Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
2024/25 English Premier League
Matchday 25
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
London, England
Sunday, 16 February 2025
Kick-off is at 18h30 CAT
Two teams in dire need of a victory in the Premier League sees Tottenham play host to Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, February 16 in the late kick-off.
Time is fast running out for Ange Postecoglou after Spurs crashed out of the FA Cup and the EFL Cup in the space of just three days, while they languish down in 14th place in the league standings.
Postecoglou's side failed to build on their 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-finals as they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat in the second leg on February 6 following a woeful performance at Anfield.
Things got worse for the North Londoners when they fell to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round on February 9, having conceded in the opening minute and never recovered as they lost 2-1.
The Lilywhites did manage to claim a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over Brentford in a London derby on February 2 which arrested a seven-match winless run - six of those ending in defeat.
United are only two points above them in 13th position after losing at home for the fifth time under Ruben Amorim with a 2-0 reverse to Crystal Palace on February 2.
Indeed the Red Devils have only won four league games since Amorim took charge at Old Trafford, picking up 14 points out of a possible 39.
Amorim's side scraped into the fifth round of the FA Cup after scoring a stoppage-time goal to edge Leicester 2-1 at Old Trafford on February 7.
Suggested photo: Mathys Tel of Tottenham
Postecoglou was dealt a blow after Richarlison limped off against the Reds in the EFL Cup, with the Brazilian joining Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin (both knee), Cristian Romero, Wilson Odobert (both thigh) and Micky van de Ven on the sidelines.
Amorim lost Lisandro Martinez to a season-ending knee injury against Palace and he must also do without Luke Shaw (calf), Mason Mount (thigh) and Jonny Evans (back).
Postecoglou expressed his admiration for the tremendous workload his players have had to endure in the last three months, having been without 11 first-team regulars for the cup-tie at Villa Park.
"It's obviously disappointing for us in terms of our objectives. But for two-and-a-half months, this small group of players have given everything in multiple competitions," he said.
"I think they've been outstanding. We had 11 first-team players missing today. We started with four teenagers, a 21-year-old goalkeeper coming to one of the best teams in the country, away from home, after playing the best team in the country on Thursday night, after playing a Premier League game last Sunday, after playing a Europa game.
"The same group of players, no rotation, and they've been doing this since the middle of November. I think they've given everything they can and I've got so much respect and admiration for the players and how they've gone about that."
Suggested photo: Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United
United were poor in the first half against the Foxes and deserved to be trailing at the break, but Amorim has urged the club's fans to hang in there after seeing a slight improvement from his players in the second 45 minutes.
"Today is just the feeling of the win, and the fans will go home with that feeling of when they perform really well, they help us a lot to change the game," the Portuguese said.
"The rest is hard to point to something to give them a little bit [of] confidence. Just the spirit in the second half, more energy, more second balls, small things. But the rest, we have a lot to improve. So we already knew that. But yeah, we need to do better."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Tottenham wins - 2
Man United wins - 1
Draws - 2
Premier League Matchday 25 fixtures:
Friday, February 14
22h00: Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea
Saturday, February 15
14h30: Leicester City v Arsenal
17h00: Aston Villa v Ipswich Town
17h00: Fulham v Nottingham Forest
17h00: Manchester City v Newcastle United
17h00: Southampton v Bournemouth
17h00: West Ham United v Brentford
19h30: Crystal Palace v Everton
Sunday, February 16
16h00: Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
18h30: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United