Tottenham Hotspur suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday night as Harry Kane was kept quiet all game.
Antonio Conte's side failed to take advantage of Manchester City and Arsenal not playing as they now remain third having played a game more than their rivals. Spurs came into the game off the back of three consecutive wins in all competitions but looked far from their best at Old Trafford last night.
Hugo Lloris was the one shining light for the Lilywhites as the goalkeeper pulled off a number of top class saves to keep the deficit to two goals, when it could've been as many as five or six. Conte will need his team to put in a much better performance against Newcastle at the weekend with the Magpies just five points behind Spurs in the Premier League table.
READ MORE: Tottenham player ratings: Hugo Lloris superb but Romero, Bissouma, Hojbjerg, Kane and Son poor
football.london takes a look at how the national media reacted to Tottenham's poor display in the 2-0 defeat against United at Old Trafford last night.
Bruno Fernandes broke a five-game scoring drought as Manchester United claimed a statement win over title challengers Tottenham, as they put in arguably the best performance of Erik ten Hag's reign so far. The Red Devils were utterly dominant in the Premier League clash, having 19 shots in the first-half alone.
While they struggled to create clear-cut chances before the break, a deflected effort from Fred put them ahead just two minutes into the second period. Fernandes added his own goal with 20 minutes to go, curling in from the edge of the box as Tottenham's struggles showed no signs of abating.
Tottenham have become synonymous with a 3-4-3 formation since Antonio Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo last season. But for Wednesday's trip to Old Trafford, the Italian opted for a slight change to pack the midfield in a 3-5-2.
Despite bringing in an extra central midfielder to his team though, Spurs struggled to gain control of the game. Much of their issues came down to United finding passes through the midfield line as Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Pierre-Emile Hojberg were cut open.
As well as spending much of the game within their own half, Spurs struggled to create any clear-cut chances. Strikers Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son were starved of service, with Conte's switch of formation backfiring.
The basis of Tottenham's counter-attacking style is the attacking talent they receive from captain Harry Kane. But the Englishman was kept quiet by United's well-marshaled defence, led by centre-back pairing Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
Kane had just three shots in total, with a combined expected goals ratio of a pitiful 0.27, and only one of those being on target. In fairness to the Spurs striker, he was painfully starved of service, with Spurs failing to create any big chances.
Much of that was down to United's defending though, with Martinez in particular excellent up against the England international. He made five recoveries, six clearances and won four of his five aerial duels in another impressive display.
Indeed, without an outstanding display by Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, it could have been a landmark scoreline – maybe five or six such was United’s threat. United’s 28 shots at goal is the most of any team in the Premier League this season.
Of course, a single goal lead is always vulnerable so there was a palpable sense of relief when Bruno Fernandes made it two in the 69th minute, taking United beyond the clutches of a lone counter-attack through Harry Kane or Hueng-min Son. And while the first goal had a modicum of good fortune about it – a big deflection off Ben Davies – the second was a cracker and thoroughly deserved.
Fred – outstanding, by the way – had a shot blocked which ricocheted to Fernandes, picking his spot and curling the ball sweetly towards it, his first United goal since August 27 against Southampton.
By then, Lloris had already made great saves approaching double figures and there were more late on, not least from Marcus Rashford, who could have had three but ended up with none.
So, yes, fabulous from United going forward, but it was in midfield where this game was won, Tottenham overwhelmed and never allowed to settle. They were hugely disappointing.
Playing 5-3-2 – not 3-5-2, no matter how Antonio Conte may wish to couch it – they were cautious and negative, playing United off the back foot and getting largely what they deserved from the game. Conte has instilled admirable cussedness in a team many considered weak but if they are to be in the top four again, or even the title mix, surely there must be more ambition than this.
It is never usually a good sign when the goalkeeper is the hero and while Lloris had nothing to show for it, he was Tottenham’s lone star here.
When Bruno Fernandes curled in Manchester United’s second goal on 69 minutes a seated Erik ten Hag raised his arms in delight. The strike directly followed Harry Kane missing a gilded opportunity to equalise when smashing against David de Gea from close range. From this the hosts raced 80 yards upfield with Antony and the excellent Fred involved before United’s talisman bent a supreme finish past Hugo Lloris for only a second of the season.
Ten Hag had spoken of how more goals would come for Fernandes and provide all that has been missing from the Portuguese. In line with the playmaker’s performance, United’s display this evening felt a significant step forward. They dominated from first whistle to last, Marcus Rashford going close to a third towards the end of a victory that lifts them to 19 points; four behind Tottenham, who remain third, and Manchester City in second.
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