Manchester United are 11 points behind rivals Manchester City with the title race close to being finished.
But Jose Mourinho's side will hope this weekend could be the beginning of a famous comeback with Tottenham posing a serious threat to Pep Guardiola's 15-game win streak.
Should City slip up at the Etihad, United could have the chance to narrow the gap at the Hawthorns against West Brom on Sunday.
The tensions between the red and blue half of Manchester have simmered a little, yet Mourinho has continued his frosty relationship with the media.
We'll have all the updates as the Portuguese speaks at the Carrington training ground heading into the festive period.
5 defenders that Jose Mourinho could sign for Manchester United to replace the injured Eric Bailly
Manchester United have suffered a big setback with the news that defender Eric Bailly could be out for up to three months.
Bailly has a “serious” ankle injury that has kept him out of action since United’s defeat by Chelsea in November.
And the news could prompt manager Jose Mourinho to dip into the transfer market in search of an adequate replacement for the 23-year-old.
The £30 million buy from Villarreal was a consistent performer in United’s charge to Europa League glory last season.
But Mourinho has struggled to fill the void left by the Ivory Coast international as he has chopped and changed with his central defensive pairing in recent weeks.
The Portuguese boss has Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcus Rojo and Victor Lindelof all at his disposal, but could be tempted for a move for one of the potential targets we’ve pinpointed here...
Samuel Umtiti
Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti has cropped up on Jose’s radar, as he continues to stall over a new contract at the Nou Camp.
The 24-year-old Frenchman is currently out injured but has earned plenty of plaudits since his move to the Catalan club at the start of the 2016 season.
And his performances have not gone unnoticed at Old Trafford as Mourinho is said to be a big admirer of the former Lyon man.
Umtiti has Champions League experience and would certainly be an upgrade on United’s current roster.
Whether Barca would be willing to let Umtiti go is another question however, as they only have ex-Arsenal player Thomas Vermaelen as back-up and are still contesting three trophies this season.
Mourinho on why Mkhitaryan has been left out
I can only have six (outfield) players on the bench and I try and have some balance.
I had two defenders and Blind who can play in different areas. I had Young to cover me the wing-back and wing positions.
Mourinho asked about Griezmann, Fellaini and Mkhitaryan
I don’t speak about players, especially ones who belong to other clubs, there is no sense to do that.
Mourinho would not touch on Fellaini and Mkhitaryan potentially leaving next month.
Mourinho defends managerial record
When I go to Real Madrid, they were in a difficult moment, no titles for many years, it was hard but good for my development as a manager.
Mourinho admits job difficulty
I signed a three year contract because that was the time that myself and the board decided to be my contract at that time.
I knew that wouldn’t be an easy job, I had a similar experience before in huge historic clubs.
In big clubs people look to the history of the club and not the current moment, that is difficult.
Mourinho on United's position in title race
We are second, this is where we are, not first and not third.
We take one match at a time, let’s see where we are at the end of the season.
Mourinho on West Brom
The match is very difficult.
They got so many points with Tony in the big matches, I think Tony had assembled a very good squad, lots of experienced, physical players.
Mourinho admits he will look at January solutions
I’m not a big defender of the January market, but there are players and situations that sometimes you have the chance to do and you shouldn’t lose that chance.
I don’t like the January market just to buy. But if you can buy one you would buy in June for July, with the chance a few months before, then great.
Bailly set for ankle surgery
Manchester United centre-back Eric Bailly has been ruled out for “two to three months” with Jose Mourinho confirming the Ivorian is set for ankle surgery.
The 23-year-old last played in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on November 5.
A sustained period out on the sidelines has proved costly for Mourinho, who missed the Manchester derby defeat to leave United 11 points behind City.
Mourinho told MUTV: “He goes to surgery, the decision is made. I don’t say [he’s out] for the rest of the season but it’s for the next two or three months.”
Mourinho reveals Bailly blow
He goes to surgery, the decision is made.
I don’t say [he’s out] for the rest of the season but it’s for the next two or three months.
Valencia: We can’t really afford to lose or even draw
Antonio Valencia has been speaking to MUTV about United’s form and the festive period.
The important thing we have to do now is win. We can’t really afford to lose or even draw, it’s about focusing ourselves and our objectives on winning as many games as we can and hoping that anyone above us slips up now and again.
When it’s a packed fixture calendar like we have currently, it’s really important to follow step by step what the physios and medical team give us in terms of advice.It might be about how we recuperate, what we eat… anything that can help aid the recovery period between games because we have one every few days. It’s always really important to take their advice but especially when it’s a very packed schedule like it is now.
Pep Guardiola takes another swipe at Jose Mourinho's approach as Manchester City prepare for Tottenham clash
Pep Guardiola has taken an apparent swipe at fierce rival Jose Mourinho and his approach as Manchester United boss.
Mourinho has been criticised for being a reactive rather than proactive manager ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Tottenham.
“Tottenham I think is, with Chelsea, the best team in wanting to play football,” Guardiola said.
“They don’t expect the other ones, they want to make his own game, and it is another amazing test for us three days after playing Swansea.
“After we have Leicester in the Carabao Cup.
“There is not too much time for recovery but we are ready to face Tottenham and keep that level that we show in the last period.”
Jose will be speaking in an hour or so and we’ll have all the updates.
What will he have to say about Guardiola’s latest jibe?
Meanwhile, Jesse Lingard is celebrating his birthday today with the England forward in fine form for the Red Devils, he’ll hope to be involved again this weekend.
United plotting transfer of outcast Henrikh Mkhitaryan to make room for Arsenal's Mesut Ozil
Jose Mourinho is ready to offload Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the summer — to pave the way for the signing of Mesut Ozil as his replacement.
Manchester United boss Mourinho is targeting Arsenal midfielder Ozil, who is out of contract at the end of the season, but knows he has to trim his squad before he can bring in a player on the sort of mega-contract the German will command as a free agent.
Mourinho has already been publicly critical of Mkhitaryan, accusing him of “disappearing” in games, and admitted this week that he no longer has space for the Armenia international even on his subs’ bench.
That could be the final straw for a player who joined United from Borussia Dortmund for £30m in summer 2016.
The Old Trafford giants would be confident of getting their money back, despite the 28-year-old’s patchy form.