Manchester United can prove their intriguing tactical shift is no fluke with perfect Tottenham test

Manchester United face a crucial early season fixture against Tottenham on Sunday as both clubs try to revive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

The two teams have identical records of two wins, two defeats and a draw in the league so far this season and it has been an underwhelming start for both. While Tottenham are sweating on the fitness of Son Heung-min, United have no fresh injury worries and £42m summer signing Manuel Ugarte could make his first start in the Premier League.

United head into the game unbeaten in four matches in all competitions but they have drawn their last two against Crystal Palace and FC Twente and will want to return to winning form at Old Trafford.

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Attacking combination

Erik ten Hag wasn’t given an easy introduction in his pre-Tottenham press conference. The first question he faced was, essentially, what is wrong with your team at the moment?

It didn’t take the Manchester United manager long to come up with an answer either. “Not scoring goals, that is the problem.”

It’s a strange thing to say about a team that scored 10 in 180 minutes just over a week ago, but the fill-your-boots fixtures against Southampton and Barnsley do increasingly feel like a one-off. In their other six games this season, United have scored only four times.

United have outshot Crystal Palace and FC Twente 34 to 16 this week but won neither. They have to become more ruthless.

The challenge for Ten Hag this week is to find the right combination in his front three. Marcus Rashford has looked the best attacker in recent weeks