Manchester United returned to winning ways in the Premier League courtesy of a 1-0 success at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.
United entered the match having collected just one point from their last two league matches, and were trailing rivals Manchester City by five points in the table.
The Red Devils only managed one shot on target during a lacklustre first-half performance, but improved in the second, and Anthony Martial came off the bench to win it for the hosts 10 minutes from time.
It is the first time that Tottenham, who struggled in the absence of their leading scorer Harry Kane, have lost in the Premier League since August.
Below are four talking points from the Premier League clash.
Martial the hero for United
Martial would have been extremely disappointed not to have started at Old Trafford, and last season, he might have sulked when coming onto the field. There has been a change in the Frenchman’s attitude this season, however, and he made the biggest of contributions against Tottenham.
The 21-year-old bizarrely cannot make the France squad at the moment, but he replaced Marcus Rashford in the 70th minute, and scored in the 81st. It was a calm and composed finish from the former AS Monaco attacker, who was all smiles after finding the back of the net.
Martial now has four Premier League goals in just three starts this season, and six in all competitions. One of the biggest talents in the Premier League came up trumps for the Red Devils, and he is now ready to be unleashed at Stamford Bridge next weekend.
Mourinho has made Old Trafford a fortress once again
The majority of teams that travelled to Old Trafford during the Sir Alex Ferguson era lost the match in the tunnel. That was not the case under David Moyes or Louis van Gaal, with opposition sides finally having some joy at the home of United.
Old Trafford appears to be a fortress once again, however, with Jose Mourinho’s side boasting an impressive recent record on home soil. Indeed, the Red Devils have now won eight consecutive home games in all competitions for the first time since the 2012-13 season. What’s more, they have stretched their unbeaten Premier League record at the Theatre of Dreams to 22 games, which stretches back to September 2016.
United entered the clash with Tottenham having won all four of their home Premier League games this season – scoring 14 times and conceding none. It was a very difficult game on Saturday afternoon, but United came through to pick up a huge three points, keeping another clean sheet in the process.
Ashley Young at left-back was the pick of United’s defenders, and he was rightly applauded off the field in the latter stages.
Tottenham cannot afford to be without Kane
If Tottenham are to enjoy a successful season, Kane must stay fit throughout. It is hardly breaking news that the striker is vital to his team’s chances of success, but the last two games have shown just what he brings to the London club. Indeed, in Kane’s absence, Spurs have lost their last two matches.
Wednesday’s EFL Cup defeat to West Ham United was not too important in the grand scheme of things, but the loss at Old Trafford was a big one. With 29 goals in just 26 Premier League appearances in 2017, Tottenham cannot afford to be without their star man.
Having netted 13 times in 12 appearances in all competitions this season, it is not too difficult to understand why Kane is such a big miss. However, it is not just his goals, rather his overall contribution. Tottenham are more fluid, more threatening and more confident with the England international, and they missed him badly on Saturday afternoon.
Son Heung-Min played through the middle in the absence of Kane, and the 25-year-old struggled to make his mark before being replaced in the 62nd minute by Fernando Llorente. The South Korean was full of movement and energy, but Spurs lacked a focal point without their star man.
Tottenham played the better football in the first 45 minutes, but they snatched at their opportunities. The visitors also had plenty of positive moments in the second, although they seriously lacked a cutting edge.
Pogba’s return to the United team cannot come soon enough
On Thursday, a video on Jesse Lingard’s social media account revealed that Paul Pogba had returned to United’s training ground after spending the last few weeks in Miami, Florida recovering from a hamstring injury.
It is thought that the Frenchman will return to action away to Chelsea next weekend, and United need their star midfielder to provide some inspiration from a central position. Once again, Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic started as the midfield two, and while the duo impressed in the second period, there was again something missing in the middle of the park.
United miss Pogba’s goals, his energy and his confidence. It has long been questioned whether the former Juventus star is an £89m player, but United are a different team when the 24-year-old is in the XI.
