Premier League

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics, and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 28.

Team analysis: Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs may have had an off night in midweek, losing 1-0 at AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League, but domestically they are one of the form sides, having won three of their last four Premier League matches.

Sitting in 13th place they are still nine points adrift of the top half, but there are signs that Ange Postecoglou’s side are capable of finishing the campaign strongly.

Clean-sheet victories over Brentford and Manchester United have lifted morale, as did a handsome 4-1 success at Ipswich Town.

The return of several regular first-team players from injury has also provided a timely boost, with centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both in contention to start against AFC Bournemouth this weekend.

Shutout against Brentford set the tone

On the back of four consecutive Premier League defeats, the pressure was on for Postecoglou and his players at the start of February, but they discovered newfound defensive resolve in a 2-0 win at Brentford.

Spurs were often pushed back that day, and they rode their luck, but their collective resilience was exceptional.

Making 49 clearances, including 34 with their heads, their unified spirit played a big part in that victory, especially with three full-backs and a central midfielder making up the back four.

Those 49 clearances were the most by Spurs since May 2022 against Liverpool (51), while their 34 headed clearances was their highest tally in a league match since December 2016 against Burnley (43).

Spurs' clearances v Brentford

That hard-fought victory against Brentford set them up well for back-to-back successes against Man Utd and Ipswich.

Spurs made an impressive 26 clearances at home to Man Utd - their third-most of the season.

Postecoglou’s men have also made more blocks in their last four matches than their average of 3.65 across their first 23 matches.

While the stats below reflect a side that have had to absorb pressure, the numbers also signify an upturn in desire to protect their own goal.

Spurs' blocks last four matches

Opponent Blocks Brentford (A) 7 Man Utd (H) 4 Ipswich (A) 6 Man City (H) 5

Returning goalkeeper has made a difference

First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been outstanding across the last three matches.

The Italian missed 12 Premier League fixtures with an ankle injury, and Spurs had to use three different goalkeepers during his absence.

That uncertainty affected the team, who have been given a lift by Vicario’s comeback.

Vicario produced a sensational double save early on against Ipswich and caught the eye making a series of spectacular stops against both Man Utd and Manchester City.

In a sign that Spurs have not been exactly watertight in recent matches, Vicario has been forced into making 14 saves, the second-most in the division during the last three Matchweeks.

But his success rate when dealing with those efforts has been superb, helping to prevent an additional 1.4 goals according to Opta.

Spurs now face a Bournemouth team who rank third in the league for Expected Goals (xG) this season, so they may well be reliant on their fit-again 'keeper making more telling contributions.

PL goalkeepers' stats since 14 Feb

Saves Save success % Goals prevented Ramsdale 19 Flekken 90.0% Flekken 2.0 Vicario 14 Areola 88.9% Ederson 1.5 Onana 13 Vicario 87.5% Vicario 1.4

A super spell for Spence

One of the biggest positives for Spurs has been the resurgence of full-back Djed Spence.

He has filled in at left-back with great distinction, showing excellent defensive attributes in 1v1s.

The 24-year-old has been out of favour for most of his two-and-a-half-year spell with the club, but he is now offering plenty to the side defensively and with his progressive ball carrying too.

Spence tops the rankings for duels won, tackles won and completed dribbles compared with all Premier League defenders who have also made at least nine starts (his total).

Best PL defenders' averages per 90 24/25

Duels won Tackles won Dribbles completed Spence 7.85 Spence 2.45 Spence 2.45 Mazraoui 6.91 Munoz 2.43 Ait-Nouri 1.74 Munoz 6.70 Udogie 2.12 Wan-Bissaka 1.72 Williams 6.58 Romero 2.12 Semedo 1.14 Udogie 6.54 Senesi 2.05 Aina 1.07

He faces stiff competition now that Destiny Udogie is fit, but this weekend it would be no surprise if Spence starts ahead of him or Pedro Porro on the other flank.

Spence has become the type of dogged full-back that opponents do not want to face.

And as he showed against Ipswich, he is also capable of bursting into the final third to score goals.

Competition fuelling better performances

Postecoglou is no longer down to the bare bones in terms of attacking options and that should drive up standards between now and the end of the campaign.

We saw evidence of this at Portman Road when Spurs’ finishing was top-class.

Son Heung-min produced a mesmeric individual display, while Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski both scored, and James Maddison and Dane Scarlett also provided assists from the bench.

Kulusevski is now injured and Dominic Solanke limped off in midweek, but Spurs can still call on Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore and Timo Werner this Sunday in addition to the names mentioned.

In midfield you can see something similar happening too.

Fit-again Rodrigo Bentancur has made a difference in recent weeks.

Pape Sarr and Lucas Bergvall are vying for a spot alongside him, and both men have been getting forward to make things happen inside the final third.

Sarr burst into space to score a terrific goal at Brentford, as shown below, while it was Bergvall’s shot on target that was spilled out to Maddison for the winner at home to Man Utd.

Spurs remain a work in progress, as shown in Europe on Thursday, but they are in better shape than they were at the turn of the year.

For this reason, they can give a Bournemouth team who are chasing the top four a tough examination this weekend.

Also in this series

Football writer Ben Bloom looks at the remaining Premier League sides in Europe and what to expect in the knockout stages.

As the days lengthen and temperatures start to rise, European competitions reach their business end with the arrival of the round of 16.

Of the seven Premier League clubs that entered the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, only Manchester City, who fell to Real Madrid in the Champions League playoff stage, have not progressed.

But Aston Villa, Arsenal and Liverpool remain in Europe’s leading competition, while Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Chelsea all have their eyes on other continental silverware.

The English contingent are not only fighting for quarter-final places, but also bidding to help the Premier League earn an additional fifth spot in next season’s Champions League.

Who stands in their way and what chance do they have of keeping their European dreams alive? Here is everything you need to know.

Champions League round-of-16 ties

Club Brugge v Aston Villa

First leg: Club Brugge v Aston Villa, Tuesday 4 March, 17:45 GMT

Second leg: Aston Villa v Club Brugge, Wednesday 12 March, 20:00 GMT

Guided by Unai Emery – a manager who led Spanish sides Sevilla to three Europa League titles and Villareal one – Villa have already confounded expectations in their first appearance in Europe’s top competition since 1982/83. Five wins in eight league-phase games saw them advance directly to the round of 16 with an eighth-place finish.

Their opponents, Club Brugge, are the lowest ranked side to make it this far, finishing 24th in the table and only progressing to the knockout phase playoffs on goal difference.

However, the Belgian side were one of only two to inflict defeat on Villa during the league phase, when a freak Tyrone Mings handball gifted Brugge a penalty, which they scored to claim a 1-0 win.

Brugge then lost 3-1 at Man City in their final league-phase game, but put up a far improved showing to beat Atalanta 5-2 over the two-legged playoff and advance to the last 16.

Managed by Nicky Hayen – who spent six months in charge of Welsh club Haverfordwest County in 2022 – Brugge are currently second in the Belgian Pro League, although their chances of claiming a seventh title in 10 years appear slim due to a nine-point deficit over league leaders Genk. They head into this Villa encounter having won just one of their last six league games.

Villa are on a similarly poor domestic run, winning only one of their last seven Premier League matches, although they did beat Championship side Cardiff City in the FA Cup fifth round last time out when loanees Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio starred.

They face Brentford between the two Brugge ties, and could set up an all-English quarter-final after they were drawn to play the winner of Liverpool’s match against Paris Saint-Germain.

PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal

First leg: PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal, Tuesday 4 March, 20:00 GMT

Second leg: Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven, Wednesday 12 March, 20:00 GMT

This is the third straight year that Arsenal have met PSV Eindhoven in a European competition.

Arsenal progressed serenely through to the Champions League last 16, losing just once (against Inter Milan) to finish third in the league phase.

Results over recent weeks have made Europe’s top competition the best chance of Mikel Arteta’s side lifting silverware this campaign.

In addition to FA Cup and EFL Cup exits, Arsenal have failed to beat West Ham United and Nottingham Forest in their last two Premier League outings, putting them 13 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have played a match more.

Arteta has few options at his disposal even if he did want to rotate players in the continued absence of injured attacking quartet Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

After a slow start to their Champions League campaign, PSV required a 3-2 win over Liverpool in their final league-phase fixture to finish 14th. They lost 2-1 to Juventus in the knockout playoff first leg, before coming through 3-1 in extra-time of the second leg.

Ten successive wins at the start of the season provided the perfect start to their Eredivisie title defence, but one victory in their last seven domestic league games has left them eight points behind leaders Ajax. They have kept just one clean sheet in 10 Champions League matches.

They brought in Man Utd defender Tyrell Malacia on loan last month, who joins former Spurs attacker Ivan Perisic in the ranks.

It is a big month for Arsenal, who face a trip to United between Champions League ties, which are immediately followed by the Premier League visit of Chelsea.

Progression will bring a trip to Madrid for the quarter-finals, with the winner of the Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid last-16 encounter lying in wait.

Paris Saint-Germain v Liverpool

First leg: PSG v Liverpool, Wednesday 5 March, 20:00 GMT

Second leg: Liverpool v PSG, Tuesday 11 March, 20:00 GMT

Liverpool head into the round of 16 as the team to beat after breezing their way through the league phase, only dropping points against PSV when already assured a top-two finish.

That, perhaps, might have provided easier opponents than a PSG side 13 points clear at the top of Ligue 1, undefeated in 24 league games, and firmly on track for yet another French title.

Despite their continued domestic dominance, there are signs that PSG are not the team to fear of recent years. Luis Enrique’s side lost three of their opening five Champions League games – including a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal – and required four successive wins at the end of the league phase to avoid early elimination.

One of those saw them fight back from a 2-0 deficit against Man City to win 4-2, and they then thrashed fellow French side Brest 10-0 over two legs in the knockout playoffs.

The era of superstar forward trio Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar failed to yield a European crown, and the club has switched policy from hoovering up global stars to nurturing future talent, headed by the likes of Ousmane Dembele.

Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League is identical to PSG’s 13-point Ligue 1 advantage. That their sole outing between Champions League fixtures is against struggling Southampton should allow Slot to use his full squad and keep players fresh.

The last time Liverpool faced PSG was in the 2018/19 group stage, when Jurgen Klopp’s side went on to beat Spurs in the final. Victory here would see them face the winner of Club Brugge v Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.

Europa League round-of-16 ties

AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham Hotspur

First leg: AZ Alkmaar v Spurs, Thursday 6 March, 17:45 GMT

Second leg: Spurs v AZ Alkmaar, Thursday 13 March, 20:00 GMT

While Spurs' injury crisis – which has started to abate – has seen them struggle in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou’s team have lost only once in the Europa League, qualifying for this match in fourth place.

They now face an AZ Alkmaar side who they beat 1-0 during the league phase, when striker Troy Parrott returned to face his former club.

The Dutch team saw off Galatasaray in the knockout playoffs, but lost their first game in eight matches across all competitions at the weekend.

Languishing in 13th in the Premier League, winning the Europa League arguably represents Spurs’ best chance of European football next season.

Real Sociedad v Manchester United

First leg: Real Sociedad v Man Utd, Thursday 6 March, 17:45 GMT

Second leg: Man Utd v Real Sociedad, Thursday 13 March, 20:00 GMT

Like Spurs, this is Man Utd’s sole remaining chance of silverware after Fulham knocked them out of the FA Cup last weekend.

United also cruised through to the Europa League last 16 as the only undefeated team in the competition, advancing in third place.

Their reward is a meeting with Real Sociedad, who have not progressed beyond this stage of any European competition since 1989.

The Spanish side, who feature former Man City man Sergio Gomez and West Ham loanee Nayef Aguerd, finished 13th in the league phase before easing past Midtjylland in the knockout play-offs. Six defeats in their last nine LaLiga games have left them ninth in the table.

Conference League round-of-16 tie

F.C. Copenhagen v Chelsea

First leg: Copenhagen v Chelsea, Thursday 6 March, 17:45 GMT

Second leg: Chelsea v Copenhagen, Thursday 13 March, 20:00 GMT

Despite fielding a largely second-string side throughout the league phase, Chelsea eased to a perfect record of six wins from six to top the Conference League table.

Copenhagen won only two of their league-phase games, before beating Heidenheim in the playoffs to reach the last 16. They are currently top of the Danish Superliga and unbeaten in 10 domestic league matches.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have lost three of their last five Premier League games, but still sit fifth, two points off third place.

Erling Haaland scored the only goal as Manchester City boosted their hopes of a top-four finish with a 1-0 away win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

Sunday's loss to Liverpool left last season’s Premier League champions 20 points adrift of the leaders and Chelsea's 4-0 win over Southampton on Tuesday saw City drop out of the top four.

But Pep Guardiola's side produced a dominant first-half performance in north London, which was rewarded when Haaland tapped home on his return from injury for his 20th Premier League goal of the season.

That made him just the second player to reach that tally in each of his first three campaigns in the competition, after Ruud van Nistelrooy did so for Manchester United between 2001/02 and 2003/04.

Haaland saw a late second disallowed for handball following a VAR check that confirmed the referee’s on-field decision, while Pape Sarr missed a glaring chance to level when he headed over in the 98th minute.

The hosts stay 13th in the table with 33 points, while City are now just one point behind third-placed Nottingham Forest, who they face in their next league match.

How the match unfolded

Haaland had already forced one save from Guglielmo Vicario by the time he gave City a 12th-minute lead, sweeping Jeremy Doku's low cross home from six yards out.

Doku should have had two further assists by the half-hour mark. First, his searching cross was somehow turned over by the unmarked Savinho, then he found Haaland in another brilliant position only for Vicario to make a vital close-range save.

Spurs struggled to create chances before the break but should have levelled 10 minutes into the second half, as Pedro Porro's whipped cross was prodded wide by Wilson Odobert.

Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson missed half-chances as Spurs finally put City under sustained pressure, then substitute Son Heung-min saw a scuffed effort repelled by Ederson.

Haaland thought he had made the points safe in stoppage time, but the referee’s on-field decision to disallow the goal for handball was confirmed following a VAR review.

Spurs almost made that reprieve count in the eighth additional minute, but Sarr headed over from the centre of the box as City clung on.

Postecoglou's changes fall flat

Spurs have endured plenty of lows in 2024/25, but November's reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium represented the high point of their campaign, and arguably of the entire Ange Postecoglou era.

Despite being without first-choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Spurs tore City to shreds in a 4-0 win, with Dejan Kulusevski and Son contributing to a scintillating counter-attacking performance.

But both Kulusevski and Son dropped to the bench here and Spurs failed to show anything as an attacking force in the first half. After Tel sent a tame flick into Ederson's arms in the fifth minute, they went 40 minutes without attempting a shot of any description.

Spurs improved dramatically after half-time but were wasteful in their finishing, with Sarr missing their best chance when left totally unmarked in the final action of the match.

With Spurs having eight days to rest up for their next fixture – the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie against AZ Alkmaar – fans might wonder whether Postecoglou's decision to rotate his attack was misguided.

That competition represents Spurs' final shot at silverware this season, and a nine-point gap separates them from the top half of the Premier League table. Next up on league duty is the visit of AFC Bournemouth on 9 March.

City inch over the line

This week, Guardiola refuted suggestions that re-establishing City's dominance will be the toughest task of his career, pointing out that the Citizens have already been through multiple rebuilds since he arrived in 2016.

Many expect City to refresh their squad when the curtain comes down on their underwhelming campaign and, while this performance demonstrated there is work to be done, it also showed they have players capable of contributing in the future.

Doku produced a lively display on the left-hand side and, with better finishing from his team-mates, he would have had three assists by the half-hour mark.

Then there is Haaland. Returning to the side after a knee issue caused him to miss defeats to Real Madrid and Liverpool, the Norwegian was in the right place at the right time to score.

Guardiola was visibly concerned by City's lack of control after the break, but they rode their luck to get over the line. They host Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup on Saturday, before visiting Nottingham Forest for a battle of UEFA Champions League hopefuls on 8 March

Match reports

Spurs report | Man City report

What the managers said

Ange Postecoglou: "First half we had to hang in there, created a couple chances but we were wasteful with the ball. Second half we dominated in all areas but missed a goal to get something out of the game. We always knew we would finish strong, we always do, but in the first half we turned the ball over too many times, if you do that against city you allow them to get into a rhythm."

Pep Guardiola: “We were better in the first and they were better in the second. 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 that should have happened because of the chances. In the second half we suffer but we should have closed it in the first. But for Champions League qualification, it was an incredibly good result for us."

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

Manchester City have won three of their last four away games against Spurs (L1), all since the start of last season. This is more victories than they managed in their first eight away games against them under Pep Guardiola (W2 D0 L6), between 2016-17 and 2022-23.

This was just the fourth time Spurs have lost and failed to score in a home match under Ange Postecoglou, with three of those being defeats to Manchester City (0-1 in January 2024, 0-2 in May 2024 and 0-1 tonight).

Erling Haaland scored the winning goal in a Premier League match for the 25th time, more than any other player since his first season in 2022-23. Only Sergio Agüero (48) and Raheem Sterling (28) have netted more winning goals for Manchester City in the competition than the Norwegian.

Spurs were the first side to start three teenagers (Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Mathys Tel) in a Premier League match against the reigning champions since Boxing Day 1997, when Everton did so against Manchester United (Danny Cadamerteri, John Oster, Michael Ball).

Brennan Johnson scored twice as a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur made it three successive Premier League wins with a 4-1 victory at Ipswich Town.

The Wales international, whose father David played for the Tractor Boys between 1997 and 2001, bagged a first-half double, while Djed Spence and Dejan Kulusevski were each on target late on to seal victory at Portman Road.

Johnson was in the right place at the right time twice in the space of eight minutes to convert a pair of Son Heung-min assists, though Omari Hutchinson halved the deficit before the break with an impressive goal for the hosts.

The result remained in the balance until the closing stages, when a deflected Spence shot and Kulusevski’s fine individual goal ultimately condemned Ipswich to a seventh defeat in eight home league matches.

Kieran McKenna’s side remain 18th, but they are now five points from safety following Wolverhampton Wanderers’ surprise win at AFC Bournemouth. Spurs remain 12th, six points adrift of the top 10.

How the match unfolded

In a relatively even opening half, it was Spurs who struck first in the 18th minute. Son latched on to a long ball over the top of the hosts’ defence down the left and made good ground before laying it on a plate for Johnson to tap in from close range.

The same two players combined as the visitors doubled their lead, with Son again being found in space before he centred the ball for Johnson to apply the finishing touch with a low finish.

Ipswich may have felt hard done by to be two goals behind and they halved the deficit in the 36th minute when Kalvin Phillips stole possession and fed Jack Clarke, who cut the ball back for Hutchinson to sweep a brilliant first-time finish beyond Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs restored their two-goal lead in the 77th minute when Ipswich substitute Luke Woolfenden, who had a header ruled out for offside earlier on, deflected Spence’s shot beyond helpless home goalkeeper Alex Palmer after the Spurs full-back had been cleverly found by James Maddison.

Kulusevski then added further gloss to the scoreline. After being set up by Dane Scarlett six minutes from time, the winger cut inside from the right and curled an excellent effort in off the far post.

Ipswich's lack of home comfort continues

The only side yet to record a Premier League victory in 2025, Ipswich had been buoyed by their hard-earned 1-1 draw at Villa Park last weekend.

They were quick out of the blocks here and it took smart reflex saves from Vicario to thwart Liam Delap and Jaden Philogene inside the opening 30 seconds, while the former also saw a header come back off the woodwork.

But despite their promising start, Ipswich switched off at the other end, affording Son too much space down the left to tee up Johnson for both goals, from which point a costly defeat always looked likely.

To their credit, the hosts recovered well – aided by Hutchinson’s well-taken goal – and finished the first half strongly, while carrying the greater attacking threat for large periods after the break as well.

However, they could not turn their positive play into an equaliser, and any hopes of not leaving the contest empty-handed were ended when the visitors struck twice inside the final quarter of an hour.

Ipswich’s bid to avoid the drop has not been helped by their home form. Since their only league win at Portman Road this season, against Chelsea in December, they have lost four matches in a row in front of their own fans by an aggregate score of 14-2.

Ipswich are away to another under-pressure team in desperate need of momentum, Manchester United, on Wednesday.

Johnson haunts father’s former club

Around this time 25 years ago, David Johnson’s goals were instrumental towards Ipswich sealing their return to the Premier League. But a quarter of a century later, his son Brennan’s goals have dented their hopes of remaining in the top flight.

After breaking the deadlock with a tap-in on the line, Johnson doubled his and Spurs’ tally with a neat first-time finish.

Given their knack of surrendering points from winning positions this season, Spurs will not have been sitting comfortably after Hutchinson halved the deficit and Woolfenden’s headed goal was disallowed.

However, after keeping their rejuvenated hosts at bay to prevent them getting on level terms, Spence’s deflected strike settled their nerves.

Spurs then ensured any faint hopes Ipswich may have had of mounting a dramatic fightback were firmly dashed, as Kulusevski sent a delicious effort beyond the dive of Palmer, giving Spurs a third straight league win for the first time since December 2023.

It's a huge match at home to champions Manchester City up next. While their league position remains unchanged, Spurs go into that contest in much better shape and with greater confidence than they had even just a week ago.

Club reports

Ipswich report | Spurs report

What the managers said

Ange Postecoglou: "They're [Ipswich] one of the hardest-working teams in the league. You know you're going up against a battle and a contest - we had to do that today. First half, we could have done better. We allowed them some moments, but in the second half we dug in."

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

Spurs have won three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since December 2023, as many victories as in their previous 15 matches in the competition (D2 L10).

Ipswich have picked up just seven points at home in the Premier League this season (W1 D4 L9), indeed only Southampton (four points) have gained fewer in the top four tiers of English Football in 2024/25, while only three sides have lost more than the Tractor Boys' nine defeats (Southampton 11, Morecambe, and Shrewsbury, 10).

Spurs have won four Premier League away games this season by three or more goals. Only in 2016/17 (five) have they ever won more such matches in a season.

Johnson scored his first Premier League brace for Spurs and his first in the competition since March 2023 for Nottingham Forest against Everton. He now has nine Premier League goals this season, his most in a single campaign.

Football writer Alex Keble analyses Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 win over Manchester United which secured their first home victory since November.

While it may not go down as a match that ranks among the classic encounters between the two sides, it could be one that we look back upon as the start of something significant for both clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur are leaving an injury crisis just as Manchester United are entering theirs and, on the evidence of the first half in particular, that means Spurs are ready to shoot up the table and United, if it’s even possible, falling deeper into trouble.

Spurs rejuvenated by return of star players

Ange Postecoglou has for a long time insisted Spurs’ poor form was the direct consequence of their long injury list and, for 45 minutes at least, there was vindication.

“We’ve hardly trained the last few months,” Postecoglou said after the match. “This week all of sudden we’ve had 20 senior fit players, which gives everyone a boost.

“Training’s a bit more energetic, a bit more up-tempo. The players and the coaches all respond to that.”

Sure enough, Spurs began with purpose and energy, harassing Man Utd into a low block for long periods of the match and pressing more effectively than we’ve seen in some time.

They won possession eight times in the final third, their fourth-highest figure in the Premier League this season and the most since beating Aston Villa 4-1 on 3 November, incidentally their last home win.

Key: Green - successful pass, yellow - chance created, blue - assist, red - failed pass

James Maddison, scorer of the winning goal, was lively (as seen, most obviously, in reacting first to poke in from close range), while Guglielmo Vicario made several impressive saves.

These two symbolised the value of having first-team regulars fully fit and trained up through the week.

It brought genuine hope that a revival is coming.

Man Utd’s midfield issues made worse by injuries

Just as Spurs’ luck is turning one way, United’s is going the other.

Ruben Amorim had eight teenagers on the bench, meaning he had to put square pegs in round holes, including fielding Joshua Zirkzee as an inside forward on the same flank as Bruno Fernandes.

It was a big problem. Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation frequently leaves the two central midfielders with too much work to do, and it was no surprise Casemiro and Fernandes lacked the energy to cope, especially without the legs of Kobbie Mainoo or Amad in front of them.

Over and over again in the first half, Djed Spence (inverting from left-back), Maddison and Son Heung-min overworked an isolated Fernandes, who was dragged across to leave Casemiro helpless in the middle.

This total mismatch in midfield is what allowed Spurs to dominate the ball and pin Man Utd back in the first half, when Maddison and Lucas Bergvall gracefully controlled the wide-open spaces, leading indirectly to the winning goal.

The respective "team average position" graphics below highlight the difference between the two midfields.

One was relatively organised, the other – already struggling in Amorim’s system, and now ravaged by injury – shows huge gaps either side of the narrow midfield pair.

Amorim’s injury issues also create a blunt attack

“There’s definitely empathy there [with Amorim’s position],” Postecoglou said after the match.

“Welcome to my world. But that’s for one game. Do that for two months.”

They’re about to.

Amad – who has scored or assisted eight of United’s 16 league goals under Amorim (50 pr cent) - is expected to miss the rest of the season, leaving United reliant upon Alejandro Garnacho, a forward they were open to selling in January, and Zirkzee.

Man Utd amassed an Expected Goals (xG) of 1.54 in this match but it felt higher, with Garnacho blazing one shot over the crossbar from 10 yards and Zirkzee missing two good chances.

We shouldn’t have been particularly surprised by either player.

Zirkzee only scored 13 goals in 37 Serie A matches for Atalanta, while Garnacho has the lowest conversion rate of big chances (situations where the player is expected to score) of any Premier League player to have had 10 or more big chances this season, with 14 per cent.

United were always likely to draw a blank, then, following a trend that could be about to get worse.

They have failed to score in 10 of their 25 Premier League matches, the second-most behind Everton (12), and have lost 12 of their 25 league contests, their most at this stage of a league campaign since 1973/74, when they were relegated.

The situation was bad enough before these fresh injury concerns. But now Amorim faces a fresh crisis, and one set to draw all the more focus as Spurs – after recording back-to-back wins – look to move out of theirs.

"I have a lot of problems. My job is so hard," Amorim told Sky Sports after the match.

While Amorim's first three months have proven immensely challenging, spring, without his star man Amad, looks set to provide an even sterner test of his coaching credentials.

Tottenham Hotspur earned back-to-back Premier League wins with a 1-0 home triumph over Manchester United, the first time they have done the double over the Red Devils in the competition.

Having beaten Brentford two weeks ago to end a seven-match winless run, Spurs earned their first victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since early November.

James Maddison got the all-important goal after just 13 minutes, turning in the rebound after Lucas Bergvall had a shot saved.

Alejandro Garnacho squandered a glorious chance shortly afterwards, with United unable to find an equaliser despite applying plenty of pressure.

The hosts move up to 12th in the table on 30 points, leapfrogging United, who sit one point and three places below them in 15th.

How the match unfolded

Spurs managed to survive a flurry of early United chances; Rasmus Hojlund’s low drive was pushed away by Guglielmo Vicario, with the Italian – back from injury after three months out – then palming Garnacho’s curler clear in the next phase.

United were punished just moments later at the other end as Andre Onana pushed Bergvall’s low strike straight to Maddison, who coolly fired in.

Garnacho should have levelled 10 minutes later, but he blazed over the crossbar under no pressure after Bruno Fernandes’ clever lay-off.

The Argentinian led the United charge in the second half, twice forcing Vicario into action, first from a tight angle on the right side of the area, then with a low strike at the near post.

Joshua Zirkzee glanced a header wide of the far post, while Djed Spence slid in to block Hojlund’s shot after Onana had kept out Dejan Kulusevki and sparked a quick counter.

But United were unable to make that pressure tell, leaving Ruben Amorim to face up to another demoralising defeat.

Postecoglou finds relief

Spurs stopped the rot in the Premier League last time out with a 2-0 win over Brentford, but they found themselves back under pressure after a miserable week saw them crash out of both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup.

They had not won back-to-back league matches since September, but some huge injury boosts, including the returns of Vicario and Maddison to the starting line-up, lifted the mood ahead of kick-off.

Vicario’s absence has been keenly felt and he showed his worth after just 10 minutes, making an impressive double save to deny Hojlund and Garnacho, while he was also sent scrambling by a Zirkzee effort that fizzed wide of the post.

Maddison, meanwhile, marked his return with a goal but also provided a spark in midfield throughout the first half.

Elsewhere, new boy Mathys Tel – a reported United target before joining Spurs – was a constant threat and was unlucky not to mark his Premier League debut with a goal as Onana kept him out.

Ange Postecoglou has never lost to United in the Premier League, and Spurs' third win over them this campaign has certainly helped to ease the pressure.

However, the Spurs head coach knows they need to build some momentum with struggling Ipswich Town up next.

Amorim’s injury headache

While Spurs’ injury crisis has shown some signs of easing, United now have mounting problems of their own, with Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Lisandro Martinez all out.

Considering their problems in the final third this term though, perhaps the biggest blow dealt to them was that concerning Amad, who Amorim conceded before the match could miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

In an attempt to end their struggle for goals, Amorim opted to use both Hojlund and Zirkzee together, a decision that might have paid off early on, if not for Vicario’s reflexes.

United drew a blank for the 19th time in the first half of a Premier League match this season, though that should not have been the case as Garnacho was handed a chance on a silver platter, only to fire wastefully over.

With Victor Lindelof the lone senior figure available to Amorim off the bench, the head coach had to rally his starters.

They came out stronger after the break, but Garnacho was unable to atone for his earlier miss as Vicario continually thwarted him.

It is a second consecutive Premier League defeat for United – with an FA Cup victory over Leicester City sandwiched in between – and things do not get easier with a trip to resurgent Everton next Saturday.

Club reports

Spurs report | Man Utd report

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

This win was Spurs' first in the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since November against Aston Villa, while it was just the second time in their last 28 home league matches that they kept a clean sheet (also v Everton in August).

Spurs are the first side to win three separate matches against Man Utd in a single season in all competitions since Chelsea in 2012/13.

Man Utd have lost 12 of their 25 Premier League matches this season (W8 D5), their most defeats from their first 25 matches of a league campaign since 1973/74 (13) – when they were last relegated from the top flight.

Only Leicester City (seven) have scored fewer first half goals in the Premier League this season than Man Utd (nine).

Tottenham Hotspur earned back-to-back Premier League wins with a 1-0 home triumph over Manchester United, the first time they have done the double over the Red Devils in the competition.

Having beaten Brentford two weeks ago to end a seven-match winless run, Spurs earned their first victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since early November.

James Maddison got the all-important goal after just 13 minutes, turning in the rebound after Lucas Bergvall had a shot saved.

Alejandro Garnacho squandered a glorious chance shortly afterwards, with United unable to find an equaliser despite applying plenty of pressure.

The hosts move up to 12th in the table on 30 points, leapfrogging United, who sit one point and three places below them in 15th.

How the match unfolded

Spurs managed to survive a flurry of early United chances; Rasmus Hojlund’s low drive was pushed away by Guglielmo Vicario, with the Italian – back from injury after three months out – then palming Garnacho’s curler clear in the next phase.

United were punished just moments later at the other end as Andre Onana pushed Bergvall’s low strike straight to Maddison, who coolly fired in.

Garnacho should have levelled 10 minutes later, but he blazed over the crossbar under no pressure after Bruno Fernandes’ clever lay-off.

The Argentinian led the United charge in the second half, twice forcing Vicario into action, first from a tight angle on the right side of the area, then with a low strike at the near post.

Joshua Zirkzee glanced a header wide of the far post, while Djed Spence slid in to block Hojlund’s shot after Onana had kept out Dejan Kulusevki and sparked a quick counter.

But United were unable to make that pressure tell, leaving Ruben Amorim to face up to another demoralising defeat.

Postecoglou finds relief

Spurs stopped the rot in the Premier League last time out with a 2-0 win over Brentford, but they found themselves back under pressure after a miserable week saw them crash out of both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup.

They had not won back-to-back league matches since September, but some huge injury boosts, including the returns of Vicario and Maddison to the starting line-up, lifted the mood ahead of kick-off.

Vicario’s absence has been keenly felt and he showed his worth after just 10 minutes, making an impressive double save to deny Hojlund and Garnacho, while he was also sent scrambling by a Zirkzee effort that fizzed wide of the post.

Maddison, meanwhile, marked his return with a goal but also provided a spark in midfield throughout the first half.

Elsewhere, new boy Mathys Tel – a reported United target before joining Spurs – was a constant threat and was unlucky not to mark his Premier League debut with a goal as Onana kept him out.

Ange Postecoglou has never lost to United in the Premier League, and Spurs' third win over them this campaign has certainly helped to ease the pressure.

However, the Spurs head coach knows they need to build some momentum with struggling Ipswich Town up next.

Amorim’s injury headache

While Spurs’ injury crisis has shown some signs of easing, United now have mounting problems of their own, with Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Lisandro Martinez all out.

Considering their problems in the final third this term though, perhaps the biggest blow dealt to them was that concerning Amad, who Amorim conceded before the match could miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

In an attempt to end their struggle for goals, Amorim opted to use both Hojlund and Zirkzee together, a decision that might have paid off early on, if not for Vicario’s reflexes.

United drew a blank for the 19th time in the first half of a Premier League match this season, though that should not have been the case as Garnacho was handed a chance on a silver platter, only to fire wastefully over.

With Victor Lindelof the lone senior figure available to Amorim off the bench, the head coach had to rally his starters.

They came out stronger after the break, but Garnacho was unable to atone for his earlier miss as Vicario continually thwarted him.

It is a second consecutive Premier League defeat for United – with an FA Cup victory over Leicester City sandwiched in between – and things do not get easier with a trip to resurgent Everton next Saturday.

Club reports

Spurs report | Man Utd report

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

This win was Spurs' first in the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since November against Aston Villa, while it was just the second time in their last 28 home league matches that they kept a clean sheet (also v Everton in August).

Spurs are the first side to win three separate matches against Man Utd in a single season in all competitions since Chelsea in 2012/13.

Man Utd have lost 12 of their 25 Premier League matches this season (W8 D5), their most defeats from their first 25 matches of a league campaign since 1973/74 (13) – when they were last relegated from the top flight.

Only Leicester City (seven) have scored fewer first half goals in the Premier League this season than Man Utd (nine).

Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United on Sunday in the next instalment of a fixture that has produced countless memorable moments.

Football writer Adrian Kajumba looks back at some of the standout matches, goals, incidents and individual performances from their meetings during the Premier League era.

Man Utd seal first part of Treble - May 1999

Heading into the final 10 days of the 1998/99 season Man Utd stood on the brink of history - just three wins away from an incredible Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League treble.

To complete part one of their bid to become the first English side to achieve the feat, they had to overcome Spurs on what proved to be a nerve-shredding final day of the season.

Mid-table Spurs had little to play for and also knew that taking points off Man Utd would actually benefit their fierce rivals Arsenal more as the second-placed Gunners started the day a point behind Man Utd.

The chances of that dreaded scenario, from a Spurs perspective, becoming reality increased when Les Ferdinand lobbed the north Londoners into a shock lead.

“I scored and thought this could go down in history as the worst move of my career,” Ferdinand told The Times.

But David Beckham levelled for Man Utd before half-time substitute Andrew Cole lobbed in the winner two minutes after the restart and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men held on to make it one down, two to go in their Treble quest.

Victories in the FA Cup final against Newcastle United and Bayern Munich in the Champions League final then made it a remarkable mission accomplished for Man Utd.

Carr’s White Hart Lane screamer - October 1999

A few months later a wonder goal from an unlikely scorer helped Spurs overcome Ferguson’s Treble winners.

It came from Stephen Carr, who picked up the ball inside his own half and ran unchallenged towards Man Utd’s penalty area before unleashing a stinging shot that flew into the net past Mark Bosnich.

Carr had only scored one Premier League goal before that so few could have confidently predicted what came next when he gathered possession.

His 71st-minute strike killed off any comeback hopes Man Utd may have had and put the seal on a fondly-remembered 3-1 win for Spurs.

Man United’s stunning second-half comeback - September 2001

From a long list of turnarounds during his 27-year reign at Man Utd, Ferguson rated their thrilling 2001 recovery at Spurs as “one of the great comebacks.”

The match looked all but over at half-time as Spurs raced into a 3-0 lead through goals from debutant Dean Richards, Ferdinand and Christian Ziege.

Ferguson’s players, familiar with his famous hairdryer treatment, were braced for a half-time dressing-down after being totally outplayed by an inspired Spurs.

Instead Ferguson sprung a surprise by calmly telling them "we're going to score the first goal and see where that takes us.”

Ferguson, meanwhile, remembered Spurs captain and ex-United striker Teddy Sheringham warning his team-mates not to let that happen as the two sides prepared to run out for the second half. Ferguson's prediction was accurate and Sheringham’s efforts in vain.

Cole pulled a goal back a minute into the second half before further strikes from Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and Beckham saw a transformed Man Utd storm to a stunning win in a match of two halves.

Mendes’ goal that never was - January 2005

This fixture is also in Premier League folklore due to an unforgettable goal that never was.

With the teams locked level at 0-0 and 89 minutes on the clock, quick-thinking midfielder Pedro Mendes tried his luck from just inside the Man United half with goalkeeper Roy Carroll well out of position and frantically trying to return to his goal.

Carroll got back just in time but also spilled Mendes’ shot over the line as he attempted to catch the ball.

The Spurs 'keeper dived backwards to scoop the ball out of his goal but his sheepish looks towards the assistant referee appeared to give the game away.

However, the officials remained unaware that Mendes’ effort had gone in, no goal was given and Spurs were denied a first league win at Old Trafford since 1989.

The incident sparked fresh calls for goal-line technology but, amid the fallout, Spurs manager Martin Jol did accept it would have been "difficult” for the officials to spot in real time.

Assistant referee Rob Lewis said: “I was doing my primary job which was to stand in line to watch for an offside. There was nothing I could have done apart from run faster than Linford Christie.

“The Tottenham players were brilliant - they were shaking my hand and saying there was no way I could give a decision where I was.”

Defender O’Shea finishes game in goal - February 2007

Man Utd’s 2007 trip to White Hart Lane was a match made unforgettable as one of those rare occasions that featured an outfield player going in goal.

With Man Utd having used all of their substitutes, Edwin van der Sar was then forced off with a broken nose leaving John O’Shea to show that his talents as a utility man extended to filling in as an emergency goalkeeper too.

Rio Ferdinand was initially going to replace Van der Sar but Irishman O’Shea’s Gaelic football background helped him get the nod, not long after coming off the bench.

Man Utd were 4-0 up and had the match won when O’Shea stepped in, but he still had work to do to preserve the clean sheet.

At times O’Shea looked like the outfielder he was, flapping awkwardly at one corner.

Watch: O'Shea's turn in goal for Man Utd

But a one-on-one save to deny Robbie Keane was a highlight from his brief cameo and something he enjoyed bringing up when the pair were away on international duty just days later.

O’Shea finished the game being serenaded with chants of “United’s No 1” from the travelling fans and joked in his post-match interview: “I’ve just asked Edwin if he gets a clean sheet bonus because I want half of it.”

Spurs’ White Hart Lane send-off - May 2017

After 118 years at White Hart Lane, Spurs signed off in style with a 2-1 win against Man Utd.

Goals from Victor Wanyama and Harry Kane, before Wayne Rooney’s late consolation, ensured Spurs not only marked the end of an era with a victory but also went a whole season unbeaten at home in the league for the first time since 1964/65 as they finished second.

Watch: Spurs win final match at White Hart Lane

Understandably, this was an emotional occasion as Spurs players past and present joined supporters to celebrate one final time at the club’s iconic stadium.

And the day had a fairytale end when a rainbow appeared over the ground as the final whistle blew.

Eriksen’s historic early goal - January 2018

While their new permanent home was being built, Spurs played at the new Wembley Stadium and the next time they hosted Man Utd another memorable moment in the history of this head-to-head occurred.

Spurs made a lightning quick start to bring Man Utd’s run of six successive clean sheets to a shuddering halt, Christian Eriksen opening the scoring after just 10.54 seconds in a 2-0 win.

At the time the Dane’s 50th strike for Spurs was the third-fastest goal scored in Premier League history.

It now sits sixth on that list but remains the fastest goal scored at the new Wembley Stadium.

Mourinho demands “respect” - August 2018

In difficult times Jose Mourinho has always had his considerable achievements to fall back on and never been shy to highlight them.

A 3-0 Old Trafford defeat for Mourinho’s Man Utd against Spurs prompted one of his more memorable responses in the face of criticism.

The result meant Man Utd had lost two of their opening three league matches for the first time in 26 years and was Mourinho's heaviest home loss as a manager.

Man Utd fell to 13th in the table leaving Mourinho under fire in his post-match press conference.

Backed into a corner, he came out swinging before storming out of the room.

“Just to finish, do you know what was the result?” he asked before holding up three fingers.

“Do you know what this means? [It means] 3-0.

“But it also means three Premierships and I won more Premierships alone than the other 19 managers together. Three for me and two for them two [Pep Guardiola and Manuel Pellegrini]. So respect man, respect, respect, respect.”

Spurs hit Man Utd for six - October 2020

Mourinho was much happier when he returned to Old Trafford two years later while in charge of Spurs - and after inflicting a humiliating defeat on his former employers and successor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Five minutes later Spurs had turned the game on its head following goals from Tanguy Ndombele and Son Heung-min.

They continued to take advantage of United’s chaotic defending and, coupled with Anthony Martial’s first-half dismissal, Spurs scored four more times either side of the break, with Kane joining Son by netting a brace.

The final result was Spurs’ biggest win at Old Trafford and equalled their record victory against Man Utd, a 1932 home success.

“It’s history for Tottenham, history for my boys and I cannot deny it is history for me,” said a proud Mourinho, who became the first manager to win at Old Trafford with three different teams following previous victories with Chelsea and Real Madrid.

In contrast, Man Utd made history for the wrong reasons.

This was the first time they had conceded four goals in the opening half of a home league match since 1957 against Spurs. The outcome also equalled their biggest Premier League home defeat against Manchester City in 2011.

“It's my worst day ever,” United manager Solskjaer said.

Hat-trick hero Ronaldo rolls back the years - March 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo was not the force of old when he returned for a second spell at Old Trafford in 2021, but he was still more than capable of deciding matches on his own and breaking records.

Spurs’ visit in March 2022 was a prime example as the then 37 year-old Portuguese superstar scored a hat-trick to inspire United to a 3-2 win.

His first goal, an unstoppable strike into Hugo Lloris’ top corner, was voted Premier League Goal of the Month for March.

Ronaldo doubled his tally with a first-half tap in and then won the game with a towering late header.

In doing so, Ronaldo scored his first Premier League hat-trick in 14 years and 59 days, the longest gap between trebles in the history of the competition.

His exploits also took him to 807 career goals and saw him become the top-scoring male player of all time, according to FIFA’s records.

Manchester United travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday with what reports suggest are a host of injury problems in midfield.

In his pre-match press conference Ruben Amorim suggested that two unnamed players were a concern for him.

Amad has now confirmed that he will be out with an injury, which reports suggest is with an ankle ligament that could mean he will miss for the rest of the season.

"Extremely disappointed to be writing this message in such a crucial time of the season. Unfortunately, I will be out for some time with an injury," Amad said on his Instagram page.

Amad is United's top scorer in the league with six goals, including registering a hat-trick in a 3-1 win against Southampton.

Other reports suggest that Amorim will also not be able to call upon his midfield trio of Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer for the trip to north London.

Man Utd are already without six other first-team players, with Lisandro Martinez also out for an extended period due to a cruciate ligament injury.

Man Utd's confirmed injury list

Player Injury Latest Update Mason Mount Muscle Details Luke Shaw Knock Details Jonny Evans Muscle Details Altay Bayindir - Details Tom Heaton - Details Lisandro Martinez Knee Details Amad Ankle Details

The Red Devils are aiming for just their fourth away win of the season but are playing a Spurs side who have beaten them twice this season, a 3-0 victory in the league and a 4-3 success in the EFL Cup.

Who could play in midfield?

If Amorim is without Collyer, Mainoo and Ugarte, the Portugese head coach may play Christian Eriksen and Casemiro at the base of his midfield. Neither has started a league match since a 2-0 defeat by Newcastle United on 30 December.

And in the five league games since then, Casemiro has been an unused substitute, while Eriksen has featured for a combined 11 minutes.

For 25 years, John Abel has been running inclusive football sessions for the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation throughout the north London community, inspiring thousands to take part who may never have previously known a pathway.

“What inspires me and keeps me getting up in the mornings is making sure I put a smile on people’s faces," he says. "If I walk in a room and I go and say hello, and they smile at me, that’s my job done before I even start delivering the session. If I get that smile in their eyes, I know I’ve made a difference to that person.

John's dedication to working tirelessly to provide football for those with a wide range of disabilities, including the delivery of adapted versions of the game, was rewarded by him being named the Spurs' Premier League Community Captain.

He received the award as part of the promotion of the Premier League’s More Than A Game initiative, which brings football together to celebrate community programmes this month.

John has worked with all sorts of people during his quarter of a century with the Foundation, some went on to represent their countries, such as Team GB at the London 2012 Paralympics.

“Some of the young people I've worked with have had life-limiting illnesses," he tells the Spurs' website. "It can be a tough, unforgiving world. Working with them, no matter how short a time it's for, can make such a difference. I've even been invited to the funeral of one child during my time, showing how much the parents appreciated our support.

“On the other side, you’ve got those who go on to fulfil a life, have a family, buy a house, get a job. We're that little link at the beginning that gives them the fundamental life skills and the opportunity to succeed.”

John also helps to deliver other sessions for the Foundation, such as a "Sporting Memories" programme for people with dementia and walking football sessions for women.

As well as the Community Captain award and special shirt that he received, John was surprised by a visit from men's first-team forward Brennan Johnson.

“John is a fantastic example of someone doing incredible work in the community, so to have the opportunity to present him with this award is extra special," Johnson said.

What is More than a game?

More than a game highlights the positive impact of Premier League investment into communities and all levels of football. The League is investing £1.6billion into wider football, the grassroots game and communities between 2022 and 2025.

This includes funding for community projects run by 164 professional and non-league clubs, supporting people of all ages who need it most, as well as providing much-needed funding to non-league, grassroots and women’s clubs to enhance stadium facilities for players and fans.