Manchester United 2-1 Tottenham
I was at this match last season.
As a Manchester United fan, while the result disappointed me, I saw real potential amidst the frustration.
The potential was that Jose Mourinho was building a squad which would soon be well equipped for a title chase.
The potential was a home debut for Brazilian midfielder Fred, a player who looked lively in midfield, as well as knowing that the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba would soon be match-fit again after their World Cup exertions.
The other potential that night was knowing that United had been much the better side in the opening 45 minutes and should have taken at least a one goal lead into the interval – the calamitous defending which followed was half expected.
The frustration was that the manager seemingly was not being backed sufficiently in the transfer market as he looked to continue his progression.
Defensive reinforcements were badly needed obviously. And at one point during the second half, with Spurs leading 2-0 — as much due to defensive mistakes as clinical finishing –Toby Alderweireld made a perfectly timed challenge on substitute Alexis Sanchez.
At that point, one fan in close proximity of United CEO Ed Woodward, stood up and shouted words along the lines of “Now can you see why we wanted him!”
For the Belgian — someone this SBOBET writer believes was the best defender in the Premier League for a couple of seasons between 2016 and 2018 — was supposed to be on Jose’s wanted list of defenders as he looked to further improve a side he had guided to second spot and the FA Cup Final just a few months earlier.
Of course, the rest is history as United and Mourinho soon parted company with the club suffering their worst defensive record for 40 years. If only they had strengthened as Mourinho had wanted!
Fast forward 12 months and while Mourinho’s replacement was given money to strengthen the defence this summer, it has come at a cost with the attack and the midfield significantly weakened as potential has been replaced by complete frustration.
In fact, as Mourinho returned to Old Trafford for the first time as coach since he was sacked almost a year ago, he can never have before faced such an average home team.
Oh the irony that in Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez he had three effective options in central defence, the position he was blocked from strengthening in his final year at United.
So you can imagine my surprise at this result as United produced a showing which has been all too rare.
Highlights of the game
Not since the opening day had United produced any real Premier League highlights worth talking about but this was the type of performance that gives credence to Solskjaer’s belief that genuine progress is being made.
And it was the man he has entrusted so much faith in who effectively won it for the hosts.
Marcus Rashford beat Tottenham keeper Paulo Gazzaniga at his near post just six minutes in after the ball had broken to the England forward off Davinson Sanchez.
Then, after a long wait for a VAR check, Rashford kept his nerve to convert a penalty four minutes after the restart after he had been fouled by Moussa Sissoko.
In between, Rashford had struck the crossbar with a brilliant strike and Dele Alli equalised when he deceived Fred and turned a clinical shot past David De Gea into the far corner.
In truth, while United were good, Spurs were below par as Mourinho was unable to become the first Spurs manager to win his opening three top-flight games in charge of the club.
He received a warm welcome from the home faithful and will know that despite this setback, there is much to build on with his new employers.
Indeed, I’d fancy a wager with Premier League betting odds on them sealing a top four spot.
For United, one swallow doesn’t make a summer and a look at the respective benches shows they are crying out for quality reinforcements.
As a supporter though, this was a good night. There haven’t been many of those lately.
Key statistics
Alli has scored in three consecutive appearances in all competitions for the first time since March 2017 (four in a row).
He has been directly involved in four goals in his last three Premier League games, as many as he had in his previous final 12 appearances.
Tottenham have lost 35 Premier League games against Manchester United, more than they have against any other side.
They have lost five of their past six league matches at Old Trafford.
United’s current four-match unbeaten league run is their longest of the season (W2, D2).
They have gone nine home matches without defeat in all competitions (W5, D4), yet they have only kept two clean sheets in their last 26 top-flight games.
Spurs have won just one of their seven away matches in this season’s Premier League and are also on a club record streak of 15 consecutive Premier League away matches without a clean sheet – their worst such run since 1979.
Both sides have dropped 12 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season – only Aston Villa have dropped more (13).
What’s next?
United make the short journey across the city now for the first Manchester derby of the season. They face reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday teatime (December 7).
A few hours earlier, Spurs will entertain Burnley.
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