. He was a bit nervous with his first touches—it’s a different league with a different pace—but he did well. He has speed, strength, and will improve a lot. As a team, we also need to perform better to help these new players settle. You can see in WyScout that he is comfortable on either side.”
While many expected Dorgu to feature at left wing-back, Amorim could deploy him on the right again, potentially shifting Diogo Dalot to the left.
In central defense, Noussair Mazraoui started in a back three against Leicester while Matthijs de Ligt was rested, but the Dutch defender is likely to return to the starting lineup.
Midfield partners Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes have been forming a strong connection and are expected to start once more. However, there is some debate over the attacking lineup.
Amad, United’s most consistent attacking player this season, is almost certain to keep his place. However, Rasmus Højlund could once again find himself on the bench, with Joshua Zirkzee in contention to start. Zirkzee impressed in December’s Carabao Cup clash against Spurs and may be preferred, with Alejandro Garnacho occupying the left-sided No.10 role.
Predicted United XI vs. Spurs:
Onana; Yoro, Maguire, De Ligt; Dorgu, Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes; Amad, Zirkzee, Garnacho.
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