Two managers who could both do with a statement win pit their wits in Old Trafford clash
Manchester United vs Tottenham LIVE!
Spurs head to Old Trafford in the Premier League this afternoon knowing that Man Utd are potentially there for the taking but also with a poor record of just two wins in their last 11 games against so-called ‘big-six’ rivals. One of those did come against United, in Ange Postecoglou’s first home game in charge, but the manager has struggled on the road with just two away league wins in 2024 so far.
Erik ten Hag is again under pressure, just months on from being rewarded with a new contract, after picking up just one win from United’s last four league games - against 10-man Southampton - and then being held at home by FC Twente in their Europa League opener in midweek. United are looking for their first win in four against Spurs, who have won their last three across all competitions after seeing off Qarabag on Thursday.
While Postecoglou is not under any immediate pressure, in the same way Ten Hag seemingly always is, a win for either manager would do wonders moving forward. Marcus Rashford returns for United today, while Heung-min Son is out for Tottenham as Timo Werner starts. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dan Kilpatrick at Old Trafford.
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Manchester United vs Tottenham
Underway at Old Trafford!
Feels like both sides - and both managers - could use a statement win this afternoon.
This could be a cracker...
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Here come the teams at Old Trafford as the Stone Roses blare out over the PA system.
Olympic gold medalist and Manchester United fan Keely Hodgkinson was given a nice ovation ahead of kick-off.
Manchester United vs Tottenham
More pre-match thoughts from Standard Sport’s chief football correspondent Dan Kilpatrick at Old Trafford...
Timo Werner facing big afternoon at Old Trafford
Standard Sport’s Dan Kilpatrick at Old Trafford
With Heung-min Son injured, Ange Postecoglou had the option to bring Dejan Kulusevski into the front three and play Pape Sarr or Yves Bissouma in midfield.
Instead, it's a second start of the season for on-loan Timo Werner, who was abject in the Carabao Cup win over Coventry last week.
Presuambly, the Spurs head coach did not want to move Kulusevski out of midfield, where he has been excellent of late, but it feels like a big afternoon for Werner, who has slipped down the pecking order at Spurs since last season.
No other surprises in the Spurs XI today.
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Manchester United must score more goals, insists Erik ten Hag
So what exactly is the main issue at Manchester United following another underwhelming start to the season?
Erik ten Hag thinks it’s very simple and obvious...
"We have to score more goals as a team,” he said this week.
“I think we have players across the team who have the ability to score. That's clear.
"You see all the opportunities we are creating, we are not scoring enough."
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Erik ten Hag: Struggling Manchester United must 'respect the criticism'
Erik ten Hag has usually tended to bristle in response to the plentiful criticism of his Manchester United reign so far.
However, speaking ahead of the visit of Spurs this afternoon, the Dutchman appeared to soften his approach towards his army of Old Trafford critics.
"First of all, respect the criticism," Ten Hag said. "There are many. You can have an opinion about football.
"When you are in the job, you have to deal with this, but I can't take every criticism into account.
"I don't read, of course, all the criticism. It's not even possible but I don't want even to know. I need to know some, and some are very good advice."
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Bold attacking Spurs side named by Ange Postecoglou
I wouldn’t expect anything less, but it’s a bold attacking approach from Ange Postecoglou in line with his well-established principles.
But with Spurs desperate for an overdue win against a ‘big-six’ rival and with only two away league wins to their name in 2024 so far, he should be braced for inevitable criticism if his side are beaten at Old Trafford.
You did wonder if the absence of Son might lead to either Yves Bissouma or Pape Sarr coming in as an extra midfielder.
But it’s Timo Werner who gets the nod as one of four attackers, despite having struggled to impress so far this term.
You do worry a little for that Tottenham midfield, but if they manage to overwhelm brittle United from the outset then maybe it won’t matter.
Have a feeling this could be a bonkers 4-3 kind of game, or a high-scoring draw at the very least.
Now cue the inevitable 0-0...
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Timo Werner replaces injured Heung-min Son for Tottenham
There’s no Heung-min Son as expected for Tottenham, with Timo Werner making his first Premier League start of the season as part of an attacking-looking side named by Ange Postecoglou at Old Trafford.
That is the only change from last weekend’s 3-1 comeback home win over Brentford in the top-flight, with the likes of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski all back in the starting XI after being handed a breather against Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday.
Four attackers on the pitch and no Son means that teenage duo Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear are the only forward options on the Spurs bench today.
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Manuel Ugarte and Marcus Rashford start for Manchester United
Erik ten Hag makes two changes to the Manchester United side that laboured to a goalless draw at Selhurst Park in their last Premier League outing against Crystal Palace last weekend.
Marcus Rashford is back in attack as summer signing Manuel Ugarte comes into the midfield, with Christian Eriksen and Amad Diallo both dropping to the bench.
Matthijs de Ligt, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho all start after being named on the bench against FC Twente in the Europa League on Wednesday night, but Harry Maguire misses out entirely with a knock.
That means a place on the bench for the fit-again Victor Lindelof, alongside the likes of fellow recent injury recoverees Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund.
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Tottenham lineup
Starting XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Maddison, Kulusevski, Johnson, Werner, Solanke
Subs: Forster, Spence, Dragusin, Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall, Sarr, Moore, Lankshear
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