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Tottenham are three points clear off Manchester United at the top of the league standings.
The Londoners share the lead with Chelsea who only have the edge because of a better goal difference.
Tottenham Hotspurs are yet to experience anything less than a win in this new campaign. Spurs have recorded four Premiership victories on the trot along with a 5-1 triumph against Doncaster Rovers in the Carling Cup.
Unlucky Tottenham Hotspurs have some hope
But just as things started to look bright for the Londoners, they got hit by the curse of plagues. Luca Modric is ill with a broken leg after tussling with Lee Bowyer of Birmingham two weeks ago. As a result, the Croatian playmaker will miss Tottenham’s crucial match against Manchester United this weekend.
Still, Harry Redknapp could work with the option of filling the hole, created by Modric’s absence, with another Croatian: Spurs’ new signing Niko Kranjcar.
Speaking over Tottenham’s capture of the former Portsmouth midfielder, Harry Redknapp said:
"I know him from working with him and it is terrific to have him. I've got two Croatians here who are fantastic professionals.
“Niko is a terrific footballer, a real Tottenham-type player. He'll do well here.”
So Kranjcar might be partnering Corluka as he enjoys his debut with Spurs on Saturday. The 25-year-old, who was part of Portsmouth FA Cup triumph where Pompy beat Manchester United on the road, could experience another memorable victory over the Red Devils this weekend.
Bitter reunion and out to deliver
In recent times, the contest between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs has been tight. In the final of the Carling Cup earlier this year for example, extra time plus penalties were needed to separate both sides.
Well on Saturday, Manchester United will hope for anything better than a goalless draw at the end of the ninety minutes.
The Red Devils need to win in order to edge Tottenham in the table. Whereas Alex Ferguson will be looking to ease the pressure from his boys with a good tactical display, Spurs supporters will aim to disturb the mind of the club’s former Bulgarian striker, Dimitar Berbatov.
The £ 30 million signing is constantly the victim of harsh criticism from aggressive and attacking football lovers. He could once again prove his point when he plays at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney, Luis Nani and Michael Carrick are all tipped as the players to watch in this upcoming clash.
Wayne Rooney has proven his goal instinct this season with already four goals in his credit. Nani is influential down the wings for the Red Devils and though he hasn’t quite found his foot in this campaign, he has shown glimpses of perfection during games. Above all, the Cape Verde-born player will also be remembered as the one who scored a 30-yard screamer against Spurs in a controversial encounter at this point in time two years ago.
On one hand, the game could be tight with not more than three goals unless Manchester United find the key to dislocate the flow between Aaron Lennon, William Defoe, Niko Kranjcar, and Assou Ekotto.
On the other hand, it could present a flurry of chances created for Manchester United since Tottenham have shown sloppiness at the back (especially against West Ham).
The question remains whether the Red Devils will make the most of their chances or not. Besides, with the absence of Van der Sar in post, the opportunity of keeping a clean sheet could go away.
