The Independent

Ruben Amorim has issued an injury update on Benjamin Sesko after the striker was forced off in the dramatic finale of Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Stoppage-time goals from Richarlison and Matthijs De Ligt cancelled each other out as Spurs and United shared the spoils in N17, but it was Mathys Tel’s 84th-minute equaliser that set up the blockbuster finish.

Just a couple of minutes after Tel’s deflected effort went in, Sesko had a golden chance to restore the Red Devils’ lead as he was slipped clean through on Guglielmo Vicario’s goal.

He was thwarted by an outstanding last-ditch challenge by Micky van de Ven, sliding in just as Sesko was about to pull the trigger to deny the Slovenian.

But things got worse for Sesko, who picked up an injury from the challenge and limped off in the dying moments of the 90, reducing Amorim’s side to 10 men due to all five substitutions having already been used up.

"We have to see, we think he has a problem but let's see,” Amorim told TNT Sports after full-time.

"It's a little frustration, but also pride at the response of the players at the response to second goal of Tottenham. This is the tip of the iceberg, we are at the beginning of becoming a strong team, so we have a lot to do."

Amorim was later asked about Sesko’s lacklustre form in front of goal, to which he added: "That is not the biggest concern now. That happens, especially with a striker.

“I am more concerned with an injury, because it's in the knee, we don't know, we need to be a better team. I have no idea. Because is the knee we never know."

Thomas Frank also issued an update on Cristian Romero after the Spurs captain came off at the same time as Sesko, sparking injury concerns.

The Dane has quelled any fears, saying: “He was just done physically. He just came back from that injury. He's fine.”

Follow live coverage as Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester United today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Liverpool look to fend off competition from Arsenal, Manchester City and more.

The race for the Champions League places should also be a compelling battle, with a fifth place possible for English teams. Manchester United’s latest rebuild under Ruben Amorim sets expectations high once more after a dismal season last time out.

Meanwhile, it’s Burnley, Leeds United and Sunderland who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:

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Tottenham vs Manchester United live: Second spot up for grabs in Premier League clash

Can Ruben Amorim’s side continue their recent improvement on a trip to north London?

Tottenham and Manchester United meet in an intriguing Premier League clash in which either could move to second in the table with victory.

The pair begin level on points and possess identical records thus far, with the visitors seemingly overcoming an early season crisis to find a degree of fluency under Ruben Amorim. While a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest was something of a set-back, the Manchester United manager suggested afterwards that it was the sort of game his side might have lost last season, taking the positives as they avoided defeat again.

Spurs were beaten by Chelsea in their last league outing, with a flat performance and the curious reactions of Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven at full time prompting a degree of discussion over Thomas Frank’s start to life in north London. A 4-0 thrashing of Copenhagen, then, was just the tonic in midweek for the manager with Van de Ven to the fore with an outstanding solo goal. Can they build more momentum here against an improving Manchester United?

Follow all of the latest from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with our live blog below:

How the Premier League shapes up going into the weekend

Will Castle8 November 2025 10:30

Thomas Frank believes Man Utd have advantage in battle for Champions League

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank feels Manchester United have a key advantage in the battle for Champions League qualification in the “most competitive” Premier League.

When asked about the fact Ruben Amorim’s side aren’t competing in Europe this season, Frank insisted: “No doubt it’s an advantage, no doubt.

“I said from the beginning we want to be able to compete in both because of where we want to be. We need to be able to perform in Champions League and still to perform in the league.

“There’s no two ways about it, that’s for the fans, the status, the money, everything, the ambitions, what we want to achieve, but to have a week to prepare for a game, to have the freshness, that means something!

“I think in general the Premier League this season is the most competitive Premier League I’ve seen. This is my fifth year here.

“There’s so little between the teams. If I see the other games, I heard (Arne) Slot talk about the Aston Villa Villa game, small margins in that game as well, the momentum change in games – it’s very, very competitive.

“I think in the last couple of years the traditional big six, Newcastle is in there for a top seven, Villa is up there so that’s suddenly eight. Then there’s teams have that done fantastic. Brighton, Bournemouth also, so it’s just very competitive.

“Then it is just a different beast when you want to be up there, playing in Europe and also competing in the league.”

Will Castle8 November 2025 10:15

Ruben Amorim backs ‘control freak’ Benjamin Sesko after Gary Neville criticism

Ruben Amorim has backed “control freak” Benjamin Sesko to succeed at Manchester United after Gary Neville claimed the striker was “well off it” compared to United’s other summer signings.

“I’m relaxed,” Amorim said of Sesko’s start to life at United. “He’s not relaxed.

“What I mean is that I understand how things are in football and he’s going to struggle. That is normal.

“He has no experience here and then the first impact when everyone says that ‘you are so good, you are the next big thing’, and you hear about that with Sesko. Then you come to one club that is the hardest club.

“If you don’t perform every week, you are going to hear a lot of things from club legends, from pundits, from the media, and sometimes they are right.

“To have the ability to understand that is normal and still maintain your level of confidence is really hard for a young kid, especially for a young kid that is a control freak, wants to control everything, and he’s not going to control everything.

“When I started training with Ben, he has more potential than I was thinking. He’s going to struggle and we need to understand how he likes to play also to put in our ideas, so I’m quite relaxed with that.

“He is going to be our striker for the long term, but he’s going to have these struggles and these bumps during the ride, and that is a normal thing in football.”

Ruben Amorim backs ‘control freak’ Benjamin Sesko after Gary Neville criticism

Neville took aim at the Manchester United striker after last weekend’s draw at Nottingham Forest

Will Castle8 November 2025 10:00

Leny Yoro: Why the world’s most expensive 18-year-old chose Man United over Real Madrid

If it has been a problem for Manchester United that many a signing has not quite been who they seemed to be, Leny Yoro has a confession to make. He is not named after the bare-chested American rock musician Lenny Kravitz. “No, that’s not true,” he said. The source of such a seemingly outlandish suggestion came rather close to home: it was his own mother. “She wanted something for the media. She liked Lenny Kravitz, but she didn't take his name. It's just storytelling.”

And so the more pertinent part of his name may be the second half. It might become still more familiar with his brothers Esteban and Romeo in Lille’s academy, one a centre-back, the other a No 10. “I don't want them to be really involved in the Yoro name, because sometimes it's difficult for them to face this,” the older sibling said. “It's better for them to build their own career.”

The relevant influences may instead be Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Rio Ferdinand, the defenders Leny Yoro admires. “I try sometimes to also watch some clips, to compare my game with them,” he said. “This is something you need to reach the top, to look to the best, and I can speak with Rio Ferdinand sometimes for advice.”

Full interview:

Why the world’s most expensive 18-year-old chose Man United over Real Madrid

Interview: Now into his second year at Old Trafford, the 19-year-old explains why he never regretted his choice of club despite a rocky start

Richard Jolly8 November 2025 09:45

Predicted line-ups

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Palhinha; Kudus, Simoxns, Odobert; Kolo Muani.

Man United XI: Lammens; Yoro, de Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko.

Will Castle8 November 2025 09:34

Man United team news

Lisandro Martinez remains the only absentee for United, with Ruben Amorim facing decisions on who to start in defence after the lapses against Nottingham Forest.

Harry Maguire could return to the side, while Patrick Dorgu could replace either Amad or Diogo Dalot at wing-back.

Will Castle8 November 2025 09:33

Tottenham team news

For the hosts, Mohammed Kudus could make a return after sitting out the win over Copenhagen with a knock, while Lucas Bergvall will once again be out due to concussion protocol after the incident against Chelsea.

Archie Gray, Kota Takai, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin and Dominic Solanke remain out until towards the end of the month, while Dejan Kulusevski could be back before December.

Will Castle8 November 2025 09:32

Is Tottenham vs Man United on TV?

The match is schedule to take place on Saturday, 8 November at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Kick-off is scheduled for 12.30pm GMT.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11am GMT. Subscribers can also stream the action online via discovery+.

You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for only £30.99 per month.

Will Castle8 November 2025 09:31

Tottenham vs Man United LIVE!

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Saturday’s early kick-off between Tottenham and Manchester United.

The pair begin level on points and have a chance to leap into second in the Premier League, with the visitors seemingly overcoming an early season crisis to find a degree of fluency under Ruben Amorim. While a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest was something of a set-back, the Manchester United manager suggested afterwards that it was the sort of game his side might have lost last season, taking the positives as they avoided defeat again.

Spurs were beaten by Chelsea in their last league outing, with a flat performance and the curious reactions of Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven at full time prompting a degree of discussion over Thomas Frank’s start to life in north London. A 4-0 thrashing of Copenhagen, then, was just the tonic in midweek for the manager with Van de Ven to the fore with an outstanding solo goal. Can they build more momentum here against an improving Man United?

Stay tuned for all the build-up, team news and minute-by-minute updates from the clash!

Will Castle8 November 2025 09:30

Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United in the Premier League’s early kick-off today, with both sides hoping to pick up an important win against a potential top four rival.

Thomas Frank’s side were booed off in their last domestic home match in the insipid 1-0 loss to Chelsea, though the 4-0 win over Copenhagen has recovered some good will from the home faithful ahead of the visit of United.

Spurs’ home form has been among the worst in the league though, having won just one of five home matches in the league so far, and today they face a United side who have seen an upturn in their own dismal form despite the draw with Nottingham Forest last time out.

Ruben Amorim has eased some of the pressure with wins over Liverpool and Brighton but the performance at Forest showed some familiar issues, though a match against a Spurs team who beat United three times last season – most notably in the Europa League final –is the perfect chance to prove his side are on the right track.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

When is Tottenaham vs Man Utd?

The match is schedule to take place on Saturday, 8 November at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Kick-off is scheduled for 12.30pm GMT.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11am GMT. Subscribers can also stream the action online via discovery+.

You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for only £30.99 per month.

Team news

For the hosts, Mohammed Kudus could make a return after sitting out the win over Copenhagen with a knock, while Lucas Bergvall will once again be out due to concussion protocol after the incident against Chelsea.

Archie Gray, Kota Takai, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin and Dominic Solanke remain out until towards the end of the month, while Dejan Kulusevski could be back before December.

Lisandro Martinez remains the only absentee for United, with Ruben Amorim facing decisions on who to start in defence after the lapses against Nottingham Forest. Harry Maguire could return to the side, while Patrick Dorgu could replace either Amad or Diogo Dalot at wing-back.

Predicted line-ups

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Palhinha; Kudus, Simons, Odobert; Kolo Muani.

Tottenham vs Manchester United betting tips

Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United in the Premier League‘s early kick-off this weekend, with both sides looking for a much-needed win against a potential European rival.

Both sides have had mixed starts to the season but it’s the hosts who are faring better so far, with Thomas Frank’s side starting the weekend in sixth, just two points off second place.

However, Spurs were booed off at home to Chelsea last weekend and while a 4-0 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League included an improved performance, fans will likely wait until the final whistle this weekend to pass their latest judgement on the new project, with Spurs having drifted to huge outsiders in the Premier League title odds.

Worryingly for home fans, they have won just one of five home matches in the league this season, and while their away form has carried them up the table, they will need to improve their home performances drastically if they want to retain goodwill from the home faithful.

This weekend provides the perfect chance to do just that, with the visit of Manchester United bringing a fixture that Spurs have done well in in recent seasons, having won five of the last six against the Red Devils.

Some thought that United were beginning to turn a corner after recent wins over Liverpool and Brighton but last week’s draw to Nottingham Forest was a reminder of the problems that still plague Ruben Amorim and his side, and while United remain a threat in attack, their defensive issues are still clear as day against better sides.

However, United’s improved performances have seen their odds improve across the board, with the Red Devils now priced at 5/2 to finish in the top four compared to odds of 17/2 for Spurs to do so.

This turnaround in fortunes has also been reflected in the odds for this fixture, with betting sites now having United as the favourites in the early Premier League odds, with the hosts a decent price underdog.

Tottenham vs Manchester United prediction: Points shared in north London

Both of these sides come into this fixture with something to prove, with neither really having managed to kick on since the last time they met in that winner-takes-all Europa League final in May.

Spurs emerged victorious on that occasion but they have developed little in the months since, and though Frank has taken them into the right section of the Premier League table, there is a feeling that a battle for the European places is the best possible outcome for the season ahead.

United are in similar territory, with the same problems still plaguing Ruben Amorim, and defensive lapses and the concession of chances like those against Forest show that, just like Spurs, a battle for Europe is the absolute best-case scenario at Old Trafford.

Nobody was expecting either of these teams to challenge for the title but fans were probably expecting more consistency and better performances from both, though there have been glimpses from each club.

Spurs’ superb win at Everton was followed by the dismal display against Chelsea, while United’s brilliant win over Brighton came before a below-par showing in the draw to Forest, and in reality this kind of mixed form is what both fans will have to settle for.

However, it makes matches such as this one difficult to predict, for while United seem to be reasonably heavy favourites with the bookies, it is never as black-and-white with these two sides.

While United are arguably playing better football of late, they have still lost one and drawn one of their last five, scoring 11 and conceding eight, with the only clean sheet coming at home to Sunderland.

And Spurs’ attacking woes - which are likely a big part of the odds being as they are – were fully on display against Chelsea, and though Frank’s side have scored seven goals in their last five matches, these seven goals came in just two matches against Everton and Copenhagen.

However, United have kept just one clean sheet, so perhaps they are the perfect side to come up against as Frank looks to ease Spurs’ attacking worries.

While football betting sites have United as favourites, we don’t think the odds necessarily reflect the recent performances – and penchant for soft goals – of both sides, so we think there could be value on betting on a draw and both teams to score.

Tottenham vs Manchester United prediction 1: Draw and Both Teams To Score - 16/5 Ladbrokes

Tottenham vs Manchester United betting tip: Mbeumo to add to goal tally?

Mbeumo has quickly become a key cog in Ruben Amorim’s new-look attack, having completed 90 minutes in eight of his 10 Premier League appearances this season.

The Cameroon winger has scored five goals so far this term, and while he only has one assist, he remains at the forefront of most of United’s good attacking play, which is why Amorim keeps him on the pitch for the entire match more often than not.

While Mbeumo got off to a fairly quiet start to 2025/26, he has exploded into life since the win over Sunderland.

He has notched three goals and one assist in his last four matches for United, while his involvement in the red card for Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez in that 2-1 win proves that he is often involved in United’s most dangerous attacking play, even if he does not provide the finishing touches himself.

Given his past exploits for Brentford, scoring 19 goals in the Premier League last term, he could be an outsider in the Premier League top scorer odds, albeit well off the pace of Erling Haaland.

Mbeumo has scored in two of his last three matches against Spurs, so he knows how to find the net against the Lilywhites, and with the winger in good form and guaranteed to be at the centre of United’s most dangerous attacking play, we think a wager on him to score or assist could prove good value on Saturday afternoon.

Tottenham vs Manchester United prediction 2: Bryan Mbeumo to score or assist - 21/20 Bet365

Tottenham vs Manchester United team news

Tottenham vs Manchester United predicted line-ups

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Police have launched an investigation after a Premier League footballer was allegedly threatened with a gun in north London.

The Metropolitan Police are probing the incident involving Tottenham Hotspur and Italy defender Destiny Udogie.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are providing support to the 22-year-old and his family.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of firearms with intent, blackmail and driving without a licence following the incident in September.

He has been bailed while inquiries continue, the force said.

On Tuesday, a Tottenham spokesman said: “We have been providing support for Destiny and his family since the incident and will continue to do so.

“Given this is a legal matter, we cannot comment any further.”

Police were called at 11.14pm on September 6 to reports a man in his 20s had been threatened with a gun in Cockfosters Parade, Barnet.

A spokesman said: “Officers spoke to the victim and, during the course of their investigation, it was also reported another man in his 20s had also allegedly been blackmailed and threatened by the same individual.

“No injuries were reported in either incident.

“A 31-year-old man was arrested on Monday, September 8 on suspicion of possession of firearms with intent, blackmail and driving without a licence.

“He has been bailed while inquiries continue.”

The memory of a football fan is short, but thankfully for Thomas Frank, the gap between matches is even shorter.

Just three days after being booed off after an insipid performance in the loss to Chelsea, Spurs had the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium bouncing with a 4-0 win over FC Copenhagen, with a wondergoal from Micky van de Ven and a controversial red card for Brennan Johnson summing up the best and worst of a Spurs side that remains the most unpredictable in England.

Just as last season offered up one of the most contradictory seasons of football on record – with a 17th-placed finish in the Premier League accompanied by a Europa League win that brought their first trophy since 2008 – Tottenham remain an enigma this term, sitting just two points off second in the league but simultaneously capable of producing performances that offer up just 0.05 xG.

And just a few days after that loss to Chelsea, Spurs produced 3.31 xG against an admittedly poor Copenhagen side, with Xavi Simons, Johnson and Van de Ven among those to impress at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The hosts enjoyed plenty of the ball early on and were rewarded within 20 minutes when Johnson latched onto Simons’ through ball to take it past the goalkeeper and slot in a calm finish to open the scoring,

They continued to dominate possession and though the visitors were able to get forward on occasion, solid defensive displays from the reliable duo of Van de Ven and Cristian Romero meant that Spurs were rarely troubled before half-time.

The second half began in a similar vein and Spurs had doubled the lead within six minutes of the restart as Randal Kolo Muani charged down a clearance before collecting the loose ball and laying off for Wilson Odobert to slot home.

It all felt that the game may well be wrapped up already on the evidence of Copenhagen’s display, though there was still time for controversy as Johnson received a straight red card for a challenge on Marcos Lopez. While the Welshman had made contact with the back of the ankle, it was a bizarre decision from the referee, who changed a yellow to straight red after a VAR review.

While not necessarily Johnson’s fault, the whole scenario summed up Spurs’ penchant for the ridiculous, whether that be moments of madness, incidents of rashness or entire performances of insipidness.

Nobody knows Tottenham’s ability to make it difficult for themselves more than the home fans, and there were murmurs and arguably even nerves around the stadium with their side down to 10-men. Interestingly, these had been visible throughout, with groans and shouts at moments of indecision or poor attacking, notably when Kolo Muani declined to attempt a volley into an open net seconds before setting up Odobert for the second.

This all shows where the minds of the fans and the players are at, the emotions of the home faithful on a knife-edge depending on the quality of a shot or the timing of a decision. It clearly affects the players too, with Kolo Muani noticeably missing a couple of golden chances and perhaps being guilty of being too hesitant at times.

However, even more miraculously, these nerves were gone within seven minutes of the red card courtesy of a wondergoal from Van de Ven. The Dutchman picking the ball up in his own half and driving all the way to the Copenhagen box, evading a couple of half-hearted challenges before sliding an accomplished finish past the goalkeeper from just inside the box.

There was still time for more too, Joao Palhinha ending the game with a tap-in from a great Romero cross before Richarlison rattled the bar with a penalty, perhaps showing that the nerves remained even when the result was secured.

The win means that Spurs rise to seventh in the Champions League league phase table – with several sides still to play tomorrow – ahead of a trip to defending champions PSG. Their final three matches of the campaign consisting of a trip to Slavia Prague and a German double header against Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt.

It was perhaps unlikely that Spurs would finish in the top eight given the quality contained within Europe’s top sides – with five clubs coming into this week with a 100 per cent record – though with the fixtures mentioned above, Frank’s side could well do exactly that.

Whether that constitutes success for the new boss is unclear. How do you measure success after last season?

Nevertheless, the boos last weekend show that one thing the Dane certainly has to deal with is unrealistic expectations. He is just a few months into his new role and may even be a victim of his own success at Brentford, with fans expecting an instant improvement because of a higher budget and better players.

However, as mentioned above, this is a Spurs squad who are six months off one of their worst league seasons on record, and while some might argue that the Europa League win gives the club a platform to build off, the reality is that 2025/26 is a rebuild season. The Postecoglou project needs torn down and rebuilt bit-by-bit, not kept and delicately added to in the hopes of bringing success.

In Frank, Spurs have a man with the pragmatism, realism and talent to execute this rebuild successfully if they give him the chance – he should be judged by results and performances like any other manager, but he should also be afforded a degree more time and sympathy.

Tottenham Hotspur will bid to right the ship as they welcome FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday night, just three days after they were booed off the pitch following a 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea in the league.

Manager Thomas Frank confirmed Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence both apologised to him after ignoring his instructions to applaud the booing home supporters, instead making their way immediately down the tunnel.

But while that matter may have been smoothed over Spurs will be fielding a significantly weakened team for the Danish side’s visit, after Lucas Bergvall was forced off against Chelsea with a concussion, joining their long list of injured players.

The club have won just three home games of their last 19, but have much better form in the Champions League, unbeaten in this campaign so far. Copenhagen meanwhile have lost to Qarabag and Borussia Dortmund since an opening draw with Bayer Leverkusen, and have never beaten an English team away from home in any competition.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.

When is Tottenham v Copenhagen?

Tottenham host Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday 4 November at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with kick-off at 8pm GMT.

How can I watch?

Viewers can watch the game on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, as well as on streaming service discovery+.

Team news

Influential midfielder Bergvall will miss at least the next two games, joining a lengthy queue for the Spurs treatment room. Archie Gray, Ben Davies and Dominic Solanke are all out of action, as are the ineligible Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Kota Takai, and Yves Bissouma. Mathys Tel is also ineligible for the Champions League squad.

In better news, Cristian Romero, Wilson Odobert and Destiny Udogie all came off the bench against Chelsea and could find themselves in the starting XI on Tuesday. Spence and Mohammed Kudus both picked up knocks against the Blues but should be fit to feature.

For Copenhagen, Thomas Delaney, Oliver Hojer, Magnus Mattsson, Rodrigo Huescas and Birger Meling are all expected to miss out, while question marks remain over Marcos Lopez, who picked up an injury at the weekend. Centre-back Gabriel Pereira and forward Viktor Claessen may also miss out with illness.

Predicted line-ups

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Palhinha, Sarr, Kudus, Simons, Odobert, Richarlison