MANCHESTER UNITED   De Gea Fabio, Smalling, Evans, Evra Nani, Cleverley, Anderson, Young Welbeck, Rooney

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR   Gomes Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale Van der Vaart Defoe

After back to back wins over Manchester City and West Brom, Sir Alex Ferguson may hand a second consecutive start to midfield youngster Tom Cleverley, who was influential in both games, whilst Danny Welbeck should be given further time to bed in up front with Wayne Rooney.

The injury list at White Hart Lane remains ever present however, with Steven Pienaar joining William Gallas, Ledley King, Wilson Palacios and Jermaine Jenas on the sidelines in recent weeks.

• The last time Tottenham tasted victory at Old Trafford was in 1989, when Gary Lineker grabbed the winner for the north Londoners.


• This is a fixture which rarely goes without controversy. In 2005, Pedro Mendes half-way line effort beat then Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll and crossed the line, only for the goal to be notoriously not given.


• Last season, Spurs stopper Heurelho Gomes was on the receiving end of further controversy, when Portuguese winger Nani capitalised upon a mix-up between the Brazilian and referee Mark Clattenburg to help the Red Devils to a 2-0 victory.


• Spurs last beat the current Premier League champions back in May 2001, when they inflicted a 3-1 final day of the season defeat upon Sir Alex Ferguson’s side at White Hart Lane.


• Monday night’s hosts remained unbeaten at home throughout last season, and only once did they fail to take all three points, with West Brom securing a 2-2 draw at the Theatre of Dreams in October.


• This will be Tottenham’s first game of the 2011-2012 Premier League season, after last week’s clash at home against Everton was postponed due to civil unrest in the capital.