SportFootballErik ten Hag’s stuttering Red Devils are trying to claw back ground in the race to finish in the top as they take on Ange Postecoglou’s free-flowing Spurs
Ten Hag addresses Sancho’s departure to Dortmund with frank response
Manchester United are taking on Tottenham in the Premier League at Old Trafford today, as Erik ten Hag’s side look to gain vital ground on their top-four-chasing rivals.
Spurs are fifth in the table and on the heels of fourth-placed Arsenal as Ange Postecoglou tries to restore the club’s place in the Champions League. United meanwhile are eight points behind their opponents and are in desperate need of some consistency to spark their season into life. The return of Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw to the squad after injuries is a welcome and timely boost.
This is a tricky assignment against a Tottenham side who have been impressive this season, especially on the road, where they have scored more goals than any other side in the Premier League (22 in 10 away games). Spurs are without captain Son Heung-min, however, who is on international duty at the Asian Cup.
Follow all the goals and latest updates from Manchester United v Tottenham below, and get the latest football betting sites offers here.
1705249876It’s a star-studded directors’ box at Old Trafford, containing Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford and Mr Wayne Rooney.
Jim Ratcliffe and Alex Ferguson chat before kick-off
(AFP via Getty Images)
Lawrence Ostlere14 January 2024 16:31
1705249707Manchester United v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League latest updatesThe players emerge from the tunnel, led out by Bruno Fernandes and Cristian Romero.
Lawrence Ostlere14 January 2024 16:28
1705249508Ange Postecoglou giving Timo Werner his backingTimo Werner has not even played a full half of football in the past two months, so it is a big call by Ange Postecoglou to throw him straight into the team, for a tough assignment at Old Trafford.
“We’re a bit short of numbers right now and Timo is a Premier League player, he has played in big stadiums like this before so he knows what he’s doing,” says the Spurs manager.
Timo Werner warms up before kick-off
(AFP via Getty Images)
Lawrence Ostlere14 January 2024 16:25
1705249306Manchester United v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League latest updatesSir Jim Ratcliffe described buying a share of Manchester United as the most exciting thing he has ever done and expects his investment to be ratified by the Premier League within three or four weeks.
The petrochemicals billionaire, who is paying £1.3bn for a 29 percent share of United, is attending his first game since the Glazer family accepted his offer for a minority investment when Erik ten Hag’s side host Tottenham on Sunday.
More here from Richard Jolly:
Jamie Braidwood14 January 2024 16:21
1705249006Manchester United v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League latest updatesAre Tottenham title challengers?
Ange Postecoglou thinks they are.
“By definition, we are aren’t we? So, yes,” Postecoglou claimed.
“I’ve said all along that until the point where you’re not, why would you discount the possibility?
“We’ve gone through a really tough period and we’re hanging in there. We had four games when results went against us, but we’ve clawed our way back. We’re still in there.
“Our performances for the most part have been pretty consistent, but all that is meaningless if we don’t finish the season stronger than the first half of the season and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Spurs would go three points behind Liverpool with a win today, and one behind Manchester City.
Jamie Braidwood14 January 2024 16:16
1705248474Full-time score: Everton 0-0 Aston VillaIt was Everton who finished the game on top, but neither side could find the breakthrough and it ends all square. Villa stay third in the table, while Everton remain just above the drop zone.
Unai Emery has now managed 98 games in England football for Arsenal and Aston Villa, and this is his first goalless draw.
Sean Dyche and Unai Emery shake hands at full-time
(Action Images via Reuters)
Lawrence Ostlere14 January 2024 16:07
1705248286Manchester United v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League latest updatesThe disaster of Antony: Erik ten Hag’s flagship failure casts a long shadow
Erik ten Hag was considering the problems of a winger who cost Manchester United a fortune. “He caused them, so he has to sort them out,” he said. He was not discussing Jadon Sancho, exiled first to train with the Under-18s and now sent on loan to Borussia Dortmund with this perfunctory farewell from the United manager: “I hope he is doing well. I wish him the best of good luck.”
Instead, he was pondering the plight of another winger with no goals and assists for United this season. Antony has played 21 times to Sancho’s three August appearances, but with the same end product; or lack of it.
By Richard Jolly
Jamie Braidwood14 January 2024 16:04
1705247806Manchester United v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League latest updatesErik ten Hag wished Jadon Sancho luck at Borussia Dortmund but would not be drawn on the winger’s long-term future following the Manchester United misfit’s temporary return to his former club.
The 23-year-old left the Bundesliga side for Old Trafford to much fanfare in 2021, joining in a £73million deal after a long, well-documented pursuit of the England international.
But Sancho has struggled to live up to the hype and been banished since claiming he had been made a “scapegoat” after Ten Hag said he did not reach the “level” required to be involved in their squad at Arsenal.
The winger has been training away from the main group since September and has now returned to Dortmund on loan for the remainder of the season without an option to buy, saying it felt like he was “coming home”.
“I hope he’s doing well, so I wish him the best of luck,” Ten Hag said. “That’s it. I hope he’s doing well and he will be a success.”
The Dutchman has been reluctant to speak about Sancho during his four-month absence and quickly shut down further talk about the United man.
Asked what Sancho has to do at Dortmund in order to get back in the United team, he replied curtly: “No, I already replied. I think it’s enough.”
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag (right) refused to comment on Jadon Sancho’s Old Trafford future
(PA Archive)
Jamie Braidwood14 January 2024 15:56
1705247367Latest score: Everton 0-0 Aston VillaIn the other Premier League match today, at Goodison Park, it’s still goalless between Everton and Aston Villa in what has been a feisty match full of blood and thunder but not a huge amount of quality.
Villa have had the best of it, including a disallowed goal for an innocuous offside in the build-up, but Everton have contested well. Still 10 minutes to go…
Villa and Everton have at each other’s throats in Goodison
(Getty Images)
Lawrence Ostlere14 January 2024 15:49
1705247206Manchester United v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League latest updatesCan Spurs end poor ‘big six’ away record?
Ange Postecoglou has no interest in Tottenham’s poor historical record away to the Premier League’s ‘big six’ but has challenged his young team to accelerate their growth by winning those games on the road.
Spurs travel to Old Trafford on Sunday with Manchester United trailing the fifth-placed visitors by eight points after 20 matches.
Tottenham won 6-1 at United in 2020 but have claimed only one victory at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City or United in the ensuing 16 attempts.
“I’m not a great one at looking at the historical references to these things, I wasn’t there so I don’t know whether there was something endemic in the club that didn’t allow that,” Postecoglou explained. “I just tackle from when I get into a club.
“We went to Arsenal, City (and drew), (beat) Liverpool here, we’ve done OK in those games. Not just results but performance-wise, I don’t think we’ve walked away from any of those games and thought there was a massive gap between us and them.
“Old Trafford is another place where you know the atmosphere is going to be a great challenge for us. It would be good to see how we react to that and how we keep developing as a team.
“It’s an important part of the process. Home comforts are great and we have a great crowd behind us, but if you can do it away from home in adversity I think it accelerates your growth.”
(PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood14 January 2024 15:46
