Tottenham vs Manchester United LIVE: Team news and line-ups from crucial Premier League clash

Towards the end of the transfer window, as poor results led to a growing sense of panic around Tottenham Hotspur, the club pushed for some unexpected deals. Some were so unexpected that the targets abruptly expressed no interest in going there. More than one player preferred a move to Aston Villa.

Manchester United aren’t at that point but they have found their sway isn’t what it was. Many under-23s, which is the age profile the club are now prioritising, have grown up with the club looking like a basketcase rather than frequent champions. One target’s disinterest was described as “a low”.

That’s been the thing with this season for both clubs. As bad as it has got, it has always felt like a new nadir is just around the corner.

Ruben Amorim said Manchester United will have to sell players if they are to buy in the summer transfer window.

United have little leeway with Profitability and Sustainability Rules, which have been extended for next season, while their finances are tight, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe considering a fresh spell of redundancies and cost-cutting after sacking 250 staff last year.

Amorim made his first buys in the January transfer window, with Ayden Heaven arriving for £1.5m and Patrick Dorgu for £25m, but only when he brought in money by loaning out Marcus Rashford, with Aston Villa paying at least 75 percent of his wages, Antony, with Real Betis paying 84 percent of his salary, and Tyrell Malacia, with PSV Eindhoven covering his earnings.

Italy international Vicario has not featured since he fractured his ankle in the 4-0 win at Manchester City on November 23 and Postecoglou has used three different goalkeepers during the ensuing three-month period.

This could well be the Premier League’s most difficult match to predict, with neither manager knowing exactly what kind of performance they’ll get from their side. The two sides’ meeting in the Carabao Cup in December was a comedy of errors and lack of quality, and this could well be the same.

Tottenham 2-2 Manchester United.

Spurs XI: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Gray, Spence; Sarr, Bentancur, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Son, Tel.

Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Amad, Mainoo; Hojlund.

For United, Ruben Amorim revealed that there are “one or two issues” within the squad after the win over Leicester last weekend, though he didn’t give any names. Lisandro Martinez is the only long-term absentee, but Amorim indicated Mason Mount, Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw and Altay Bayindir will remain out on Sunday, with their new setbacks seeing some academy players called up for training.

Postecoglou is still dealing with one of the worst injury crises in the league at present, with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Richardson all still sidelined.

Guigliemo Vicario, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert all returned to training this week, and all five could make a return to the squad.

When is Tottenham vs Manchester United?

The match kicks off at 4,30pm on Sunday, 16 February at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

How can I watch the match?

The match will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League, with coverage starting at 4pm.

If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass to watch without a subscription.

Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United in the Premier League today, with the league’s two most underwhelming sides set to face off in the capital.

Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs sat in 14th in the table going into the weekend – with just 27 points – having exited both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, with questions persisting around the Australian’s future at the club.

And things are not much better at United, with Ruben Amorim’s side sitting just two points and one place above Spurs.

The Portuguese’s start to life at Old Trafford has been underwhelming so far, and while they have taken a place in the last 16 of the Europa League alongside Spurs, it’s now a fact that success in that competition is the only potential positive that either club can take from an otherwise disappointing season.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Premier League match between Tottenham and Manchester United.

The match sees two of the league’s most underwhelming sides face off, as a struggling Spurs look to leapfrog United into 13th place in the table.

And we’ll have all the latest build-up and team new right here.