Manchester United and Tottenham have felt pretty close in recent years, with both having good and bad spells, but ultimately feeling like they’re not reaching their potential, having managerial issues and issues with owners. This should have led to a fairly even match-up, however Tottenham came to Old Trafford and looked strong, showing no mercy to their hosts as they tore through them on 3 occasions, leading to a fairly embarrassing afternoon at Old Trafford.

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Teams

United went with a strong XI at their disposal, but with Zirkzee leading the line in place of Hojlund. With the supporting attackers of Rashford-Fernandes-Garnacho, it’s understandable that he could do this, but still felt like United were missing the cutting edge that Zirkzee doesn’t quite offer. There was also a potential injury for Mainoo at half-time which hopefully isn’t too serious, and the Fernandes red card didn’t spark much of a change late on with subs already being made.

For Spurs, they had their strongest XI out as Solanke led the line well for them and looked dangerous throughout. Their defence were solid and their attacking options look much more confident than that of United.

Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Martinez, De Ligt, Mazraoui, Mainoo (Mount 45′ – Amad 85′), Ugarte (Casemiro 73′), Rashford (Hojlund 73′), Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee (Casemiro 46′)

Subs: Bayindir, Evans, Lindelof, Antony

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Udogie (Spence 46′), Van de Ven (Dragusin 81′), Romero, Porro, Maddison (Sarr 77′), Bentancur, Kulusevski, Werner (Bergvall 77′), Solanke, Johnson (Moore 76′)

Subs: Forster, Gray, Bissouma, Lankshear

Manchester United 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United’s trip to Old Trafford turned into a harsh lesson, as Tottenham Hotspur swept to a commanding 3–0 win in front of a disappointed home crowd. It only took three minutes for Spurs to take the lead, thanks to Micky van de Ven, who raced from his own half before laying on a perfect assist for Brennan Johnson. From that point on, United looked on the back foot, they never really settled into control, and the atmosphere felt increasingly tense as Spurs dominated the tempo.

The match took a critical turn towards the end of the first half, when Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on James Maddison. Down to ten men, United’s chances of a comeback evaporated, and just after half-time Spurs made their advantage count. Lisandro Martínez lost possession in midfield, Johnson surged forward again, and his deflected cross landed fortuitously for Dejan Kulusevski, who clipped home a composed second.

As United flailed and searched for any spark, Tottenham stayed ruthless. In the 77th minute, Dominic Solanke wrapped up the result from close range after a corner was flicked on by Pape Matar Sarr. Spurs saw the game out comfortably, with United’s keeper André Onana making a few good saves but ultimately unable to prevent a clean sheet. For Manchester United, it was a bruising afternoon that raised more questions than answers, while Ange Postecoglou’s side left Old Trafford with full confidence and all three points.

Talking Points

Manchester United endured a miserable afternoon at Old Trafford, falling 0–3 to Tottenham Hotspur in a performance that was troubling on multiple fronts. From the very first whistle, United looked slow, disjointed, and reactive, unable to cope with Spurs’ high tempo and incisive movement. Defensively, they were porous, giving away far too much space, while in attack, they rarely threatened the Spurs goal. Fans left the stadium frustrated, with the sense that the team’s confidence and cohesion are dangerously low.

Erik ten Hag now faces increasing scrutiny as pressure mounts on his tenure at Manchester United. Tactical decisions, from his selection choices to in-game adjustments, were questioned throughout the match, especially as the team failed to respond after going behind early. United’s lack of control in midfield and inability to maintain possession highlighted deeper issues that go beyond a single game, and critics are now calling for clarity on Ten Hag’s long-term strategy and his capacity to steer the squad through challenging periods.

The game’s defining moment came when Bruno Fernandes received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on James Maddison, reducing United to ten men and effectively ending any hope of a comeback. The dismissal not only weakened the side but also underscored broader concerns about discipline and leadership on the pitch. With Fernandes off, United struggled to organize, and Spurs quickly capitalized, scoring two more goals to seal a comprehensive victory. The red card will undoubtedly be a major talking point in discussions about the team’s mentality and Ten Hag’s ability to manage key players under pressure.