A mouthwatering encounter between two top-four rivals will take place at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, as Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The Red Devils fell to pieces in a 4-1 defeat to rivals Manchester City last time out, while Antonio Conte's side put five unanswered goals past Everton.

Match preview

If the cracks were not already apparent for Rangnick at Man United, they certainly are now, as amid multiple reports of discontent behind the scenes, the Red Devils were outclassed and outfought at the Etihad Stadium last weekend in a 4-1 humbling.

Kevin De Bruyne helped himself to two goals either side of Jadon Sancho's equaliser - with neither Victor Lindelof nor Harry Maguire covering themselves in glory - and Riyad Mahrez added two fine efforts in the second 45 to derail Man United's Champions League bid further.

The Red Devils were clinging onto fourth spot in the table but have now been surpassed by a blistering Arsenal - who also possess three games in hand - but victory for fifth-placed Man United here will see them return to the Champions League spots before the Gunners face Leicester City a day later.

There is also the small matter of the second leg of their Champions League knockout tie with Atletico Madrid to come, but having now failed to win any of their last three in all tournaments, optimism cannot be high among the Old Trafford fanbase right now.

Rangnick's side can take some solace in the fact that they have strung together a four-match unbeaten streak at home in the Premier League - conceding only one goal in that stretch - but that may count for nought against a man with Alan Shearer's record in his sights.

Antonio Conte is the name, inconsistency is the game. The Premier League and Serie A-winning coach has overseen a batch of impressive as well as dismal results in North London, but his side needed no second invitation to sweep aside Everton last time out.

In a very welcome sight for all Tottenham supporters, Harry Kane surpassed Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in the all-time Premier League goalscoring charts with his 175th and 176th strikes in the competition, while Son Heung-min, Sergio Reguilon and a Michael Keane own goal also contributed to a 5-0 Spurs romping.

Conte's side have reignited their pursuit of a top-four place after claiming emphatic back-to-back Premier League wins - also putting four past Leeds - and Spurs could rise back into the top four with a win at Old Trafford, but they would need to do so by a five-goal margin.

Of course, Spurs have recent experience in prevailing on the Manchester turf, and they have made a habit of winning one then losing one away from home since the turn of the year, which bodes well for them after defeat to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup earlier this month.

Man United stormed to a 3-0 win on Spurs' turf in a game that cost Nuno Espirito Santo his job earlier in the season, but Jose Mourinho embarrassed his former club with a 6-1 victory at Old Trafford last term, and Tottenham's recent hot streak in front of goal means that such an astonishing scoreline is not entirely beyond the realm of possibility here.

Team News

Man United lost Cristiano Ronaldo to a hip problem before the derby defeat, but Rangnick is hopeful that the 37-year-old can return here alongside Edinson Cavani (groin).

Raphael Varane is also back in training following his bout of COVID-19 and could return to the rearguard, although Luke Shaw will not recover from his illness in time, and Scott McTominay is set to miss out owing to a calf problem.

A potential lack of attacking options may see Marcus Rashford make his return to the first XI after the failed Bruno Fernandes experiment at the Etihad, while a discontent Diogo Dalot is pining for a recall over Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Meanwhile, Tottenham lost Ryan Sessegnon to a muscular problem at half time during the Everton win, with Reguilon poised to deputise having scored after less than a minute on the pitch on Monday.

Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga's injuries are proving difficult for the pair to overcome, and Conte has not given Spurs' medical department an easy rise as the duo prepare to miss out again.

Conte is unlikely to consider many alterations to his XI either way, as a reinvigorated Matt Doherty keeps Emerson Royal out of the team once more.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Telles; Pogba, Fred; Sancho, Fernandes, Elanga; Ronaldo

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Doherty, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Reguilon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son

We say: Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham can still be a bit suspect defensively under Conte, but with Ronaldo and Cavani only just making their returns to fitness, Rangnick's side could struggle against the Lilywhites' counter-attacking machine.

Managing to string together a set of wins has proven challenging for Spurs, though, and with Man United keeping the back door shut at Old Trafford quite well in recent weeks, we can only envisage a low-scoring draw in a result which will not do much good for either manager.

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