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Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur this week at Old Trafford in what is shaping up to be a game with a lot of significance. Both the clubs have had a very uninspiring start to the season, and would be eyeing this matchup with great interest and desperation.
Tottenham have been in good form recently after appointing Jose Mourinho as their manager. United on the other hand are languishing at 9th place in the table as of now, trailing Tottenham by two points. Both teams will be looking to win this game as they try to close the gap on the teams above them in the table.
On that note, here is a look at the top 5 players to keep an eye on in this fixture.
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5. Son Heung-min
Even though Tottenham have started poorly by their standards in the Premier League, Son Heung-min is one of the few players who has performed well. Son has scored seven goals and assisted seven times this season.
There were fears that Son would need some time to recover emotionally from the unfortunate incident with Andre Gomes, especially after the picture showing his reaction to the injury suffered by Gomes. But Son has been able to put that behind him and continue to perform at a high level.
The Korean has continued his good form under Mourinho, and as always is a very important player for Tottenham in their key fixtures. Son is hard-working and an excellent finisher, and Mourinho will be expecting him to produce some magic against United to help Tottenham win the game.
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4. Daniel James
Daniel James has been one of the biggest surprises of this season. By signing him from Swansea City last summer, Manchester United have found a diamond in the rough.
James has scored 3 goals and assisted 3 times in the league for United. Normally a left-winger, James has shown potential on the right wing as well. He brings energy and vibrancy to the team, and has shown signs of a promising partnership with the likes of Rashford and Martial.
James has performed well in big games too. He scored against Chelsea and was one of United's standout performers against Liverpool. The United faithful will be hoping for another such performance against Tottenham.
3. Scott McTominay
Scott McTominay was in such good form before getting injured that United didn't feel Paul Pogba's absence the way many had thought they would. McTominay won the United Player of the Month award for September and October, which were apt reward for the remarkable improvement he has shown this season.
Even though he is a defensive midfielder, McTominay has played the role of a box-to-box midfielder successfully this season. He has scored 3 goals and assisted 1 in the Premier League, and his goal-scoring ability from the midfield can be very helpful for United against Tottenham as they have struggled for goals lately.
McTominay is expected to return for this fixture after recovering from his injury. The United midfield has looked stale and disorganized in his absence. His return will give the necessary spark to the team, and his leadership qualities could prove very important for United in such an important fixture.
2. Dele Alli
Dele Alli had shown signs of improvement earlier in the season but Tottenham's struggles meant that they were overlooked. There was a feeling that Alli was not able to perform at the level he had shown early in his career. He was also dropped from England's squad as other young players like Mason Mount went ahead of him in the pecking order.
After Jose Mourinho's appointment at Tottenham there were expectations that the Portuguese would get the best out of the midfielder, and the early indications are positive. Last weekend, Alli scored twice and his movement caused problems for the Bournemouth defense all match. In fact, he has 3 goals and 1 assist in the last 3 games.
Alli has shown a penchant for scoring in big games over the last few seasons, and Mourinho will be hoping that this goal-scoring run continues against United. For Alli, this is the perfect fixture to announce his return to form and earn back his place in the England team.
1. Marcus Rashford
Despite Manchester United's struggles, Marcus Rashford is continuing to develop positively at Old Trafford. Rashford has performed well in difficult circumstances this season, scoring 10 goals and making 4 assists - even though he had to move from his favored left-wing position to center forward when Martial was injured.
Rashford has been criticized for his inefficiency in the past but he has performed admirably in the big matches. He has scored against both Liverpool and Chelsea already this season. He has also been a leader for United even though he is among the younger players in the squad.
Rashford's performance in this game could be a deciding factor for United; he has to perform well if United are to win this game.
Tottenham have struggled at the back this season, and they conceded two goals against Bournemouth last week. United will hope Rashford can take advantage of Tottenham's shaky defense and score another important goal.
