Manchester United will attempt to continue their push for the top four when they travel to title challengers Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday's key fixture at White Hart Lane.
The home side could be 10 points off leaders Leicester City by the time that they take to the field this weekend and Man United could put a nail in Spurs' title challenge with a victory on Sunday afternoon.
Tottenham
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At the start of the season, Spurs supporters would have been delighted if their team managed a top-four finish this term. However, with just six games left and Mauricio Pochettino's side in second position in the table, anything less than a surprise Premier League crown might well be seen as a disappointment.
A total of 62 points from 32 matches has seen Spurs occupy second spot in the division, four points clear of third-placed Arsenal and currently seven behind Leicester, who will travel to Sunderland in Sunday's early start.
Between January 16 and February 28, Tottenham recorded six straight league victories, but they have had a wobble in recent weeks. Pochettino's side lost at West Ham United at the start of March and have shared the points in two of their last four in the league, including a 1-1 draw at Liverpool last weekend.
That said, they have won four of their last five league games at White Hart Lane and have only lost twice at home all season, which sees them boast the second-best home form in the league at this stage of the campaign.
Not only are Spurs now the top scorers in the league on 57 goals, they also have the best defensive record, having only conceded 25 times in their 32 matches. The second-best defensive record belongs to Man United (27), but the Red Devils have only found the back of the net on 39 occasions.
After this one, Spurs will travel to Stoke City in the league, before welcoming West Bromwich Albion on April 25. They will then travel to Chelsea at the start of May, before hosting Southampton on May 8. Their final match of the season is away to Newcastle United, who could be in need of the points as they attempt to fight off relegation.
It seems almost certain that the capital side will secure a top-four finish this season, with nine points currently separating them from fifth-placed Man United, but they might never have a better chance to win a Premier League title, which places such importance on the results this weekend.
Recent form: WLDWWD
Recent form (all competitions): DLWLWD
Man United
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There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a disappointing campaign for Man United, but a top-four finish and FA Cup success could well see Louis van Gaal keep his job at Old Trafford.
Rumours of Jose Mourinho taking control have quietened in recent weeks and it does appear that the board will wait to see what occurs in the final weeks of the campaign before making a decision. Indeed, Van Gaal's cause has been helped by back-to-back league victories, following a 1-0 win at Manchester City with a 1-0 success over Everton last weekend.
As a result, Man United currently sit fifth in the Premier League table on 53 points. They are just one point shy of fourth-placed Manchester City and actually only five points off third-placed Arsenal, which is a further indication of what type of season it has been in England's top flight.
Next week, the Red Devils will travel to West Ham for their quarter-final FA Cup replay and in theory, their season might be over if they lose to Spurs and then exit to the Hammers on Wednesday night. Victories in both, however, would lead them nicely into back-to-back home matches against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in the league.
Man United have league leaders Leicester City at Old Trafford on May 1, but their final three are away to Norwich City, away to West Ham and home to Bournemouth on the final weekend of the campaign. Their top-four hopes have been boosted in recent weeks and now a challenge for the Champions League positions seems probable.
As mentioned, Man United have the second-best defensive record in the league this season, while no Premier League club have kept more clean sheets (15) than Van Gaal's team this term. They also have a striker in form, with Anthony Martial hitting three goals in his last four appearances in all competitions.
Man United's away form this season, however, has been hit and miss. They have dropped points in 10 of their 16 on the road - losing six times in the process and collecting just 22 points. At home, only Leicester and Spurs have collected more points than Man United, but their away troubles are there for all to see.
Recent form: LWWLWW
Recent form (all competitions): LLDDWW
Team News
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Spurs boss Pochettino has revealed that the club "will assess" Belgian centre-back Jan Vertonghen ahead of the match. The 28-year-old has missed the last three months with a knee problem, but could return alongside Toby Alderweireld in central defence.
Erik Lamela has been passed fit after missing the draw with Liverpool last weekend and should return in place of Son Hueng-min, with Harry Kane, who has 22 league goals this season, once again at the tip of the attack.
As for Man United, Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia are all now available for first-team selection.
Captain Wayne Rooney will play for the club's Under-21 team next week as he recovers from a knee problem, while Luke Shaw, despite returning to training, is still some way off a return.
Ander Herrera is pushing for a starting spot after coming off the bench against Everton last time out, while Timothy Fosu-Mensah's impressive second-half performance last weekend could see him replace Marcos Rojo at left-back.
Tottenham possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Lamela, Alli, Eriksen; Kane
Man United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Fosu-Mensah; Carrick, Schneiderlin; Mata, Lingard, Martial; Rashford
Head To Head
These two clubs have met on 183 occasions in all competitions. Man United have recorded 87 wins, Spurs 48, while the remaining 48 fixtures finished level.
Man United went on a five-game winless streak against the capital club between September 2012 and December 2014, but have since won their last two against Spurs - including a 1-0 victory on the opening weekend of this season.
The Red Devils have not won away at Spurs in the Premier League since March 2012, however, and the points were shared in a goalless draw at White Hart Lane last season.
That said, Man United have not lost on any of their last 14 trips to Spurs in the Premier League, which is a run of form that stretches back to the 2000-01 season, when Glenn Hoddle was in charge of the London club.
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We say: Spurs 1-1 Man United
Spurs will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways in the league this weekend, but Man United will enter the match off the back of two 1-0 victories and with confidence growing. For all the criticism aimed at Van Gaal's side this season, they have been strong at the back and we are backing the Red Devils to grind out a draw in London.
Matt Law
