Sky Sports

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Russo helps Arsenal thump Spurs

Alessia Russo produced a player-of-the-match display as Arsenal thrashed north London rivals Tottenham 5-0 in front of 55,784 fans at the Emirates.

How the teams lined up | Match stats

The England striker caused havoc all afternoon for the visiting defence, firstly getting on the end of Kyra Cooney-Cross' centre to seemingly open the scoring on the quarter-hour mark, only for it to go down as a Clare Hunt own goal after her header took a nick off the Spurs defender on its way into the net at the far post.

Maria Caldentey's piledriver deservedly doubled the home side's lead 10 minutes before half-time, before Frida Maanum's shot took a massive deflection off the unfortunate Hunt as the Gunners wet 3-0 up six minutes into the second half, with Russo the provider.

Fittingly, it was Russo who added a fourth just before the hour mark, collecting Caitlin Foord's pass, before finding the bottom corner with a low drive, although the best strike was left for last.

Not closed down, US right-back Emily Fox decided to try her luck from distance, finding the top corner for her first WSL goal as Renee Slegers's side stayed in touch with champions Chelsea at the top of the table.

Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺

Live WSL table | Download the Sky Sports app

Late James strike sees Chelsea edge Everton

A last-minute goal from Lauren James secured a 2-1 win for Chelsea against Everton at Kingsmeadow, re-establishing their seven-point lead at the top of the WSL.

The first half was a tight affair - although the Blues thought they had taken the lead early on, but the officials deemed the ball had not crossed all the way over the line.

It ended with just one shot on target from Chelsea and none of any note from Everton.

But the Toffees - who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea last weekend - took the lead in the 51st minute. It was a fine run from Kelly Gago as her diagonal effort fizzed into the far corner.

How the teams lined up | Match stats

But the lead only lasted nine minutes. The Everton area was packed throughout, but Mayra Ramirez was able to spin past her defender to find an inch before her low shot beat Courtney Brosnan at close range.

Chelsea continued to press for the winner - with Everton also providing tests on the counter - and the Toffees defence was finally breached in the third of four added minutes. James was offered too much space 25 yards out and her sweeping finish saw the Blues to a ninth win in a row in all competitions.

Man Utd come through Palace test

Elisabeth Terland scored twice as Man Utd were made to work for a 3-1 victory over bottom side Crystal Palace.

Palace goalkeeper Milla-Maj Majasaari endured a difficult afternoon, gifting Terland a relatively straightforward early opener, but the visitors made a contest of things thereafter.

How the teams lined up | Match stats

Lily Woodham engineered a first-half equaliser when her lofted pass found Mille Gejl in space, racing away down the left before beating Phallon Tullis-Joyce at her near post - only the sixth time Man Utd have been breached all season.

Plucky Palace also had an effort turned off the line after the break but weren't able to stop their hosts at the opposite end, conceding to Terland's eighth WSL goal of the season and a bullet header from Grace Clinton late on.

Majasaari mistakenly attempted to collect Ella Toone's high free-kick only to be beaten to the ball by Clinton, who made a perfect connection to seal all three points for Marc Skinner's side and maintain their WSL standing in second.

Palace stay rooted to the foot of the table with six points from 14 played.

Foxes see off Villa to move away from drop zone

Leicester boosted their survival hopes after beating Aston Villa 3-0 at the King Power thanks to goals either side of half-time from Janice Cayman.

How the teams lined up | Match stats

The skipper's well-taken opener came just before the half-hour mark, while her second four minutes into the second half is a goal-of-the-season contender, a thumping 25-yard volley that flew into the net.

And the home side sealed the three points when just two minutes later, Julie Thibaud nodded home from close range as the Foxes moved them up to tenth place, six points clear of the relegation zone.

West Ham cruise to victory vs Brighton

West Ham secured an impressive 3-1 win against Brighton following an impressive second-half performance from Rehanne Skinner's side.

The two teams headed into the break level pegging at 1-1 after Shekiera Martinez's opener for the Hammers was quickly cancelled out by Nikita Parris sweeping home the equaliser less than two minutes after falling behind, to record her 99th goal involvement in the WSL.

How the teams lined up | Match stats

Despite an even game before the break, the fixture quickly unravelled for Brighton after the restart.

Riko Ueki restored the lead for Skinner's side before Viviane Asseyi went down in the area and stepped up to take the penalty with just over 20 minutes to go.

West Ham now move up into eighth place in the table, while Brighton squander the chance to close the gap on fourth-placed Manchester City.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Tottenham host Manchester United on Super Sunday with both teams in serious danger of achieving their lowest-ever Premier League finish.

Only two points separate the struggling clubs, with Spurs having lost eight of their last 11 league outings, and Manchester United going down in seven of their last 11.

Ange Postecoglou's recent struggles have been well documented, however Ruben Amorim's tough start at Old Trafford has arguably gone under the radar in comparison.

Three months in and after 20 matches in charge, his record demands closer inspection.

Since he joined from Sporting in November, only five teams have won fewer Premier League points, and they are 10 points further adrift of the top four.

Three of their nine wins in regulation time under Amorim have come in the Europa League, and six have been by a single goal. The last manager to have a lower win percentage after 20 games in charge at Old Trafford was Sir Alex Ferguson.

Amorim's overall win ratio is 20 per cent lower than it was under his predecessor, Erik Ten Hag - it drops even further when comparing their Premier League records; Amorim's currently standing at 30.8 per cent compared to the Dutchman's 51.8 per cent.

Transfer Centre LIVE! | Man Utd news & transfers🔴

Man Utd fixtures & scores | FREE Man Utd PL highlights▶️

Got Sky? Watch Man Utd games LIVE on your phone📱

Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺

Amorim's attacking issues

Only the current bottom three and Everton have scored fewer Premier League goals than Manchester United since the November international break, while only seven teams have conceded more goals. When analysing their in-game statistics, there has been a notable drop off in their attack since appointing Amorim, albeit with slightly improved defensive figures than they had under Ten Hag.

Since Chelsea won the Premier League title in 2016-17, only two teams have finished in the Champions League places having played more than half of their league games with a back three, with both Chelsea and Tottenham doing so in 2021-22.

This formation rarely bears fruit in an attacking sense, as Manchester United's recent attacking ranks indicate.

Hopes of qualifying for Europe via the league this season are all but over for both teams.

Only five points currently separate 11th-placed Brentford and Everton in 16th. Tottenham have fared well this season against teams currently in this mini league, however Manchester United have picked up the fewest points of any of the six teams in question.

Of their remaining 14 league games, the Red Devils won only four and lost six of the reverse fixtures. Similar results would see them break numerous unwanted records for the club in the Premier League era.

With the Europa League knockout stages and a very open FA Cup still to play for, the league may take a backseat. Realistically they will not get drawn into a relegation battle, and the European places would be fanciful for even the most positive United fans.

If they are to get their league form back on track, there are few better launchpads currently than Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the hosts are on the longest current winless home run in the division.

Amorim rotated heavily during Manchester United's League Cup exit in north London earlier this season, in what was only his eighth game in charge. This being their only game in the space of 15 days should ensure he selects the strongest possible XI.

It has been a season to forget for both clubs so far. With Tottenham's dismal form being under the spotlight recently, a fifth win in six games in all competitions for Amorim's team could turn the tide as United contend with two cup competitions, as well as avoiding a bottom-half finish for the first time since 1989-90.

Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United in the Premier League on February 16, live on Sky Sports.

United sit 13th in the Premier League - two points and one place ahead of Spurs.

Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou come into the game under pressure after lacklustre results and performances.

When the two sides met earlier in the season, Postecoglou's side ran out 3-0 winners over United, who were then still managed by Erik ten Hag.

Tottenham v Man Utd live updates

Tottenham news and rumours | Man Utd news and rumours

Live football today and this week on Sky Sports

When is Tottenham vs Man Utd?

Tottenham vs Man Utd in the Premier League takes place on Sunday February 16 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Kick-off is 4.30pm UK time.

How to watch Tottenham v Man Utd

TV: Sky Customers can watch on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League from 4pm

App: Sky Customers can also watch on the Sky Sports app

Stream: Non Sky Customers can stream the game with a NOW Day or a cancel-anytime Month pass

Online: Anyone on the move can follow live coverage of the game through our dedicated match blog

Highlights: Watch free Premier League highlights shortly after full-time

How to watch Tottenham v Man Utd with the Sky Sports app

Sky Sports Subscribers can:

Download or open the Sky Sports app

Head to the 'Watch' section at 5pm

Tap on the Sky Sports Football channel

Sign in with your Sky iD (*you'll only need to do this once)

*Sky iD help: How to find or create your Sky iD

What is NOW TV?

NOW is an instant streaming service offering access to all 12 Sky Sports channels, every Sky Sports+ stream, and much more.

It's an app, so customers can sign up and stream instantly across over 60 devices. It offers contract-free memberships options, so customers can cancel anytime!

You can choose between a Month or Day Memberships. See the latest NOW TV membership prices.

"This idea that you cannot change is alien to me. The game-state dictates how you play," Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. "I wake up every morning hoping the sun is shining so I can put some shorts and a T-shirt on, but if it is raining, you put your coat on."

Carragher's comments were directed at Tottenham after they conceded four goals in their defeat to Chelsea in December but they were just as applicable on Sunday as Spurs were eliminated from the FA Cup away to Aston Villa. It was clear inside a minute.

Ange Postecoglou himself described Villa afterwards as "one of the best teams in the country at home" - so why was full-back Pedro Porro caught so high up the pitch within seconds? He was behind not only goalscorer Jacob Ramsey but Lucas Digne too.

Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham - Report

How the teams lined up | Match stats

Tottenham news & transfers

Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺

Even as Postecoglou launched an impassioned defence of his players, talking of an "agenda-driven" narrative centred around him and his team, there is the suspicion that it is he - rather than anyone outside the club - who is undermining their best efforts.

The statistics still tell us this Tottenham team, for all their struggles this season, play a little differently to everyone else. The principles of play that had Postecoglou's Spurs five points clear at the top of the table early last season remain in place.

No team in the Premier League has won the ball high up the pitch more times than Tottenham. No team allows so few passes per defensive action. No team plays with more width than Tottenham. By design, it is supposed to be intense and expansive.

Asked why that intensity was not there against Villa, Postecoglou said: "Because they are tired, mate. They can't. If we had not played on Thursday night and I had rotated that team, do you think it would have been pressing a bit more aggressively today?"

Postecoglou, it seems, was aware that his approach would not be so effective for what was, remember, a one-off cup tie. And yet, too often Spurs' positioning suggested they were still set up to press. Bodies in advance of the ball. No protection for the defence.

The Australian coach appeared to acknowledge this with a sensible half-time switch, introducing Yves Bissouma in place of Mikey Moore. It gave his side more of a foothold in the game and they went on to enjoy their best spell of the match thereafter.

There had been hints of this more flexible approach in the recent win over Brentford, a game in which Tottenham dropped deeper, soaked up some pressure and then came through it to claim the points. At Villa, the adjustment came much too late.

This idea persists that to make any compromise whatsoever is to dilute the message, undermine all that hard work. "My responsibility at this club is this group of players and team, to get them to play in the manner I want them to. That will bring us success."

But the alternative is surely damaging too. Not just for Postecoglou but to these young players, the ones who are, he says, his primary focus. Moore does not want to be hooked at half-time. Antonin Kinsky and Archie Gray are not relishing being so exposed.

"You cannot judge this group of players on what has happened," says Postecoglou. "They have given everything. Two 18-year-olds, a 17-year-old, a 19-year-old and a 21-year-old goalkeeper." He added: "It cannot be that people think that is an excuse."

He is right, up to a point. But then, few are judging these players. Gray is a real prospect and will enjoy better times in his career than this. Many of them, it is to be hoped, in a Spurs shirt. Lucas Bergvall has shown plenty of promise. It was Mathys Tel's first start.

No, the frustrations are being directed elsewhere. It was chairman Daniel Levy who was the focus of fans' ire at Villa Park. It is Postecoglou expected to front up now. Because the argument that these are mere pups ill-equipped for the challenge only goes so far.

Gray and Bergvall accounted for almost £50m of the club's transfer budget last summer. Much of the rest was spent on Wilson Odobert. Tel, from Bayern Munich, is one of the teenagers he mentions. Kinsky was a £12.5m arrival from Slavia Prague just last month.

The Czech made a promising start against Liverpool so it is a little alarming how his confidence seems to have taken a hit since then. There is a 36-year-old former England goalkeeper on the bench in Fraser Forster. Opting for youth is a choice, not an excuse.

Of course, the idea is that they were there to support, to be eased into a team built around more experienced figures, such as World Cup-winning defender Cristian Romero. Injuries have changed the entire equation, shifting the dynamic, and the results are ugly.

"It is just injuries. I mean, you can walk outside and say, 'jeez, it is really bright', and say to yourself, 'maybe it is not the sun'. But it is the sun, mate. We have just got injuries." Robbed of 12 first-teamers recently, their injury record has indeed been wretched.

Any team would suffer without their best players but not this badly, and not for so long without making the requisite adjustments. Besides, the difficulty for Postecoglou was that he had exacerbated the issue himself through his decisions and his approach.

Bringing back both Romero and Micky van de Ven for the aforementioned game against Chelsea was a surprise that brought little sympathy his way. The medical team may have signed off on it but the move did not seem prudent even before both broke down.

Misfortune? Perhaps not given that Postecoglou's Tottenham have made more sprints than any other team in the Premier League this season. The evidence suggests that way of playing comes at a cost. The number of muscle injuries is unlikely to be coincidence.

Supporters will still be divided because the desire to play ambitious, front-foot football with young players feels like a mission statement worth buying into. But it is defeats, not an agenda, that shape the narrative. Waiting for players to get fit might not be enough.