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What Tottenham are suffering from ahead of Man Utd visit

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Martin Keown has outlined exactly what Tottenham Hotspur must do to end their barren run of form on home turf. The Lilywhites have only won three of their last 19 home games in the Premier League.

Ange Postecoglou led Spurs to victories against Manchester United in February and Southampton in April, with the other coming on the opening day of the new season. Thomas Frank got off to a blistering start in the dugout, coaching a 3-0 home win over Burnley.

The Dane hasn't tasted victory at home in the English top-flight since, with Tottenham losing to Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Chelsea, while drawing to Wolves. Frank will be eager to buck the trend when he locks horns with Ruben Amorim at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Speaking on talkSPORT, Keown commented on the Lilywhites' form. The Arsenal legend said: "It seems strange that Spurs are struggling to win a home game.

"I think it's only one win in five. Away from home, they've been quite magnificent. I've just sat down in the last hour and watched the game last week against Chelsea, and honestly, stop-start, no intensity, not pressing from the front.

"Thomas Frank, I've been impressed with him. There was an incident after the game where the players refused to shake his hands. I'm not even sure Thomas Frank should've been on the pitch at that point because that might've worked at Brentford, but when you're playing against Chelsea, their nemesis team, isn't it for Spurs – they denied them from winning the league all those years ago...

"He probably shouldn't have been there. They were hurting, and rightly so. I like Thomas Frank, but there's a lack of intensity at home, which they're suffering from at the moment."

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Manchester United have been enjoying an excellent vein of form, winning four of their last six games. Ruben Amorim was named manager of the month in October for his efforts, while Bryan Mbeumo was awarded player of the month.

The Red Devils have climbed to eighth in the Premier League, and just two points separate them from Manchester City in second. Keown added: "We have to say it's an improvement.

"Finally, the players are taking on board what the manager is asking them to do. [Matheus] Cunha and Mbeumo, the amount of work that they're doing is absolutely ridiculous.

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"They retreat to the edge of their own box. They're able to get three players on the sides. And, also what's happening is, if you look at Luke Shaw, he'll come out now from the back-three to go and press, and Amad on the right will form a back-four.

"So, there's a lot of information for those players. It seems to have taken them a hell of a long time, but now you look at the number of chances that they're creating.

"If you look at what happened to Arsenal at the start of the season, they had eight shots on target against Arsenal. I think since then, it's maybe eight from all the opponents that Arsenal have played since.

"So, that gives you an idea that this is a Manchester United team that is improving, but there's still some way to go."

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