It was a fiercely contested game of football as Tottenham and Manchester United shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw.
Match summary
Jose Mourinho's record of never losing a home game against Manchester United remains intact as Tottenham Hotspur played out a 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Detailed match report|
Steven Bergwijn's ferocious strike gave Tottenham the lead in the first half, but United bounced back as Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot in the 81st minute.
The result sees United remain fifth on the points table with 46 points, while Tottenham, placed eight, trails by four points.
Upcoming fixtures
Tottenham: Jun 23 vs West Ham (home)
Manchester United: 24 Jun vs Sheffield United (home)
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Live blog:
90+6' Fernandes shoots from distance, but fails to trouble Lloris. That's the last play of the game and it ends 1-1.
90+6' Greenwooood....how close what that? He does phenomenally well to work his way into the box and hits it well, but it whizzes just past the post.
90+4' An absolutely fantastic interception from Sissoko. Fernandes plays a beautiful lob to release Rashford on goal but Sissoko covers plenty of ground to thwart away the danger.
90+1' Right then, the penalty has been rescinded. Fernandes clearly makes the most of the minimal contact. Five minutes of stoppage time to be played.
90' PENALTY?!?!?! Fernandes seems to be tripped by Dier in the box, but it's being reviewed.
89' Final change for United - Eric Bailly comes on for McTominay.
87' Tense moments for the United defence now...Tottenham has piled men forward and have look threatening. Two free-kicks in as many minutes!
85' Now that's the Pogba we've all been waiting for! The Frenchman plays an unbelievably accurate long ball, with the outside of his boot, to release Rashford on goal. Rashford receives it well but can't convert.
82' It's Manchester United's "dream midfield couple" that brings the side back into the game. Pogba did really well to surge into the box and draw the foul from Dier and Fernandes held his composure to covert from the spot. Game on!
81' GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! Fernandes picks his spot and buries the ball into the net to bring United back on level terms.
80' PENALTY! Pogba wins himself a penalty as he's brought down by Dier in the box. Silly foul from Dier here. Fernandes to take the spot-kick.
79' Wan-Bissaka curls in a fine cross into the goalmouth, but Pogba just cant get there.
78' Couple of more changes for United as Odion Ighalo and Nemanja Matic replace Martial and Lindelof.
75' Last quarter of play left and United has a little over 15 minutes to find an equaliser. Will Solskjaer's men manage to find the net or will Mourinho's record remain intact?
74' Elsewhere, Southampton has cruised to a 3-0 win over Norwich. The loss sees Norwich stuck on 21 points, six adrift of the safety zone and having played a game more than its relegation rivals -
ALSO READ | Southampton pushes Norwich closer to the drop
73' Tottenham, placed eighth, trails United by four points and this evening's clash is of prime importance for both clubs as they fight for the automatic Champions League qualification slots. Here are a few more key games this season -
70' Tottenham makes two changes as Giovani Lo Celso and Gedson Fernandes come on for Bergwjin and Lamela.
67' WHAT. A. SAVE. from Lloris! Martial fires from less than six feet away and Lloris makes a fantastic reflex save to ensure the scoreline continues to favour Tottenham. Sensational stuff from Lloris.
65' There we go, we finally have a chance to see Fernandes and Pogba share the pitch. They exchange passes and Fernandes plays an acute pass to Martial in the box, but the shot is poor.
64' That is some introduction! Pogba is in the thick of things within seconds of coming on and has a shot blocked and a cross played out for a corner.
62' Two changes for Manchester United - James is replaced by Mason Greenwood, while Paul Pogba comes on for Fred.
59' It looked as if Tottenham would go ahead with another classy piece of counter-attacking football as Kane squares it for Lamela, but Shaw does really well to slide in and clear the danger in the knick of time.
54' Promising play from United - Fernandes and Martial exchange passes and the Portuguese shoots from distance, but drags his shot just wide.
51' Pogba is actively warming up on the sidelines now...Solskjaer seems ready to make his first change of the evening. In case you missed it, clubs are now allowed to make five substitutions for the remainder of the season.
STAT: Here's a jaw-dropping fact for the Spurs fans in the house: Jose Mourinho has led at half-time in 102 Premier League matches - he's only lost one of those!
48' A spirited start to the second half from United - some really strong pressing play keeps the Tottenham defence scampering for cover.
46' And the second half is underway at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium...
Football, as we know it, has undergone a world of change - at least for the time being. With closed door matches and less than 300 people to be present in the stadium on match days, here are some of the new rules Premier League clubs will have to follow henceforth -
HALF TIME: Steven Bergwijn's 27th minute strike sees Tottenham lead 1-0 at the end of the opening half.
45+3' Fernandes does really well to beat his marker and unleashes a wicked swerving strike, but Lloris has it covered.
45+1' Aurierrrrr.... he has a go from the distance but it goes straight toward the advertising boards, well wide of the goal. Two more minutes of added time to be played.
43' The match is played behind closed doors, but the atmosphere feels pretty similar to a normal game, no? From the new safety protocols to a virtual matchday experience, here's everything you need to know about the Premier League's return -
ALSO READ | Premier League returns: All you need to know
41' Dier makes a clumsy challenge to steal the ball from James, but gets away with it. James darts back at Dier to exact revenge and gets booked in the process. First booking of the game!
39' Tottenham offering absolutely no room at the back! Rashford and co. have been trying to squeeze into any little gap they find, but it's been anything but easy so far.
35' The goal has given Tottenham some much-needed confidence. The momentum has swiftly shifted and the home side seems to be slowly seizing control of this game.
32' What a phenomenal bit of teamwork from Spurs! Bergwijn is released down the right into acres of space and he takes his time before delivering a peach of a cross for Son on the far post. The South Korean connects well, but De Gea leaps to parry it away for a corner.
29' Fantastic chance for United at the other end as Fred's free-kick finds Rashford in the box, but the latter's header lacks the venom to beat Lloris.
28' The move begins with a long goal-kick from Lloris and some poor defensive headers see Bergwijn win the ball. The Dutchman skips past two defenders to rifle a shot straight at De Gea, but the United 'keeper can't keep it out of the goal.
27' GOAAAAAAAL! Steven Bergwijn's ferocious strike puts Tottenham ahead.
26' James races past Davies on the right, but his cross is a tad poor and floats past Rashford. Fred has a chance after, but it is a routine save for Loris.
25' Notice how the players' names have been swapped by 'Black Lives Matter' on the back of their jerseys? Here's why -
22' Lloris makes a sharp save to deny Rashford! Fernandes fires in a delightful cross and a poor defensive header falls kindly to an unmarked Rashford. The 22-year-old tries to place it into the bottom corner but Lloris gets down in time to block it. First real chance for United, this.
18' Lovely vision from Rashford as he plays a peach of a lob from the left toward James on the far post, but Davies nods it away for a corner.
17' Spurs are winless in their last three matches - losses to Wolves and Chelsea and a draw with Burnley. Time for Mourinho snatch a win, eh?
15' United seeing more of the ball in the opening quarter of play with close to 60 percent possession, but no real chances to speak of yet. The Tottenham defence doing well to shut down the likes of Rashford and Martial so far.
12' United comes into this game on the back of a stunning run - Solskjaer's men are unbeaten in 11 games and kept a clean sheet in nine of them!
10' Lamela wins the ball at the mid-line and does well to see Son break free. He tries a chipped through-ball, but it lacks direction. Some encouraging attacking play here from Spurs. United has made a few forays into the opposition's box but nothing concrete yet.
7' Rashford had scored a match-winning brace the last time the two sides clashed at Old Trafford, back in December. Can Rashford weave his magic again today?
5' It's a lively start here and the home side has a great chance as Aurier works his way into the box and lays it for a teammate, but Shaw clears the danger. First corner of the game!
3' Just in case you missed the line ups, Rashford is starting for United for the first time since January, and Kane is back for Spurs after a lengthy lay off. Pogba, who also returns from injury, is on the bench.
1' KICK OFF!
12:45am : There's a round of applause to pay homage to those who lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic and the players now "take a knee" to support the Black Lives Momevent.
12:40am: The players have finished their warm up and are about t make their way down the tunnel. Kick-off in five!
12:30am: “He's a World Cup winner and we want to have that leadership on the pitch as well” - looks like Solskjaer expects a lot from Paul Pogba, who for long has been touted to move away from Old Trafford -
12:25am: Marcus Rashford has been regularly featured in the news of late, and for all the right reasons. The youngster used his voice to great effect as he got the UK government to continue providing free meals to 1.3 million under-privileged children -
12:20am: So there we have it, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has chosen to leave the now-fit Paul Pogba on the bench. Marcus Rashford is making his first appearance since the Wolves game in January, while Victor Lindelof makes his 100th start for Manchester United.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho makes six changes from his side's last game and will be utterly pleased with Harry Kane's return after a lengthy lay off. Son Heung-min is back too after serving the South Korean army.
12:15am: Line ups:
Tottenham XI: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Bergwijn, Lamela, Son, Kane.
Subs: Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, White, Sessegnon, Ndombele, Lo Celso, Skipp, Fernandes.
Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Fernandes, James, Martial, Rashford.
Man United eyes perfect return against main rival Spurs
Much of the focus around Manchester United's Premier League return after 102 days has been about Marcus Rashford, who achieved so many of his goals as an activist over the last three months.
Now, United will be counting on his goals on the pitch when it travels away to Tottenham Hotspur for a crucial clash in the hunt for a Champions League place.
“My day job,” the Manchester United striker tweeted this week alongside a picture of him at practice at the team’s training facility.
First-choice striker, leading goalscorer, now undoubtedly a leader in the eyes of his manager at United.
READ |
"We as a club are immensely proud of him,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said about the 22-year-old Rashford in a video call on Thursday. “He is not only a top footballer but also a fantastic human being.
"Future captain, maybe of England and Manchester United.”
Solsjkaer has already made him his No. 1 striker during his 18 months in charge despite some calls for the club to sign a more experienced and established striker to lead the line.
Rashford has a team-high 14 goals in the Premier League this season, but hasn’t been seen in the famous red jersey since Jan. 15, when he hobbled off the field at Old Trafford during an FA Cup replay against Wolverhampton, holding his back.
Rashford likely would have missed the rest of the season, but the three-month hiatus means United has its leading striker back for the run-in, which starts on Friday with an away game at Tottenham.
ALSO READ | Berbatov: Solskjaer needs top-four finish to cement United position
With Paul Pogba also back fit after injury, Solskjaer has enviable attacking options for the remainder of the season, but also some dilemmas.
There is plenty of interest surrounding how Pogba and playmaker Bruno Fernandes, who has excelled since joining from Sporting Lisbon in January, play together in midfield.
Solskjaer has had two in-house 11 vs. 11 matches, as well as a friendly against West Bromwich Albion, to check on his players’ fitness and sharpness after lockdown.
United went into the break as one of the league’s form teams, with its 2-0 derby win over Manchester City days before the suspension arguably its best team performance of the season. It left United three points behind Chelsea in fifth place, which could yet secure Champions League qualification in light of City’s two-year ban from European competition that is currently under appeal.
United also has a very appealing set of fixtures over the next six weeks, including those against four of the bottom six in a six-game run from June 30 to July 18.
A victory at eighth-placed Tottenham, managed by former United manager Jose Mourinho and one of the team’s main rival for a Champions League berth, would be the perfect start.
It won't be an easy task with Spurs welcoming influential players Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son, Moussa Sissoko and Steven Bergwijn back from injuries. And Mourinho will be hoping to get one back after his team lost the reverse fixture at Old Trafford earlier on in the campaign.
“The reality is we are now in a better position to where we were before,” said Mourinho.
“We got Harry and Sonny back, the players with the best stats in terms of scoring and assists. They give us this kind of attacking power.”
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