OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER — Michael Carrick welcomes his former club Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford with the mood around Manchester United radically changed.
The post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has been littered with false dawns and this might yet prove to be another, but interim manager Carrick has led United to three superb wins since succeeding Ruben Amorim.
United took down the top two in the Premier League, rivals Manchester City and leaders Arsenal, in consecutive weekends, before Benjamin Sesko found a stoppage-time winner to sink Fulham 3-2 last time out.
"Additional-time winners at the Stretford End will always bring back a lot of memories of big moments we've had here before," Carrick said in his matchday programme notes. "Resilience will always be significant at Manchester United and I've been really impressed with the mentality and spirit that we have across our current group of players and staff."
Tottenham enjoyed a comeback of their own last Sunday, recovering from 2-0 down at halftime against Manchester City to draw 2-2 and come closest to forcing a winner. That eased the pressure slightly on Thomas Frank, even though a squad competing in the Champions League remains too close to the relegation zone for comfort.
United, with only the Premier League to occupy them for the rest of this season, can focus upon loftier domestic ambitions. Victory here would take the Red Devils to within two points of Aston Villa in third and three of City in second ahead of the duo's respective weekend matches at Bournemouth and Liverpool.
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Man United vs. Tottenham live score
ScoreGoalscorersMan United0_Tottenham0_
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester (UK)
Referee: Michael Oliver
Man United vs. Tottenham talking points, analysis
Match highlights will appear here during the game, with talking points and analysis to follow at fulltime.
Man United vs. Tottenham reaction
Post-match comments from Michael Carrick and Thomas Frank will appear here.
Man United vs. Tottenham lineups, team news
United were unchanged as they went in search of a fourth win in a row.
Tyler Fletcher replacing Shea Lacey on the bench was the only alteration Michael Carrick made to his matchday squad.
Man United starting XI (4-2-3-1 right to left): Lammens (GK) — Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw — Casemiro, Mainoo — Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Cunha — Mbeumo
Man United subs: Bayindir (GK), Mazraoui, Zirkzee, Malacia, Yoro, Ugarte, Heaven, Sesko, T Fletcher.
Micky van de Ven returned to the heart of the Tottenham defence alongside Cristian Romero, who kept his place despite comments criticising Spurs' injury crisis following the draw with Manchester City.
Wilson Odebert and Pape Sarr replaced Yves Bissouma and Randal Kolo Muani in Thomas Frank's other two changes.
Tottenham starting XI (4-3-2-1, right to left): Vicario (GK) — Gray, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie — Palhinha Gallagher, Sarr —Odebert, Simons — Solanke
Tottenham subs: Kinsky (GK), Dragusin, Bissouma, Tel, Kolo Muani, Souza, Olusesi, Byfield, Williams-Barnett.
Next games for Man United vs. Tottenham
United travel to London on Tuesday to face relegation-threatened West Ham, while Tottenham host Newcastle.