Postpublished at 63 mins
Man Utd 0-2 Tottenham
Manchester United fans are still in good voice, I'll give them that.
Tottenham produced a magnificent display to outclass 10-man Manchester United at Old Trafford and pile renewed pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
Spurs, even without injured Son Heung-min, tore Manchester United apart as they set the platform for victory with a first-half masterclass, the only mystery being how they only had Brennan Johnson's third-minute goal to show for their overwhelming dominance.
Johnson's simple finish was created by Micky van de Ven's barnstorming run from his own half, and Spurs went on to create chance after chance without adding to their advantage - Timo Werner being the biggest culprit when he allowed United keeper Andre Onana to save when clean through.
United's cause was not helped when captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off three minutes before the break for a lunge at James Maddison – but Ten Hag's side were an overrun, indisciplined rabble well before they had a numerical disadvantage.
Spurs finally extended their lead two minutes after the interval when Dejan Kulusevski lifted a deft finish over Onana after a fine break by Johnson.
The hard-working Dominic Solanke got the goal his industry deserved and gave the scoreline a more realistic appearance 12 minutes from time, turning in Pape Matar Sarr's headed flick at a corner to spark a mass exodus from Old Trafford by United's supporters.
In overwhelming Manchester United for a fourth successive win in all competitions, Tottenham produced a complete performance - their finest since the heady early months of Ange Postecoglou's reign.
It was only two weeks ago that Spurs needed a late comeback to beat Coventry City in the Carabao Cup as the first serious questions were being asked about Postecoglou, but this thrilling display, and the manner in which a side they will regard as rivals were so comprehensively dismantled, provided a compelling answer.
Spurs were full of quality, running and power from the first whistle, the hard-to-please Postecoglou often reduced to holding his head in his hands in anguish, or throwing his hands in the air in frustration, as they carved United open with ease time and again only to somehow fail to build on Johnson's early goal.
The fear was clear, that Spurs' failure to cash in had left the door ajar for United. Postecoglou need not have worried.
Fernandes' red card aided their cause but they had United where they wanted them long before then, and once Kulusevski added a second the deal was sealed, with Solanke's third adding the final flourish.
Johnson's early strike was understandably greeted ecstatically by his father David, who started his career at Manchester United, and who watching from the directors’ box. It was another strong response from a player who was upset by recent heavy criticism from Spurs fans.
He scored for the fourth successive game and created Kulusevski's second, playing a key part as Spurs threatened to run riot.
United had rare moments in the second half but this was Spurs' day and they thoroughly deserved the standing ovation they received from their elated fans at the final whistle.
Ten Hag has reached the stage at Manchester United where he is only ever one bad defeat away from a crisis. On that basis alone, this was a desperate day for the Dutchman.
Ten Hag might point towards the dismissal of Fernandes, which did not help - but United were being given a fearful going over by Spurs long before their captain went for lunging at Maddison after slipping on the sodden Old Trafford turf.
United's inferiority to Spurs was embarrassing. Only goalkeeper Onana emerged with any credit for two fine saves from Werner when the forward was clean through and another from Solanke, who had looked poised to rub further salt in the wounds with a fourth.
It was not simply the abject manner of United's effort as they dropped into the bottom half of the Premier League table that was so alarming. This was a tactically bankrupt and wildly indisciplined display.
Mason Mount summed up United's lack of control seconds after coming on in the aftermath of Fernandes' red card, needlessly clattering into the back of Rodrigo Bentancur to pick up a senseless yellow card. Lisandro Martinez was equally culpable for a foul on Maddison.
It will, of course, be Ten Hag who will come under scrutiny. He has no place to hide after this beating.
United show few signs of improving or any signs that they are better than last season.
These are difficult days for Ten Hag - days that will be testing the patience of the Old Trafford hierarchy who finally kept faith with him in the summer after a post-season review.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 15 |
| |
2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| |
3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 14 |
| |
4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 13 |
| |
5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 13 |
| |
6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
| |
7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 11 |
| |
8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| |
9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 9 |
| |
10 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 9 |
| |
11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 7 |
| |
12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 7 |
| |
13 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 5 |
| |
14 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 5 |
| |
15 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 4 |
| |
16 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 4 |
| |
17 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 12 | -4 | 3 |
| |
18 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 3 |
| |
19 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 1 |
| |
20 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | -10 | 1 |
|
Manager: Erik ten Hag
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Ange Postecoglou
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Erik ten Hag
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Ange Postecoglou
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Premier League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Manchester United have won 24 Premier League home games against Tottenham – only Arsenal have beaten an opponent more often at home in the competition’s history (25 vs Everton).
After a run of four straight Premier League defeats against Manchester United between 2021 and 2022, Tottenham are now unbeaten in their last three against them in the league (W1 D2).
Manchester United have lost seven of their last 19 Premier League home games (W9 D3), including a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in their last such match. They had been unbeaten in 20 at Old Trafford before this current run (W17 D3).
Since picking up 14 points from their first six Premier League away games under Ange Postecoglou (W4 D2 L0), Tottenham have picked up just a further 14 points from their last 15 on the road (W3 D5 L7). Indeed, among ever present sides over the last two seasons, no side has won fewer Premier League away games since the start of November than Spurs (3).
Since the start of last season, only Manchester City (31) have gained more points from losing positions in the Premier League than Tottenham (28), with Spurs coming from behind to beat Brentford 3-1 last time out.
Manchester United have kept four clean sheets in their last six Premier League games, which is more than they had in their previous 24 combined (3). However, they’ve lost both games in which they’ve conceded during this run (W3 D1).
Manchester United have the third highest xG in the Premier League this season (9.6) but have scored just five goals – only Southampton have a bigger negative difference between their goals (2) and expected goals (7.1) so far this term.
As a team, only Liverpool players (282) have made more off the ball runs into the opposition’s box than Tottenham’s (263) in the Premier League this season. For individual players, Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min (54) and Dejan Kulusevski (43) rank joint first and joint third for this respectively.
Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes has had more shots without scoring than any other Premier League player this season (17). Meanwhile, only Cameron Archer (2.3) and Evanilson (2) have amassed a higher xG without finding the net so far than Fernandes (1.9).
Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min has created more chances from open play than any other player in the Premier League this season (13). He’s also had a hand in five goals in his last seven league appearances against Manchester United, scoring four and assisting one.