Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur result, highlights and analysis as Fred and Bruno Fernandes secure three points

Joe Wright

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Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur result, highlights and analysis as Fred and Bruno Fernandes secure three points image

OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER — Manchester United produced arguably their best performance under Erik ten Hag as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0.

Second-half goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes secured a fully deserved three points for the Red Devils, who controlled proceedings from start to finish and could have scored many more were it not for Hugo Lloris' brilliance in the Spurs goal.

Lloris denied Marcus Rashford one-on-one and made a good save from Luke Shaw, while Antony also hit the post in a first half dominated by the home side.

Manchester United vs. Tottenham live score

  1H 2H Final
Man United 0 2 2
Tottenham 0 0 0

Goals:

MAN UNITED — Fred — 47 mins

MAN UNITED — Fernandes — 69 mins

United took until deep into injury time to score against Omonia Nicosia and were frustrated by Newcastle United last time out here, but they found a breakthrough early in the second half when Fred's effort deflected in off Ben Davies.

Fernandes added a sumptuous second after the officials played a good advantage, and the result never really looked in doubt. Indeed, had it not been for further saves from Lloris against Rashford, one of which was a fabulous one-handed stop, the scoreline could have looked humbling for Spurs.

The result moves United to within four points of Antonio Conte's side in the Premier League table, with a game in hand, while they are just one behind fourth-place Chelsea ahead of a trip to Stamford Bridge this Saturday.

In-Fred-ible

His goal was certainly a little fortunate — indeed, he probably only got the deflection because he used his left foot awkwardly, having earlier skied an effort with his right — but Fred deserved it for his performance.

It was a little surprising to see him stay in the lineup given his ineffective showing against Newcastle, but this was a prime example of a game where using the Brazilian to his strengths can pay dividends.

His energy in the middle of the pitch meant Casemiro could stay deeper and help United to keep control, and it meant Spurs never had authority in the middle despite starting with three central players. He won the ball high up the pitch and was purposeful in possession to keep United attacks moving, helping to give them a balance that hasn’t always been apparent this season.

His impact was best summed up in the second half when, having spun into space to launch a counter-attack, he misplaced a simple pass, forced Spurs backwards, regained possession and set up a good chance for Rashford all in the space of about 10 seconds. "Fred will tear you apart again," sang the Stretford End.

'Ten Hag ball' arrives in Manchester

This was undoubtedly United's best performance of the season. It will also rank highly among their top displays under any of their previous three managers — and maybe beyond.

United's victory over Liverpool here this season was built on ruthless counter-attacks and a fighting spirit. At home to Arsenal, they played an effective tactical game in defence and made the most of some poor Gunners positioning. Yet in both of those matches, there was an element of hanging on, of needing to battle through difficult moments against teams playing more controlled football.

Against Spurs, everything clicked.

United dominated this from start to finish. Even the frustration of not taking their chances in the first half didn't seem to throw them off their stride. They ended the game with 52 per cent possession, largely because they let Spurs have the ball in the closing stages, and 28 shots to the visitors' nine. Crucially, De Gea was practically a spectator barring one routine save from Kane at the end of the first half.

If this is a performance that can be sustained, United could have a good season.

Conte quelled into quiet contemplation

Early in the first half, Conte was yelling and gesturing to his players with practically every kick of the ball, as though moving pieces about a Subbuteo board. As the clock ticked down on Spurs' defeat and the home fans bellowed their approval of the spectacle, he stood mutely on the touchline.

This will have felt chastening to Conte. His plan appeared to be to contain United by using three central midfielders and to spring counter-attacks using Son and Kane. If that's the case, it failed badly.

There were suggestions that Spurs' good run — just one defeat in 10 league games in 2022/23 — had come even though they were cruising in second or third gear. At Old Trafford, they barely left the car park.

Conte sent his players back out after halftime a couple of minutes early, but whatever message he wanted to get across apparently didn't work. They were soundly beaten, and but for Lloris, the scoreline would have looked far more one-sided.

Manchester United vs Tottenham live updates, highlights from Premier League match

FT: It finishes 2-0 to Manchester United, who thoroughly deserved to win a largely one-sided affair. Fred's deflected strike and a fine Bruno Fernandes finish got them the three points in the second half, and they were scarcely troubled by Spurs from then on. Ten Hag's side have now beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs at Old Trafford this season, scoring seven goals and conceding two.

90+4 mins: Kane forces a corner off Martinez, but Sessegnon glances Son's delivery high and wide — and that's that!

90+2: Spence makes a promising run into the United box but Shaw closes down the danger. Fred then caps a tremendous performance by robbing Kane of the ball, but Rashford is offside as United try to counter.

90 mins: Fred plays a lovely ball over the top to Elanga, whose touch just lets him down. United are pushing for a late third here (or just keeping the ball away from their own goal). This has been as dominant a display as they've managed under Ten Hag. We'll have four minutes of added time.

87 mins: Anthony Elanga and Christian Eriksen come on for United. Casemiro gets a huge ovation — he's played superbly tonight. Eriksen's arrival gets a mixed reaction from the Spurs fans.

85 mins: Cheers from the home fans as the Spurs contingent try to cheer on their side for a late comeback. They now have Lucas Moura and Ryan Sessegnon supporting Son and Kane in attack, and United are dropping off a little more to defend.

82 mins: Fernandes has the ball in the net again, having rounded Lloris to finish in style, but he was just offside as Rashford whipped over the pass. Conte has gone for broke, making four substitutions at the same time.

79 mins: United have settled into a more controlled possession-based approach after that second goal. McTominay is on for Antony, who gets a rest before the trip to Chelsea at the weekend.

74 mins: Lloris with an unbelievable save! Fred, being Fred, launches a counter-attack, loses the ball, then promptly wins it back and gives it to Rashford. The forward makes space on his right foot and lets fly, but Lloris produces a stunning one-handed stop to keep it out. It was a little too close to the Spurs keeper again, but it was hit with plenty of power.

69 mins: GOAL! Fernandes makes it 2-0! Fred tried to turn a loose ball forwards just inside the Spurs box, Dier blocked it back to Fernandes, and he swept a sumptuous first-time finish out of Lloris' reach. United double their lead!

Watch Fernandes make it 2-0 (UK):

USA: 

66 mins: You wonder if Conte will change things soon — Spurs are struggling to get a foothold in this game. Rashford had another chance just now, racing through onto De Gea's long ball, but he ran out of room in the Spurs box.

60 mins: United look the more likely to score the game's second. Antony drags a shot narrowly wide of the near post and Rashford has a penalty shout waved away after racing in behind Dier (who didn't really seem to make much contact — it looked like the United striker tripped on the ball). Fred then picks out Rashford with an excellent cross, but he gets his header all wrong. That was more of a delivery for Ronaldo to attack.

51 mins: Rashford has a chance for 2-0! He battles his way into the box, cuts back onto his left foot, but Lloris manages to stay big enough to keep the ball out. At the other end, Kane manages to find space but his effort is deflected behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

47 mins: GOAL! Manchester United are in front, and it's Fred who's got the goal! Fernandes wins back possession in the Spurs half and finds Antony. The Brazilian squares to Sancho, who lays the ball off to Fred on the edge of the box. He shoots first time with his left foot, it takes a big deflection off Davies and rolls into the bottom-left corner!

Watch Fred's opening goal (UK):

Watch in the USA:

KO: Here we go — will we see a winner here?

HT: Conte has sent his players out early. Perhaps a few stern words were all that were needed. McTominay and Eriksen have been warming up for the home side, but it doesn't look like either will be coming on imminently.

HT: The half ends quietly after that Dalot incident. Conte will certainly be happier with the scoreline, but Spurs have been second-best here. This has been one of United's better first-half displays in recent weeks, but they couldn't find that breakthrough goal, and you have to wonder if some of those misses will come back to haunt them, specifically the one from Rashford.

44 mins: United have played well and with purpose in this first half, but Spurs' shape, with a back five and three central midfielders, has mostly kept clear-cut chances to a minimum. The visitors launch a promising break that ends with De Gea saving at the near post from Kane's attempt, before the England striker blasts the rebound into the throat of Dalot, who's now being treated.

39 mins: A few meaty challenges fly in from both teams and suddenly the noise inside Old Trafford is cranked up. Fred's shot flies wide, then Dalot tries one from a similar distance, and play is stopped because it struck Dier plumb in the face. That would've been painful.

34 mins: Perisic intercepts a pass on the edge of the Spurs box and starts a break, but he stops on halfway to keep possession, prompting groans from the away fans. Spurs eventually do work it forward, but Son's effort from the edge of the area is comfortably over.

29 mins: Some lovely one-touch stuff between Sancho, Shaw and Fernandes tees up Casemiro to shoot first time with his left foot, and it just fizzes wide of Lloris' right-hand post. The Spurs keeper stood and watched that one. United have played some nice football at times, but the visitors will know their chances on the break will come.

24 mins: Lloris is keeping this at 0-0 at the moment. He tips over a free-kick from Fernandes and then does the same to a fizzing Shaw volley from Dalot's cross. United are carrying the threat at the moment, but they can't get that breakthrough.

21 mins: What a chance for Rashford! Fred's throughball is perfect, Rashford is through on goal, but Lloris makes fine save to keep out his low effort. The Spurs keeper shouldn't have been given a chance there.

20 mins: Conte is directing everything and everyone from the sideline, while Ten Hag is standing quite passively and observing. He had a great view just then of a fine crossfield pass from Kane to Doherty, who got into the box but couldn't find the target.

15 mins: A chance for Spurs on the break, but Dalot defends well one-vs-one against Perisic and the ball goes out for a goal kick. Spurs are just starting to grow into the game.

11 mins: Antony hits the post! The Brazilian cuts inside on his left foot and curls the ball towards the right-hand upright, which it clips on its way behind for a goal kick. It might be the expected play from the former Ajax man, but when it works, it's a real threat.

Watch Antony strike the post for United (UK):

7 mins: A scary moment for Lloris there! Fernandes dummies beautifully in midfield and Fred plays it through to Rashford. Spurs clear, but only as far as Antony, who tries to catch Lloris off his line. The Spurs keeper gathers it, and then somehow fumbles it behind, but it's out for a corner rather than in his own net. Moments later, he tips over a good strike from Fred, as if to make amends.

KO: We're off under the lights!

15 mins to KO: Spurs players are heading back down the tunnel following their warm-up. United's contingent is following (although it's mostly the subs who are still out there). Kickoff is fast approaching!

30 mins to KO: The decision to leave out Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick in this fixture last season and was the only reason for Spurs' defeat (according to Conte) is a big one from Ten Hag. Rashford offers more mobility against the visiting defence, but he was guilty of missing a clear chance to score a late winner against Newcastle — a chance Ronaldo would be expected to score. As for Spurs, their set-up would suggest a more cautious approach and using Kane and Son's ruthless combination on the break, which could serve them well.

TEAM NEWS:

The big news for United is that Marcus Rashford starts in place of Cristiano Ronaldo. There's a place for Fred in central midfield alongside Casemiro, with the returning Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen on the bench.

For Tottenham, Ivan Perisic gets the nod on the left-hand side in what looks like a 5-3-2 set-up. Yves Bissouma joins Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield, with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in attack.

80 mins to KO: Bruno Fernandes did the pre-match interview for the official programme and spoke about how he wants to stay at United for "many years". "I want to have some stability for my family," he said. Plenty of United fans might wish for some stability in his form: with his attacking output having dried up, Ten Hag's men have looked a little blunt in recent matches, not least as they struggled to break down Omonoia and Newcastle in their previous two home games.

100 mins to KO: This is arguably a more important game for United than Spurs, even so early in the season. Conte's men are seven points above the Red Devils in the table and only four off top spot, so a draw would be far from a poor result here. For United, defeat today — and a win for Chelsea at Brentford — would leave them six points outside the top four. Oh, and they go to Stamford Bridge in three days' time.

120 mins to KO: We're here at Old Trafford for a big game in the battle for the top four — and, just maybe, the Premier League title in the case of Spurs. Leave it to Antonio Conte to stir the pot in the lead-up.

MORE: Updated Premier League top goal scorers rankings

 

Manchester United vs. Tottenham lineups

Scott McTominay is back from suspension after missing the draw with Newcastle, but he and fit-again Christian Eriksen are on the bench. Marcus Rashford was only well enough to appear off the bench versus the Magpies but has usurped Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI against Spurs.

Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire are still out, along with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Donny van de Beek. Brandon Williams is training individually outside again, but Axel Tuanzebe is not expected back before late December.

Manchester United lineup (4-2-3-1): De Gea (GK) — Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw — Casemiro, Fred — Antony, Fernandes, Sancho — Rashford

Subs: Malacia, Elanga, Ronaldo, Heaton, Pellistri, Garnacho, Eriksen, Lindelof, McTominay

For Tottenham, Ivan Perisic gets the nod on the left-hand side in what looks like a 5-3-2 set-up. Yves Bissouma joins Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield, with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in attack.

Dejan Kulusevksi misses out, as does Richarlison, while Emerson Royal is suspended.

Tottenham lineup (5-3-2): Lloris (GK) — Doherty, Romero, Dier, Davies, Perisic — Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Bissouma — Son, Kane

Subs: Forster, Spence, Gil, Lucas Moura, Lenglet, Sanchez, Sessegnon, Tanganga, Skipp

Manchester United vs. Tottenham live stream, TV channel

  UK USA Canada Australia
TV channel — — — —
Streaming Amazon Prime Video Peacock fuboTV Canada Optus Sport

UK: This is one of the select Premier League matches to be shown on Amazon Prime this season. Subscribers can watch for no additional fee, while there is also a free 30-day trial for those without subscriptions.

USA: The match will be exclusively available on NBC streaming platform Peacock.

Canada: Every Premier League game streams live and on demand exclusively via fuboTV.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream the Premier League live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a Senior Editor at Sporting News. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has reported live on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia.