Premier League preview: Tottenham v Manchester United

Manchester United can all but end Tottenham’s slim English Premier League title chances when the two sides meet on Sunday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men travel to White Hart Lane to take on a Tottenham team undoubtedly hurting after a 5-2 thrashing at the hands of north London rivals Arsenal last time out.

The loss left Harry Redknapp’s team eight points adrift of second-placed United, who still trail rivals Manchester City.

Tottenham have not beaten United since May 2001, and Ferguson believes if his team wins they will are a strong chance to clinch a 20th league title.

“It’s going to be a massive game,” he told Inside United. “If we can survive that one, then we’ll have a big, big chance of winning the league.”

With Manchester City hosting Bolton a day earlier, a loss at Tottenham would see Ferguson’s team slip five points adrift in the title race.

Favouring United is the absence of Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker, who was sent off against Arsenal, while injuries could rule out Rafael van der Vaart and Kyle Walker.

Redknapp will need striker Emmanuel Adebayor to continue his good form, with the United defence likely to be without Chris Smalling.

Ferguson’s men have had their injury troubles throughout the campaign, and Smalling is in doubt for the trip to Tottenham after a sickening collision with Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in England’s 3-2 loss to the Netherlands in their international friendly at Wembley on Wednesday.

Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones are fit, but Smalling was predicted to start at right-back to deal with the threat of Gareth Bale.

Wayne Rooney is recovering from a throat infection, while Tom Cleverley and Antonio Valencia could also miss.

Even in the absence of Rooney, United have found a way to win – highlighted by their gritty 2-1 victory at Norwich City on Saturday, when veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were on the scoresheet.

Tottenham have won 10 of their 13 home league matches this season, but their title chances will be all but over if Manchester United record a win on Sunday.