Manchester United vs Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick
Follow live coverage as Antonio Conte’s Spurs travel to Old Trafford in a pivotal match in the race to finish in the top four of the Premier League
Tottenham travel to Manchester United in the evening kick-off in the Premier League with the outcome likely to be pivotal in the race for a top four finish.
Spurs went down 3-0 at home to the Red Devils last October with both sides under different managers. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nuno Espirito Santo have since been replaced by Ralf Rangnick and Antonio Conte, while Arsenal are the pace-setters in fourth after an impressive run of form from Mikel Arteta’s side, most recently in their slick attacking display at Watford.
Discussion has centred around Conte’s future, which will be decided at the end of the season as the Italian has demaned the club match his ambition with facts and not words: “For sure at the moment there is only one truth - I am committed to this club for another year. For sure it is true that I would like this - to fight for the future, to fight to be competitive, to fight to win and not only to finish fourth in the league, because I repeat, that is not my ambition.
“My ambition is to be competitive and to fight to win. I want this and I know my heart, my soul, my mind wants these things. I hope myself and the club match each other in this situation. For sure, you need in the future to have other important steps and to have ambition. And it needs to be ambition with facts, not only with words.” Follow live goal and score updates, build-up, analysis, reaction and more from Old Trafford below:
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Here come the teams. This is a big game for both sides in the race for a Champions League place. Tottenham won 6-1 when they came to Old Trafford last season but Man Utd beat them 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the reverse fixture this year.
United would move back into the top four with a win, Tottenham would leapfrog the Red Devils if they’re triumphant today. Who’s going to win this one?
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Harry Kane has scored 93 times in 137 Premier League away games and another goal would see him equal Wayne Rooney as the competition’s leading away scorer.
Kane has three goals and two assists in his last three top-flight appearances at Old Trafford.
Manchester United vs Tottenham
David De Gea starts for Manchester United today after a false positive Covid test but there’s no room for Bruno Fernandes in the Man Utd squad as he misses out due to illness. Ralf Rangnick addressed both players before kick off saying:
He's [Fernandes] ill unfortunately, he couldn't train yesterday, he's unavailable today.
“He [David De Gea] had a positive test to start with, but in the end it was a false test, we did another test and it was negative, that's why he can play
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Cristiano Ronaldo has four goals and three assists in his last five Premier League appearances against Tottenham. He has also scored in each of his last six games against Spurs, for both Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Antonio Conte has four wins from his six meetings with Manchester United, but has lost on both visits to Old Trafford.
Manchester United vs Tottenham
A win today would ensure Manchester United become the first club to reach 400 home Premier League victories.
We should change the way we talk about Ralf Rangnick and Man Utd
The comedian Michael Spicer had neatly packaged the phenomenon in a skit. “This is Manchester United we’re talking about,” he says, passionately circling the same phrase in different guises as a mirror to punditry of the club.
Spicer had touched on the reality that much is said about the modern United, but most of it is meaningless and repetitive.
There is a loop of pure rage, ranting, and resentment, which makes for compelling TV and viral social media clips, but does little to move the dial on understanding just where United are, how far they need to travel to return to the top, and what is imperative if they are to get close again.
We should change the way we talk about Ralf Rangnick and Manchester United
The German has been subjected to an overflow of snark but it is the structural changes he can help bring that he should be judged on rather than short-term results
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Tottenham have won four of their last six Premier League away games. They have a record of seven wins and seven defeats from 14 matches in 2022.
Which Tottenham will turn up today? The one that went toe-to-toe with Manchester City and beat them or the team that lost 1-0 to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup after failing to take their chances in front of goal?
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Manchester United have gone three games without a win in all competitions - two draws, one defeat. It’s their worst run since they went six without victory between September and October 2019.
But, United have won four and drawn two of their seven home league matches under interim boss Ralf Rangnick. Can they earn another victory this afternoon?
Manchester United vs Tottenham
Tottenham boss, Antonio Conte, has been remembering his playing days and in particular his trip to Old Trafford with Juventus in 1999. Conte said:
I remember it well... I scored a goal, then United drew in the last minute with Ryan Giggs. Then, in the second leg, we were winning 2-0 and we lost 3-2. I remember very well that season that United won the Champions League, the final was against Bayern Munich, they were losing 1-0 with one minute to go and then they scored twice and won the Champions League.
“I think that was the best period for United, they started to win an important competition like the Champions League to become one of the biggest teams in the world.
“Now, I’m really focussed on my new job, I’m a coach, but, for sure, this loss is part of my career. I remember it very well because instead of going to the Champions League Final, we lost against United, and then United won the Champions League.”
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