Manchester United are the only unbeaten side in the division but are five points behind Chelsea, largely because Sir Alex Ferguson's team have already drawn more games than in the whole of last season. Tottenham have gone 25 games without beating United in all competitions, their last victory at Old Trafford all the way back in 1989, a 1-0 win courtesy of Gary Lineker. Wayne Rooney will be absent again for the home side but that is not as significant a setback as it would have been this time last year and the biggest threat to Spurs may be Javier Hernández, with three goals in the last week. Daniel Taylor
Venue Old Trafford, Saturday 5.30pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season Manchester Utd 3 Tottenham 1
Referee M Clattenburg
This season's matches 8 Y26, R2, 3.50 cards per game
Odds Manchester Utd 8-13 Tottenham 5-1 Draw 3-1
Manchester UtdSubs from Kuszczak, Brown, J Evans, Gibson, Anderson, Rafael, Obertan, Bebé, Neville, Smalling, Fábio, Macheda, Carrick
Doubtful J Evans (hip)
Injured Giggs (hamstring, 6 Nov), Rooney (ankle, 20 Nov), Owen (hamstring, 27 Nov), Valencia (broken leg, Mar), Hargreaves (calf/knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide WDDDWD
Disciplinary record Y17 R0
Leading scorer Berbatov 6
TottenhamSubs from Cudicini, Pletikosa, Bassong, Sandro, Jenas, Kranjcar, Bentley, Giovani, Keane, Pavlyuchenko
Doubtful Kaboul (hamstring)
Injured Huddlestone (ankle, 6 Nov), O'Hara (back, 6 Nov), Corluka (groin, 13 Nov), King (groin, 13 Nov), Defoe (ankle, 20 Nov), Dawson (ankle, Dec), Woodgate (groin, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide DWWLWD
Disciplinary record Y13 R0
Leading scorer Van der Vaart 4
Match pointers• This is only the third time in Premier League history that United have been unbeaten after nine games – they won the title on both previous occasions (1997 and 2000)
• Tottenham have conceded one goal in each of their last eight games in this division
• United have been awarded three penalties in their last two home league games against Tottenham
• Tottenham have won none of their last 67 games away to the traditional Big Four – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and United
• If selected, Gary Neville will be making his 400th Premier League appearance
