Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
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Kick off for the game is at 4.30pm.
So who do you think will win today?
Poll Results:
A reminder of what happened the last time the sides played each other…
Our last meeting with Man Utd... #COYS pic.twitter.com/PWKYeAwJGl
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 13, 2019
“We believe we’re good enough to win the league, we’ve shown on many occasions that we are.”
Harry Winks is adamant Spurs are still title contenders. Read the full piece here.
“It’s the United style of play we know and love. It’s not just Ole’s results that have lifted the mood — it is the way he is getting them.
“United are a team going forward again with the crowd behind them. Players who looked inhibited and afraid under Jose have now thrown off whatever shackles were holding them back and are expressing themselves freely.”
Do you agree with former Man United player Norman Whiteside’s recent comments?
Confirmation of today’s teams…
#THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane. @WilliamHill odds (18+) - https://t.co/Qs1etZf2ui #COYS pic.twitter.com/kZnCMbwkOe
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 13, 2019
🔔 Your #MUFC team to face Spurs 🔔
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 13, 2019
“I don’t think the pitch is the best,” says Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who expects Tottenham to play in a slightly more direct style than normal today.
We’re under way…
Immediately on kick-off, Spurs boot the ball towards the United area — the tactic they used when they scored almost instantaneously when the sides met last season.
Though they haven’t managed a repeat of last year’s blistering start, the hosts have started this game on the front foot, with Kane not quite being able to get on the end of a dangerous Trippier cross.
Son and Kane vs Jones must worry a couple of Man UTD-fans....
— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) January 13, 2019
3 - Manchester United have lost their last three away Premier League matches against Tottenham Hotspur; they had lost just three of their first 23 against them in the competition between 1992 and 2014 (W12 D8 L3). Shift. #TOTMUN pic.twitter.com/7ZeblyAQBA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 13, 2019
Brilliant play by Son, who runs in behind Phil Jones, carries the ball a few yards and plays through Winks.
However, the English international midfielder cannot find the target with his finish from a difficult angle.
Alderweireld can only head Young’s cross into the path of Lingard, but the attacker’s shot from the edge of the area is well off target.
Moments later, Rashford’s snapshot forces a save from Lloris.
Better from United.
It’s been an entertaining start to this game.
Rashford and Martial are causing Spurs’ defence plenty of problems with their pace, while the hosts have lost their attacking momentum after a promising start.
As I type, Trippier loses the ball cheaply, and Martial dribbles through before his attempt is put out for a corner via the feet of Lloris.
Spurs have not looked convincing so far this afternoon.
Their play has been full of basic errors and poor decision-making on the ball.
Harry Kane has the ball in the net, but it’s ruled offside.
It emanated from a cross by Trippier that Alli helped across the box, before the England striker prodded it home from close range.
The replays reveal it was the correct decision.
Spurs are looking increasingly dangerous on the break.
As I type, Winks receives the ball in a promising position, but he blazes it well over the bar from about 30 yards out.
Sissoko sprints down the right wing and pulls up as he does so.
It looks like a bad injury and one likely to put him out of the game.
Eric Lamela looks set to replace him.
Spurs have now made that change, with Lamela replacing Sissoko.
It will mean a slight re-shuffle, with Eriksen moving to the right-hand side and Lamela going to the top of the midfield diamond.
TOTTENHAM 0-1 MAN UNITED (RASHFORD 44)
Trippier concedes possession cheaply, before Pogba plays a sublime long pass to Rashford.
The England international finishes from a tight angle as he scores for his third game in succession.
That’s a wonderful, clinical counter-attacking goal from the visitors.
HALF-TIME: TOTTENHAM 0-1 MAN UNITED
Half-time and it’s been a fast-paced, entertaining match.
Both sides had decent spells and it was a fairly even opening 45 minutes, with a moment of class separating the teams.
Spurs face an uphill task getting back into the game. The loss of Sissoko could prove key. The North Londoners didn’t have a like-for-like replacement for the France international on the bench. As a result, their midfield has a slightly imbalanced look, with Eriksen playing slightly out of position on the right.
8 - No player has been involved in more Premier League goals since Ole Gunnar Solskjær became caretaker manager at Manchester United than Paul Pogba (eight - four goals, four assists). Dangerous. #TOTMUN pic.twitter.com/yis6RJMtJj
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 13, 2019
Here’s a look at the game’s only goal so far…
Rashford hits the bullseye! 🎯#MUFC cut #THFC open on the counter-attack and Solskjaer's tactics have worked a treat!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 13, 2019
That pass from Paul Pogba... 😍
Watch in-game clips and highlights with the Sky Sports app: https://t.co/qSgl6MG3Fg pic.twitter.com/6LyuyquJaz
The second half is under way…
Spurs have changed shape slightly.
Eriksen and Winks are now in the sitting midfield positions, with Lamela, Alli and Son ahead of them.
Big chance for Spurs.
Alli plays through Kane, whose shot from a tight angle is saved by De Gea’s foot.
A striker of the England star’s high standards will be disappointed to miss that.
Trippier’s deep cross is met by Alli, but De Gea gets down well to save the attacker’s powerful header.
Spurs have started the second half strongly.
Young finds space down the right, and picks out Pogba with the cross.
However, Lloris does well to dive to the right and catch his fellow France international’s header.
Close again for United!
Pogba storms through the Spurs defence, but Lloris tips over his effort.
The France international is having an increasing influence on this game.
Eriksen plays a dangerous ball into the box.
Kane gets ahead of Jones, but his downward header is too close to De Gea.
The Spurs striker has been uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal today.
Winks plays it to Trippier. The full-back then crosses, but Lamela makes a complete mess of the header.
Down the other end, Martial plays it to Pogba, whose powerful shot from the edge of the box is parried to safety by Lloris.
Another chance for Spurs.
The hosts counter-attack rapidly through Dele Alli, who bursts forward, but his finish when one-on-one with De Gea is straight at the goalkeeper.
Can't think of many players who have been liberated by a change of manager quite like Pogba. Been outstanding today, in a game he probably wouldn't have played had Mourinho still been in charge.
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) January 13, 2019
United are really under the cosh now.
De Gea makes an excellent save after Alderweireld meets Eriksen’s corner with a volley/
Kane’s curling free kick is saved by De Gea.
The Spaniard is looking unbeatable at the moment — he’s been superb today.
United make an attacking change.
Lukaku is on in place of Martial, who has caused Spurs problems today.
Eriksen’s lofted pass finds Alli.
Again, however, De Gea gets down well to make a good save.
It was a disappointing finish from the England international, who couldn’t find the corner and gave the goalkeeper a chance.
Not sure I’ve ever seen a keeper make more saves with his feet than David de Gea. Ridiculously quick reactions.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 13, 2019
Pogba has been booked for a foul on Dele Alli and throwing the ball in frustration afterwards.
The midfielder’s foot was very high and is lucky the punishment for that challenge was not more severe.
Spurs make an attacking change.
Llorente is on in place of Harry Winks.
Perhaps in response to that Spurs change, United make a substitution.
Lingard makes way, with 19-year-old defender Diogo Dalot entering the action in his place.
Llorente knocks it down for Kane.
For the umpteenth time, De Gea makes a fine stop from the striker’s powerful shot with his feet.
Llorente controls Trippier’s cross, but his subsequent shot just inside the area is straight at De Gea.
A mixture of goalkeeping excellence and poor Spurs finishing has kept the score at 1-0.
Spurs have resorted to more route-one football and trying to hit Llorente as often as possible.
Meanwhile, United make a late change, with McTominay replacing Pogba.
FULL-TIME: TOTTENHAM 0-1 MAN UNITED
Well, that’s that, as United secure a fifth win in a row, while that result surely ends all hope of a Tottenham title triumph.
It was not a pretty performance from United, but they got the job done in the end.
David De Gea was a standout, epitomising the visitors’ defensive resilience — there will be few games where he will have to work harder to earn a clean sheet.
Paul Pogba had some impressive moments, while Marcus Rashford’s finish was as clinical as the Spurs attackers were wasteful.
You might have thought Spurs day couldn’t get any worse…
Real worry for Spurs here with Kane badly limping off the pitch
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) January 13, 2019
14 – The only top-flight league match in which David de Gea has made more saves than he did versus Tottenham Hotspur today (11) was against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on December 2nd 2017 (14). Hero. #TOTMUN pic.twitter.com/IbWzCVXAdd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 13, 2019
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
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