Man Utd vs Tottenham: 'This Has Been So Bad From Man Utd So Far' - Live Updates

Good afternoon all. The headline act of this weekend’s football schedule is nearly upon us at Old Trafford and it has all the potential to be an absolute cracker. Two exciting but somewhat flawed teams, both with mixed records in the Premier League so far this season, go toe-to-toe. Will Ange Postecoglou’s high-line and high-risk football profit against an oft-vulnerable Manchester United? Or can Erik ten Hag’s off-the-cuff attackers, buoyed by a home crowd, give the Dutchman some much-needed respite. The midfield battle will be fascinating in itself, given solidity in the centre is the strength of neither side.

The pre-match news: Son Heung-min is missing for Spurs through injury, while for United this one comes too soon for Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and new signing Leny Yoro. Ten Hag has had a few attacking selection dilemmas to consider.

Kick off is at 4.30pm BST and the official team news will come in the next post. Excited for this one!

Erik ten Hag has named his Manchester United side to take on Tottenham at Old Trafford.

Although is still very early into the Premier League season, Saturday's results have only highlighted the importance of three points for both clubs from this afternoon's 16:30 BST kick-off.

An entertaining encounter is expected as United look to click into gear, with Ten Hag enjoying the chance to ponder a number of selection options, as he looks for the right formula.

The boss makes three changes from the midweek draw with FC Twente in the Europa League. Matthijs de Ligt is back to partner Lisandro Martinez, while Alejandro Garnacho starts in place of Amad, presumably on the right wing. Despite his superb strike on Wednesday, Christian Eriksen is on the bench against his former club, with Kobbie Mainoo introduced to work alongside Manuel Ugarte in the engine room.

There is no Harry Maguire but fellow central defender Victor Lindelof is fit enough to be among the substitutes.

The big news from Spurs' point of view is that skipper Son Heung-min has failed to recover in time from the injury he sustained against Qarabag in their Europa League opener. The South Korea international has failed to make the squad.

THE TEAMS

United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes (c), Rashford; Zirkzee.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Evans, Lindelof, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mount, Amad, Antony, Hojlund.

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Werner.

Substitutes: Forster, Dragusin, Gray, Spence, Bergvall, Bissouma, Sarr, Lankshear, Moore.

Ten Hag says Ange Postecoglou's side must not be taken lightly.

Read what Erik had to say in the second part of his press conference ahead of Spurs's visit.

Watch all the goals as our Under-18s comprehensively beat Blackburn Rovers at Carrington...

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39' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

Oh, Timo Werner. He’s put through on goal but Kulusevski after more woeful play in midfield from Man United.

He has just Onana to beat. Werner has to come up with the goods...

And yet, he can only slot a low shot that hits Onana’s feet.

What a waste.

38' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

A bit of danger for Spurs from Garnacho’s cross but Porro clears.

Rashford soon picks up the ball on the left again and this time, free at the far post, Garnacho volleys against the outside of the post.

And there it is. Tottenham may have dominated this game so far, but I’m really not sure a 1-0 lead is going to cut it.

Even with United looking this bad (for 38 minutes).

34' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

This has been so bad from Man Utd so far that Erik ten Hag has been shaking his head from the sidelines.

You also already imagine that Tottenham need to make this difference in performance level count beyond a one-goal lead — because there’s no way United will be this bad for a whole 90 minutes. Surely.

Romero sends an excellent volley just wide of the far post, as Mazraoui is then booked for a late challenge on Udogie — the first booking of the game.

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Man United have been missing passes all over the pitch and looking very brittle defensively.

It took them 22 minutes before they finally put a move together after a smart run by Mainoo and he set up that decent effort from Zirkzee.

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27' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

Brennan Johnson could have a field day here. He’s free again on the right, and slings in a cross with Werner waiting at the far post.

In fact, Mazraoui does an excellent job of cutting out the ball and clearing the danger.

But this has all been pretty desperate from the hosts so far.

26' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

It’s been naive defending from Mazraoui first, and then De Ligt. They both jumped in, allowing Udogie and Werner to play them round.

By the way, others in attendance at Old Trafford today include John O’Shea and Wayne Rooney.

22' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

Treatment for Udogie, who picks up an issue but signals he’s OK to continue.

Moments later, Mainoo sets up Zirkzee who registers the hosts’ first effort on goal — and it’s a good reach from Vicario on the floor to collect.

But deary me, this is such an open game and neither side seems to fancy defending their own box much.

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20' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

No, scratch that. Tottenham work it forward again and find Brennan Johnson in loads of space in the right corner of the United penalty box.

United’s back line is a real mess.

Johnson fires on goal, but his effort comes back off the post. That should really be 2-0 to Spurs and they’ll be hoping they don’t regret the miss.

18' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

Spurs having their moments on the ball, but I’m just getting the sense now that Man Utd are settling into the game and Tottenham are getting a little more loose in possession.

Let’s see how that affects the dynamic here, because the hosts are still to register a shot on goal.

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17' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

Brennan Johnson has scored for the fourth game in a row for Spurs and the away fans are loudly chanting his name.

What an incredible couple of weeks he has had following an underwhelming start to the season.

All the credit must go to Van de Ven though, of course. That is the second time this season he has produced an assist with a mazy run.

He did the exact same in Tottenham’s 4-0 win at home to Everton.

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15' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

Better moment for Man Utd as Rashford is fed the ball wide on the left.

But that cross into the box is poor, with Zirkzee looking in a decent position, and Vicario collects with ease.

14' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

It’s a breathtaking assist from Van de Ven. Incredible speed, but also composure to pick out Johnson.

United were sleeping defensively though. It’s an erratic start overall.

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12' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

Fun start this now. Tottenham look capable of cutting Man Utd’s defensive line open at will — a neat 1-2 there with Kulusevski before Onana comes out to shut down the shot.

Moments before that, Rashford is threatening the Spurs goal and sees his shot from a narrow angle fly wide before the offside flag is raised.

It’s looking like it’s going to be an open one, guys — and that will surprise no-one...

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7' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

You’re not missing too much from the game right now, as Old Trafford has been stunned into relative silence from that opening goal.

All that can be heard are the jubilant Spurs fans in the corner.

So I can tell you that the run of Micky van de Ven saw him take eight touches of the ball as he ran with it from inside his own half, all the way to the byline.

His ninth touch was the cross for Johnson’s finish.

Brilliant goal.

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5' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

That goal needs some meat on the bones, so allow me.

Man United are breaking but it’s weak from Rashford. That allows Van de Ven to pick up the ball — and boy does he.

The Dutch centre-back goes on a run that deserves to be called marauding — taking him all the way to the byline, where he then squares across the goal and Brennan Johnson is inexplicably free at the far post to tap home.

A brilliant, sublime goal that you will see replayed a few times in the coming 48 hours. At least.

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4' Manchester Utd 0-1 Tottenham

WOW! What a start!

And what a goal too, all started by Micky van de Ven’s incredible run.

What a goal this is, finished by Brennan Johnson.

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1' Manchester Utd 0-0 Tottenham

The talking is done. The huddles are dusted. One last clap towards the visiting fans from James Maddison, and it’s Man United captain Bruno Fernandes who gets us under way.

The teams are out and on the pitch. Traditional colours all round of course, as is usually the case when these two meet here.

Sounds like a fun atmosphere to get things going inside Old Trafford.

Kick-off is moments away now.

We have also got England interim manager Lee Carsley sat in the directors’ box for today’s game.