Manchester United defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in an entertaining Premier League clash. Here’ s how United’s players rated.
GK: David De Gea (8/10) – Decent save from a Cristian Eriksen free-kick after 18 minutes and thwarted the same player with an effective punch away in from a second half Eriksen strike. Denied Eriksen yet again from a 70th minute free kick, as the Denmark international just could not find a way past the Spanish goalkeeper. De Gea came out on top in the battle of two of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers.
RB: Antonio Valencia (7/10) – An impressive attacking showing from United’s right back. Along with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Valencia kept the duo of Danny Rose and Son Heung-Min quiet on Spurs’ left side.
CB: Phil Jones (7.5) – Central defender Jones has been in top form since regaining his place in the United back four. Jones was again outstanding and helped keep Harry Kane a spectator throughout the encounter.
CB: Marcos Rojo (7.5) – The previously maligned Rojo was lucky not to concede a penalty after a foul on Victor Wanyama – but aside from that, played well at the heart of United’s defence.
LB: Matteo Darmian (6/10) – Suffered a busy afternoon against Kyle Walker throughout the match – which was only supplemented when Moussa Sissoko entered the game in the second half. Darmian required assistance in the form of Marcus Rashford in order to fully subdue the Tottenham duo.
CM: Michael Carrick (7.5) – Yet again proved to be indispensable to Jose Mourinho’s line-up. Deployed in a deep lying playmaker role, Carrick kept the ball moving and United’s tempo ticking. The one-time Spurs man has not tasted defeat in any game that he has started for United this season.
CM: Ander Herrera (8/10) – Continued his impressive progress in recent weeks and was one of United’s standouts against Spurs’ Moussa Dembele and Victor Wanyama. Given a standing ovation upon being replaced by Marouane Fellaini in added on time.
AM: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (9/10) – Another bright showing from the Armenian, who was United’s man-of-the-match. The in-form Mkhitaryan blasted an excellent finish past Hugo Lloris to score his first Premier League goal and put United 1-0 up in the 28th minute. Carried off on a stretcher in the closing minutes – United fans will be hoping that the injury suffered in a clash with Spurs’ Danny Rose will not be too serious.
AM: Paul Pogba (7.5/10) – Had a great chance to open the scoring in the opening minutes, but his shot was well saved by Tottenham’s goalkeeper Lloris. Pogba saw a brilliant effort from the edge of the penalty area smash the cross bar off a 62nd minute free kick. Booked shortly after – Pogba found himself at the centre of every positive thing that United created.
AM: Anthony Martial (6.5/10) – France international Martial produced an effective, if not impactful, display on the wing. Marcus Rashford (6/10) replaced Martial in an attempt to help Darmian cope with Spurs’ threat of Kyle Walker and Moussa Sissoko on United’s left flank.
FW: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (6.5/10) – Not the giant Swede’s best game, as Tottenham’s Alderweireld and Vertonghen kept United’s number 9 at bay. Ibrahimovic played in difficult conditions in the Ukraine on Thursday night and looked tired during the second half against Spurs.
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