Indeed who can forget Manchester United 's sensational comeback to beat Spurs 5-3 at White Hart Lane in 2001 after going into the dressing room at half-time three goals down to face the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson.
And more recently, in April 2009, a Rooney and Ronaldo-inspired United hauled back a two-goal deficit to win 5-2.
The two clubs had relatively quiet summers in the transfer market, but they both have newcomers who appear to have effortlessly settled in to their new sides.
Both players were at the World Cup, but the virtually-unknown Javier Hernandez and the already-more-established Rafael Van Der Vaart have each made a rapid impact on the Premier League.
Manchester United's Mexican wonder kid, aka Chicharito, is quickly looking like a scoring sensation.
And for Tottenham, no one doubted that Van Der Vaart was an excellent purchase by Harry Redknapp, but few could have dreamed of the influence he has already had on the side.
We at IMScouting take a brief look at the two new boys ahead of today’s encounter.
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| Javier Hernandez Chicharito |
Manchester United to win - 1.60; Tottenham to win - 5.91; Draw - 4.10.
Javier Hernandez
Age: 22
Nationality: Mexican
Height: 1.73m / 5.68ft.
Weight: 62kg / 136lbs
Estimated market value: €10-15M
Efficiency ratio: Goal or assist every 102.3 minutes
"I think our scouting people deserve 10 out of 10 for identifying him before the World Cup and I think if we had been trying to negotiate after the World Cup it would have been very difficult" – Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
IMScouting first took notice of Hernandez in January 2010, when he was our player to watch.
A few months later, he sealed a dream move to Manchester United , and he’s looking like quite some purchase.
Hernandez has scored an astounding seven goals in 12 games for United in all competitions.
He appears to have been brimming with confidence from day one, making a mockery of Ferguson's doubts over his readiness for the top level when the Scot was wondering in pre-season whether to loan him out or keep him in the reserves.
22-year-old Hernandez is one of the best Mexican strikers, and is proving to be a Premiership revelation.
He is a forward who always lurks for goals, and with his outstanding control and positional sense, he is capable of scoring in a split second. His vital late goal at the Mestalla Stadium in Manchester United 's recent Champions League match against Valencia embodies all that is great about Chicharito - his huge confidence, great positional sense, exemplary first touch and clinical finishing.
Scoring goals is just what he does - and he does it with incredible ingenuity. Few could have ever witnessed a header of the type he scored against Stoke, audaciously flicking the ball in with his back to goal.
He isn't the strongest of players, but he's making up for his lack of muscle mass - bound to increase with some more time in the Premiership - with his marvelous movement and anticipation, as well as his great concentration and composure in front of goal.
Hernandez does less work outside the box than Van Der Vaart, an aspect of his game that Ferguson is likely to improve without taking away from his predatory instincts.
But it is already becoming quite clear that Manchester United have a young man on their hands who has the potential to become a world-class striker.
Hernandez's brace at Stoke
Rafael Van Der Vaart
Age: 27
Nationality: Dutch
Height: 1.76m / 5.77ft.
Weight: 74kg / 162lbs
Estimated market value: €20M-30M
Efficiency ratio: Goal or assist every 130.8 minutes
"When you have a special player you have to work at finding a way of getting the best out of him and finding a way that suits him. I wouldn't change him" - Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.
With such versatility, no one was quite sure where the versatile Dutchman would play when he sealed his last-gasp transfer deadline day move to Tottenham.
But with five goals and an assist in just eight games, Van Der Vaart seems to have made the off-the-striker role his own.
Not that Van Der Vaart remains in that position. The Dutchman is a real creative force, drifting right and left to make things happen for his new side.
He has outstanding technical ability, with a tremendous first touch, good balance and great vision.
Crucially for Spurs, Van Der Vaart has quickly developed a good understanding with Peter Crouch, largely benefitting from the big front-man's heading ability.
And Van Der Vaart himself is equally adroit at setting up his teammates with a wonderful through pass or a killer cross - as demonstrated by his centre for Crouch's goal in Tottenham's Champions League curtain raiser at Werder Bremen.
Along with his dangerous free-kicks, Van Der Vaart is a player who can decide a game in a moment.
His aerial game and his consistency had been deemed his main weaknesses prior to his move to North London.
But with a headed goal to add to his tally and a string of superb displays, it has been difficult to spot any flaws in his game thus far.
Van Der Vaart's brace against Aston Villa
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