Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has claimed that he will be “shocked” if one specific team wins Tottenham and Manchester United’s Premier League match on Sunday.
Manchester United will travel to north London for their encounter with Spurs, with kick-off scheduled for 4:30pm UK time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Red Devils have won only two of their last five Premier League fixtures ahead of Sunday’s match, with Ruben Amorim’s men 13th in the table this season.
United have only managed eight Premier League wins in the 2024-25 campaign after 24 matches and Ruben Amorim’s side are 12 points clear of the relegation zone.
The Red Devils are 14 points adrift from the Premier League top four and United’s hopes of finishing in a Champions League qualification place are all but over.
United lost 2-0 on their last Premier League outing against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford before bouncing back with a win in the FA Cup last week.
Amorim’s men came from behind to beat Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City side 2-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup and punched their ticket to the fifth round.
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Manager Ruben Amorim of Manchester United watches from the touchline during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Le...
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Merson’s message to Man Utd boss Amorim
Tottenham have suffered their own setback this season and Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is under immense pressure ahead of this weekend’s match.
Spurs are 14th in the Premier League table and Tottenham are two points behind 13th-place Manchester United amid their woeful run of form in recent weeks.
Ange Postecoglou’s men were also dumped out of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup last week after their defeats to Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively.
Speaking in his column for Sportskeeda, Paul Merson has urged Ruben Amorim to “change things up” and pivot away from his tactical system for the match.
“Whoever loses this game is in big trouble,” he said.
“I don’t even know where to start because both Tottenham and Manchester United are as bad as each other! Spurs can point to their injuries, but what’s United’s excuse at the moment?
“Ruben Amorim has to change things up. I know he has been true to his philosophy but he needs to realise the players available at Old Trafford are not fit to play that way.
“You can’t stay adamant like this at the cost of losing games! Next year, when you have the right players for your system, try it out.”
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Merson’s prediction for Tottenham vs Man Utd
Merson was also baffled at Patrick Dorgu, who was signed by United earlier this month, at being deployed as a right wing-back on his debut against Leicester City.
The Sky Sports pundit has backed Tottenham to pick up a 2-1 win at home on Sunday and believes that Spurs have “better forwards” than United.
“I saw him put the new kid Patrick Dorgu in an unnatural position on his debut,” Merson continued.
“I mean, what is this? I’d be shocked if Manchester United win this game. I think Spurs have the better forwards and that will end up being the difference between the sides.
“This is Manchester United we’re talking about and they should be smashing Tottenham in an ideal world.
“But I can’t even seem them beating Palace at the moment, how can I expect them to win this game then?”