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Erik ten Hag is expected to remain in charge of Manchester United for crucial games against Porto and Aston Villa despite mounting pressure on the Dutchman.

United turned in a dismal display against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday, thrashed 3-0 for the second home league game in a row.

They were swept aside in similarly dominant fashion by Liverpool four weeks ago with another alarming performance this weekend leaving Ten Hag’s future at the club in real doubt.

Sunday’s performance against Spurs was described as ‘disgusting’ by Gary Neville with another former captain in Ashley Young urging players to hold a crisis meeting today without their manager present.

Things do not get any easier for Ten Hag with a Europa League meeting away to Porto looming on Thursday before a trip to Aston Villa on Sunday – United’s final games before October’s international break.

But despite the mounting pressure with concern within the club rife, The Telegraph report there are no plans for an immediate change in the dugout with Ten Hag still retaining the support of the club’s hierarchy.

Chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox watched on from the stands stony-faced as United were dismantled on Sunday.

Ten Hag retains their backing for now, but is in dire need of some positive results before this month’s international break.

United have failed to score in three of their last four league games and are already eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool after six games played. With Chelsea and Aston Villa starting the season well, major doubts are already emerging over their top four credentials.

United’s European campaign started with disappointment last Wednesday, held to a 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente. Ten Hag has won just one of his last nine European games as United boss following last season’s disastrous Champions League campaign and take on a Porto side who have won six of their seven games this season.

United opted to stick with Ten Hag during the summer following the club’s FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City, triggering an option to extend is contract to 2026.

Thomas Tuchel was among the managers United officials spoke to before making that decision with former England boss Gareth Southgate also admired by INEOS.

Ten Hag dismissed suggestions he was on the brink of losing his job on Sunday.

‘No, I am not thinking about this,’ he said. ‘We all made this decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leadership group in the summer.

He continued: ‘We are all on one page or in one boat together – the ownership, the leadership group, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.’

Gary Neville made an honest admission to a Sky Sports commentator after seeing the Manchester United v Tottenham team sheet for the first time.

United suffered a dismal 3-0 defeat to Spurs at Old Trafford on Sunday, sparking serious speculation over the future of under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.

Tottenham were ahead inside four minutes as Micky van de Ven was allowed to storm into the United box from his own half and put it on a plate for Brennan Johnson at the back post.

Manchester United were second best for almost the entirety of the opening 45 minutes and their task got that bit harder when Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a late tackle on England midfielder James Maddison.

Spurs doubled their advantage almost immediately after half-time through Dejan Kulusevski before Dominic Solanke added a third for the visitors.

Old Trafford legend Neville was optimistic about Manchester United’s chances in the days leading up to the match but says his confidence drained after seeing the team sheet.

‘I got the team sheet before the game and I was confident about Manchester United coming to the game today,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast to football commentator Peter Drury.

‘But I got the team sheet and I think I said it to you actually in the Sky Sports truck, I looked at the teams and I thought, Tottenham’s team is better.

‘I said that before the game. I know it’s a simple thing but you’ve got these ideas about the game beforehand but then you look at teams and think Tottenham’s is better and I’d actually rather that team than United’s.

‘That’s a worry. Ange Postecoglou has had nothing like the money to spend that Erik ten Hag has. But they’ve got a good team. Spurs fans will have loved that today and so they should do.’

Neville described Manchester United’s performance against Tottenham as ‘absolutely disgusting’ and said he was ‘shocked’ by the display.

The defeat leaves United just 12th in the Premier League after six matches, closer to the relegation zone than the top-four.

‘The first half was as bad as it gets,’ said Neville during Sky Sports’ commentary of the game ‘This is a shocking day, a sobering day.

‘This is a really bad day for Ten Hag. It’s one of the worst performances I have seen under Ten Hag. And that is saying something. It is really bad.

‘Today has shocked me how low they’ve gone. It was a really bad one.

‘I know that David Moyes had some bad ones in the early days, so has Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] along the way, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ralf Rangnick, but that felt like one of those days today where they sank really low.’

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Paul Scholes said Manchester United looked like an ‘uncoached team’ after the side’s abject 3-0 defeat to Tottenham and questioned the signing of Matthijs de Ligt.

The Red Devils’ dismal start to the 2024/25 campaign continued at Old Trafford, with Brennan Johnson breaking the deadlock inside just three minutes to send Spurs’ away support into raptures.

Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a reckless foul on James Maddison in the 42nd minute and the situation went from bad to worse for the hosts as a pair of second-half goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke put the game to bed.

The result means United remain stranded down in 12th place in the Premier League table and there will be intense pressure on Erik ten Hag to get a result away to Aston Villa next weekend.

‘You don’t know how they’re going to play,’ legendary ex-United and England midfielder Scholes said on SuperSport.

‘You don’t know how they’re going approach games, whether they are going to play on the counter-attack or sit deep or whether they’re going to try to have all the possession in the game. We’ve no idea. They look like an uncoached football team.

‘We’re two and a bit years in now… from the first week Ange Postecoglou went in, we probably knew what Tottenham were doing and they’re doing it to this day.

‘We’re two and a bit years down the road [at United] and, as I said, it’s an uncoached team.

‘The players looked dead today, they looked flat, they looked, “I don’t know what to do”, there’s no enthusiasm for the game of football and that can only come from the training pitch.

‘Some of the positions that people take up on the pitch, it’s just madness at times.’

Scholes was critical of United’s recent recruitment and believes £43million summer arrival De Ligt is no improvement on Harry Maguire, who has made just two starts in the league this season.

‘When you bring players in, you expect them to be a lot better than who you’ve already got. I don’t see players coming in who are a big difference,’ Scholes said.

‘De Ligt has come in for Maguire, let’s say, but there’s no big difference there.

Asked whether De Ligt is a £50m improvement on former club captain Maguire, Scholes replied: ‘No, absolutely not.’

Scholes hopes United players stop making ‘excuses’ and instead find a way to start getting results before Ten Hag’s position becomes untenable.

‘These are experienced players who United have paid a lot of money for,’ he added.

‘We need to stop hearing excuses and get on that training pitch and find a way of playing.

‘Find something, give us something!’

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Ashley Young took aim at Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho following Manchester United’s dismal 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, claiming the duo played with ‘no confidence’ at Old Trafford.

United gave themselves a mountain to climb after a nightmare start to the game, with Brennan Johnson striking inside three minutes before Bruno Fernandes was shown a red card for a reckless challenge on James Maddison.

Joshua Zirkzee and Garnacho both squandered chances to equalise but goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke put the game to bed in the second half, with Erik ten Hag’s substitutions failing to turn the tide.

The result leaves the Red Devils stranded down in 12th place, eight points behind league leaders and arch-rivals Liverpool after six matches.

Spurs, meanwhile, moved up to eighth with the victory and will look to make it five wins from five in all competitions when they return to Europa League action away to Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros on Thursday evening.

Young, on punditry duty with Sky Sports, urged United’s players to hold a ‘crisis meeting’ ahead of their trip to Porto, with the likes of Rashford and Garnacho appearing to be lacking in confidence at the Theatre of Dreams.

‘I think it just showed today, where you’ve got the two wingers going one-v-one and instead of going to attack the space in behind, they’d rather go back and play the safe pass,’ the former United star, now with Everton, said.

‘That’s when you know you’ve got a winger with no confidence.

‘As a winger previously as well, when you’re here, when you see a one-v-one, that’s when your eyes light up, that’s your time to shine.

‘When players are not doing that, turning it down and wanting to go backwards, it’s not the way to be doing it.

‘It’s one of those things. They are going to have to have a meeting between themselves and work out what is going wrong.’

According to Young, United seemed ‘happy’ for Tottenham to have the lion’s share of possession and need to ‘get back to basics’.

‘You want to be on the front foot, you want to be attacking, you want to get the fans on side, you want to work hard,’ he added.

‘There’s none of that out there and that was just shown today that the players just look lost.

‘We had a DNA at Manchester United where you’re on the front foot, you go and press teams, you squeeze teams, you get the ball back, you get corners, you get throw-ins… there was just none of it.

‘It was like they went out today and they were just happy for Tottenham to have the ball and over the years that’s not been the Manchester United way.

‘What is going to be the change? I do think there needs to be a crisis meeting.

‘Those players in that dressing room need to have a look at themselves and have a meeting together without any staff there, just with the players, and work out where it’s going wrong, what’s happening and what they need to do.

‘It’s getting back to basics because what is going on right now, the basics are not being done.’

Young continued: ‘There’s too much individuality out there. You’re not really seeing a team and you’re not seeing that togetherness.

‘Christian Eriksen said in the week that FC Twente wanted it more. That’s not even possible.

‘There’s no way you can have a team that wants it more, especially when you’re at home and you’re starting the season wanting to get rid of what happened last season, what happened in the last few years.

‘I’ve been here when it was successful, I’ve been here when it wasn’t successful. It’s a difficult place but you know when you’re in this club that you’re part of that DNA, you know the size of the club, you know where you can take the club to and it’s just doing the basics.’

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Tottenham have issued a statement condemning the ‘abhorrent’ and ‘unacceptable’ homophobic chanting heard from the away end during the side’s 3-0 defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke secured Spurs a comprehensive victory over Erik ten Hag’s ten-man United, with the hosts reduced to ten men after Bruno Fernandes sending off in the 42nd minute.

It was a fine performance and a fourth win on the bounce from an in-form Tottenham, who rose to eighth in the Premier League table with the result.

But the win has been somewhat overshadowed by despicable chanting heard amongst Spurs’ away support at the Theatre of Dreams, believed to be aimed at United midfielder – and ex-Chelsea star – Mason Mount.

The north London club wasted little time in denouncing the chanting and vowed to cooperate with the police and stewards inside the stadium to identify those involved.

‘The club is aware of abhorrent homophobic chanting from sections of our away support at Old Trafford today,’ a statement on Tottenham’s official website read.

‘This is simply unacceptable, hugely offensive and no way to show support for the team.

‘The club will be working closely with the police and stewards to identify anyone instigating or joining in with the chanting – we shall take the strongest possible action in accordance with our Sanctions and Banning Policy.

‘Supporters in attendance today can report anything they’ve seen or heard in confidence to supporterservices@tottenhamhotspur.com

‘We shall be continuing our work with our LGBTQ+ supporters’ association, Proud Lilywhites, to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans on matchdays.’

The statement underlined that Tottenham were ‘proud’ of their fans but had a responsibility to crack down on instances of discrimination.

‘We are justly proud of our superb and loyal support, home and away,’ the statement continued.

‘However, we all have a responsibility to act as ambassadors of Tottenham Hotspur and discrimination of any kind has no place at our club.’

Tottenham fan Nigel Carrington was fined £300 and convicted of a hate crime after chanting homophobic abuse in the side’s Premier League clash with London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in January 2022.

The following February, another supporter was arrested following complaints of homophobic chants during Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat of Chelsea.

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Jamie Redknapp and Ashley Young felt referee Chris Kavanagh made a mistake sending Bruno Fernandes off in Manchester United’s woeful 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham.

Brennan Johnson sent Spurs’ away support into raptures after just three minutes at Old Trafford, making no mistake from close range after an incredible 70-yard run from Micky van de Ven through United’s defence.

The visitors squandered a number of opportunities to double their advantage as the first half wore on, perhaps missing their captain Son Heung-min in the final third.

But United’s woes deepened in the 42nd minute as Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Spurs attacking midfielder James Maddison.

The video assistant referee checked and confirmed referee Kavanagh’s initial call and the decision was universally panned in the Sky Sports studio during the half-time break.

It was the first time in Fernandes’ 242 appearances for United that the Portugal international had been given his marching orders.

The situation soon went from bad to worse for the Red Devils as goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke put the away team out of sight in the second half.

Asked whether he thought Fernandes’ red card was justified on first viewing, ex-Tottenham midfielder Redknapp replied: ‘No, he slips.

‘He goes in to try and win the challenge and you can see his feet go under him.

‘It’s petty, it’s a bit petulant. You can see he sticks out his right leg and that angle is quite damning.

‘But when you actually see it in slow motion, his feet go under him and he just sticks out his right leg. I think it’s a yellow card.’

Former United winger Young agreed with Redknapp that Kavanagh had ‘got it wrong’ as it was not a ‘reckless’ challenge from Fernandes.

‘I don’t think it’s serious foul play or it’s reckless,’ Young explained.

‘Okay, he’s out of control but he slips and you can clearly see that he slips.

‘I don’t think he even goes to take out James Maddison either. He hits him with the back of his heel as well.

‘I think the referee has got it wrong there.’

Gary Neville, meanwhile, on co-commentary duty for Sky Sports, said Fernandes’ sending off ‘summed up’ United’s dismal showing in the opening 45 minutes, with Erik ten Hag’s men booed off at the halfway stage.

‘It just sums up Manchester United in this first half and, to be fair, they’ve veen an absolute disgrace,’ an irate Neville said.

‘It’s one of the worst performances I’ve seen in Erik ten Hag’s time at United and that’s saying something.

‘It’s really bad and he will not be able to believe what he’s watching in that first half.

‘I’m not talking about patterns of play here, I’m talking about application towards a football match.’

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Gary Neville took aim at Marcus Rashford after Tottenham’s early opener in a comprehensive 3-0 win over Manchester United, blasting the forward’s ‘rubbish’ play prior to the goal.

The Red Devils – looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing goalless draw at Crystal Palace last time out – went behind just three minutes into this afternoon’s contest and were booed off the field at half-time.

Brennan Johnson got his name on the scoresheet but the goal was all about Micky van de Ven’s scything 70-yard run in the build-up, with the Dutch centre-back robbing Rashford of possession before bursting through United’s defence with an incredible turn of pace.

After beating fellow countryman Matthijs de Ligt, Van de Ven put the ball on a plate for an unmarked Johnson at the back post and the Welshman made no mistake from close range to break the deadlock.

The situation soon went from bad to worse for United as Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute before goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke put the away team out of sight in the second half.

‘Absolutely brilliant from Van de Ven. One of the best runs I’ve ever seen from a centre-back,’ Neville said of Johnson’s goal on Sky Sports’ commentary of the Premier League clash.

‘Van de Ven just steps in and this is absolutely incredible.

‘He drives through four Manchester United players and the cross, well it’s just wonderful.’

The former United and England right-back blasted Rashford for clumsily giving away possession before criticising De Ligt for his lacklustre defending to allow Van de Ven to get a cross away.

‘I mean Rashford there… he just carries on running, rubbish from him,’ Neville added.

‘There’s enough players back to be able to stop him but he’s unstoppable. De Ligt starts off running too late and he completely misreads the pace of the Spurs centre-back.

‘It’s amazing. Absolutely brilliant and devastating from Van de Ven and Spurs. He [Johnson] is smiling before he puts it in the net.’

United’s afternoon went from bad to worse as club captain Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on James Maddison in the 42nd minute.

‘It just sums up Manchester United in this first half and, to be fair, they’ve veen an absolute disgrace,’ Neville added.

‘It’s one of the worst performances I’ve seen in Erik ten Hag’s time at United and that’s saying something.

‘It’s really bad and he will not be able to believe what he’s watching in that first half.

‘I’m not talking about patterns of play here, I’m talking about application towards a football match.’

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Tottenham captain Son Heung-min will miss his side’s clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Spurs travelled to Manchester on Sunday to face Erik ten Hag’s United at the Theatre of Dreams, but will be without Son when the two teams line up at 4.30pm.

Son was subbed off during Tottenham’s 3-0 Europa League win over Qarabag on Thursday night with a suspected hamstring injury but Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou hoped he would be fit enough to face Manchester United.

‘Sonny, I don’t think is too bad,’ the Australian boss said.

‘He wants to train tomorrow (Saturday) and we will see how it goes and make a decision from there. We have another day up our sleeve to give him every chance.’

But Son failed to make Tottenham’s matchday squad for Sunday’s clash in Manchester in a significant blow to Postecoglou.

In Son’s absence, Tottenham summer signing Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski will make up Spurs’ attack.

Manchester United and Tottenham are both languishing in mid-table on seven points ahead of their meeting on Sunday afternoon.

United were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace last weekend and also drew with Dutch side Twente in the Europa League during the week.

Spurs suffered back-to-back defeats earlier in the month but responded with three successive wins, the last of which came against Qarabag in Europe.

In the build-up to Tottenham’s European clash with Qarabag, Son raised concerns about the gruelling and growing football schedule.

‘You don’t want to see players struggling with injuries. No one wants to see it,’ he said.

‘A lot of games, a lot of traveling. We’ve got to look after ourselves, which sometimes is very hard. Mentally, physically, you’re not ready.

‘Then going on to the pitch and then the risk of injury is massive. We’re not robots. Don’t get me wrong, we love playing football. That’s clear.’

Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Leny Yoro remain on the sidelines for Manchester United, but there are no new injury concerns for Ten Hag.

United and Spurs shared an entertaining 2-2 draw in this fixture last season, while Tottenham won the home game 2-0 back in August 2023.

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Just a reminder of how Alan Shearer called this game in his Metro predictions.

This is a huge game in terms of the top four. Both teams haven’t had the start they wanted albeit Spurs won last weekend, it’s a really tough one to call. Both teams aren’t in great form. It won’t be a great result for either team but I can see this being a draw.

It was really interesting of Ten Hag to leave Marcus Rashford out, which I found really strange. Whether it was because of a knock or for a disciplinary reason, whatever it was, when you’re a forward and you haven’t scored for such a long time, you get your goal and then another two in midweek, then you’re left out three or four days later. I found it really strange.

My guess is that he’ll be back in the team this week and if he can take the form from the last two games, he’ll be a key figure in what happens for Man United. He always is.

Spurs have players that can hurt United. James Maddison is a top player, he’s one of the players that could say he played his part and did okay during Spurs’ slow start to the season. I’m a fan of his, I like what he brings to the team and he got his goal last weekend. Confidence wise, that’ll be great for him and he’ll play a huge part, absolutely.

If Spurs do get into those positions and turn chances into goals then it’ll be tough for Man United as well because they do give you chances and that’s why I see it being a score draw.

Ange Postecoglou has explained Son’s absence this afternoon. The Tottenham star suffered a knock during Thursday’s Europa League clash with Qarabag and was not deemed fit enough to make the squad today.

‘Short turnaround [for Son], he just wasn’t right for today so we go in without him,’ the Tottenham boss told Sky Sports.

‘We’ve had those things a fair bit. We just have to learn to cope without.

‘Timo [Werner] is most comfortable in that position. We brought him into the club for situations like this.

‘Facing a big club, iconic stadium, plenty of attention – these are the kind of games you want to be involved in.

‘We won the last three. Results have been mixed but performances haven’t been too bad. I’m pretty happy with how we’re playing our football.’

Manchester United have no fresh injury concerns ahead of their Premier League clash against Tottenham thus afternoon withRasmus Hojlund hoping to start his first game of the season.

United were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw in their Europa League opener on Wednesday night.

Hojlund came off the bench as United chased a winner in vain that evening and Erik ten Hag will surely consider bringing him in ahead of Joshua Zirkzee on Sunday afternoon with their lack of goals a real issue.

Mason Mount also made his return from injury in the 1-1 draw against Twente. The former Chelsea star started United’s opening two games of the season before being ruled out.

Manuel Ugarte meanwhile got a full 90 minutes under his belt with Casemiro an unused substitute midweek.

Kobbie Mainoo, another introduced off the bench late on, is expected to come back into the starting XI to replace Christian Eriksen.

Erik ten Hag’s decision to leave Marcus Rashford out of the starting XI against Crystal Palace last weekend sparked concerns, with Paul Scholes speculating the forward ‘has been up to something’.

But the manager has rotated his wide options of Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo all season with the latter starting alongside the England international midweek. Garnacho will be hoping for a starting role today.

United picked up no fresh injury problems this week but remain without Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia and Victor Lindelof. Luke Shaw is another still to feature this season with ten Hag suggesting this week his return could be delayed until after October’s international break.

‘I think it’s probably, but I can’t say it’s 100 per cent sure,’ Ten Hag said when asked if Shaw would be back next month. #The plan is just be back before but, as I say I can’t say this for 100 per cent for sure it can be short after the break.’

Tottenham meanwhile welcomed back Yves Bissouma and Timo Werner ahead of last weekend’s win over Brentford but are now without winger Wilson Odebert, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

There is also concern for Son Heung-min after he limped off after 71 minutes against Qarabag on Wednesday with a hamstring issue.

Spurs will make a late decision on their forward.

‘Sonny, I don’t think is too bad,’ Ange Postecoglou said. ‘He wants to train tomorrow and we will see how it goes and make a decision from there. We have another day up our sleeve to give him every chance.’

Richarlison is their only other notable absentee.

Predicted Man Utd XI to face Tottenham

Onana, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund

Predicted Tottenham XI to face Man Utd

Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison, Johnson, Solanke, Son

Where to watch Man Utd vs Tottenham? Kick-off time and TV channel

Man Utd vs Tottenham kicks off at 4:30pm on Sunday 29 September.

Live coverage is available on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event, with a live stream available on the Sky Go app and NOW TV.