Harry Maguire was a notable absentee from the Manchester United matchday squad to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The defender has been one of the Red Devils' more reliable performers over the last couple of seasons, so his omission from Erik ten Hag's squad for the visit of Spurs came as a surprise. It is being widely reported that Maguire was forced out of Ten Hag's thinking after he picked up a knock during a training session.
Maguire played all 90 minutes of United's disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Twente in their UEFA Europa League opener on Wednesday and has featured seven times in all competitions already this term. In the absence of Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and summer signing Matthijs de Ligt will be given a chance to strengthen their centre-back partnership.
Maguire's Absence Explained
Maguire’s absence has now been explained with Manchester World reporter Rich Fay highlighting a ‘knock’ suffered in training. The 31-year-old started against Twente on Wednesday night and managed to play the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw. Maguire’s issue has only materialised in the last couple of days and that means he will now miss out against Spurs. United face a trip to Porto on Thursday night and Ten Hag will be hopeful of having Maguire back involved again by then.
Son Heung-min's Absence
Meanwhile, Tottenham have arrived at Old Trafford without club captain Son Heung-min, who failed to overcome a muscle problem sustained in Thursday's 3-0 win at home to Qarabag. Timo Werner, who made his Spurs debut in this fixture last season, has been drafted into the starting XI in the South Korean's place. The absence of Son is a significant blow for Spurs, who will be hoping to get a positive result against a tough United side.
Team Lineups
Manchester United starting XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
Manchester United substitutes: Bayindir, Evans, Lindelof, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mount, Amad, Antony, Hojlund
Tottenham starting XI (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Maddison, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Werner
Tottenham substitutes: Forster, Spence, Dragusin, Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall, Sarr, Moore, Lankshear
A Look at the Match
United and Spurs both went into Sunday's game with seven points from their first five Premier League fixtures. Ten Hag will be looking to take advantage of Son Heung-min’s absence for Tottenham, but United have been dealt a late injury blow too. The match is set to be a tight affair with both sides looking to secure a vital three points. It will be interesting to see how United perform without Maguire and how Tottenham will cope without Son. With both sides looking to get back to winning ways, the match promises to be a thrilling encounter.
A Battle of the Titans
The clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur is a clash of two of the biggest clubs in England. Both sides have a rich history and a passionate fanbase. The match is always a hotly contested affair, with both teams looking to secure a vital three points. The absence of both Maguire and Son will add an extra layer of intrigue to the match, with both sides having to adapt their tactics to account for these key absences. The match is sure to be a tight affair, with both teams looking to dominate possession and create chances in front of goal. It will be a battle of the titans, with both teams looking to prove their mettle and secure a vital victory.
