Manchester United are set to face Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday evening in a match deemed crucial for manager Michael Carrick. United currently sit 12th in the Premier League with only one win from their initial five games.
Their opponents, Tottenham, are at the bottom of the league table, having secured just two points despite a reported £300m summer spend on Roberto De Zerbi's rebuild. For Carrick and United, securing a win against the league's lowest-ranked team is considered a necessity as they approach a challenging run of fixtures in October.
United have conceded fewer opposition touches in their box than any other team but are the only side yet to keep a clean sheet. They also lead in touches in opposition boxes but struggle to convert possession into goals and points. Matheus Cunha, leading the line, has only one goal, while Marcus Rashford has no goal involvements.
Carlos Baleba, a £65m August signing from Brighton, is poised to make his debut after recovering from an ankle injury. He is expected to provide energy in central midfield. United also have several other players sidelined with injuries, including Benjamin Sesko, Kobbie Mainoo, and Marcus Rashford.