In what was a heavyweight Premier League affair on Sunday afternoon, Manchester United and Tottenham performed out an exhilarating 2-2 stalemate at Outdated Trafford.
With Erik ten Hag’s aspect opening the scoring after simply three minutes as Rasmus Hojlund powered residence his second Premier League strike of the season, United knew the significance of claiming most factors on residence soil.
Nevertheless, pegged again halfway via the primary half as Brazilian ace Richarlison glanced residence, each side had an abidance of early probabilities.
Whereas England worldwide Marcus Rashford may need handed United a slender 2-1 lead heading into the interval, Rodrigo Bentancur worn out their benefit a minute after the restart with a blistering effort.
Whereas Ange Postecoglou’s aspect may discover simply their objective distinction holding them behind Arsenal and breaking again into the Champions League locations, Manchester United are looking for an actual miracle in 2024.
Nonetheless sat eight factors adrift of discovering a route again into the Champions League spots, ten Hag’s aspect are actually tipped as a landslide contender within the top-four chase.
On a Sunday afternoon that noticed probabilities come thick and quick, we’ve taken a take a look at the important thing speaking factors from Outdated Trafford.
A degree wasn’t sufficient for United
Though ten Hag may take loads of positives away from Sunday’s thrilling 2-2 draw, Manchester United followers will know {that a} single level was not sufficient.
With their return to Outdated Trafford rightfully tipped as a must-win showdown for the previous Premier League champions, they’re nonetheless looking for a minor miracle of their bid to punch a vital top-four end come Could.
With continued hypothesis over ten Hag’s long-term future, the previous Ajax boss will definitely have an actual headache over his aspect’s continued points on the again.
Though the Reds may need prolonged on their FA Cup journey final week as they secured a 2-0 victory away at League One outfit Wigan, Manchester United have recorded only a single clear sheet towards top-flight opposition since again on November twenty sixth.
Ending Sunday’s showdown sat eight factors adrift of breaking again into the Champions League spots, ten Hag’s downbeat squad have additionally recorded only a trio of wins from any of their final eight appearances at Outdated Trafford.
Tottenham nonetheless looking for some stability on the street
Solely persevering with to shine since they welcomed Postecoglou to north London over the summer time, Tottenham actually have a Champions League return on the prime of their agenda in 2024.
Gaining a status for his or her free-flowing performances within the remaining third, Spurs will undeniably really feel that they finished greater than sufficient to earn some extent from Sunday’s journey to Manchester.
Nevertheless, though the Lilywhites may discover simply their objective distinction holding them behind bitter native rivals Arsenal, the previous Celtic boss could have a gentle headache over his aspect’s inconsistencies exterior of the capital.
Signing off 2023 with an action-packed 4-2 loss by the hands of Brighton, Tottenham have gained simply one in all their final 5 showdowns on the street – a run that stems again to October twenty seventh.
Nonetheless, inflicting United’s leaky defence a string of points on Sunday afternoon and with the temper of their camp at an actual excessive, Spurs ought to take some actual positives away from Outdated Trafford.
Richarlison continues to make an influence
With attacking talisman and skipper Son Heung-Min away with South Korea that includes at this month’s Asia Cup, many followers across the white half of north London have been rightfully worrying who could be their key supply of objectives.
Nevertheless, though Richarlison may need initially endured a nightmare begin to life with Spurs after finishing a £60million transfer from Everton in the summertime of 2022, the Brazilian worldwide is having fun with an actual purple patch.
Whereas fellow attacking ace Dejan Kulusevski may need been dominated out previous to kick off after battling an sickness, Richarlison actually relished his position as Tottenham’s main man right here.
Producing a sensible flicked header to tug Spurs stage within the first half, the one-time Watford starlet has now bagged six objectives in his earlier seven appearances throughout all competitions.
Having fun with by far his most fruitful spell in north London and with Son not anticipated to return to Premier League duties over the subsequent few weeks, Postecoglou couldn’t be extra thrilled by Richarlison’s well timed flurry.
Match Report
Manchester United: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot, Eriksen, Mainoo, Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund
Subs: Antony, Martinez, McTominay
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Hojburg, Bentancur, Skipp, Johnson, Richarlison, Werner
Subs: Dragusin, Emerson Royal, Gil
Targets: Manchester United: Hojlund (3’), Rahsford (40’) – Tottenham: Richarlison (19’), Bentancur (46’)
Yellow Playing cards: Manchester United: Wan-Bissaka, Rashford – Tottenham: Bentancur
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Johnathon Brooks
