Hugo Lloris saved Tottenham Hotspur from Old Trafford humiliation during Wednesday’s 2-0 Premier League defeat against Manchester United with Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand full of praise for the veteran goalkeeper, via Match of the Day and Amazon Prime.
No team has mustered more shots in a single league game this term than the Red Devils did against Spurs in midweek; 28 in total, ten hitting the target.
The fact that Erik ten Hag’s increasingly-impressive United side had just two goals to show from their most dominant, commanding performance in recent memory, then, is testament to Lloris’ breakneck reflexes between the sticks.
Marcus Rashford was denied on three separate occasions by the veteran shot-stopper. Luke Shaw, Fred and Man of the Match Bruno Fernandes also tested Lloris’ reactions during a one-sided 90 minutes in Manchester.
“He was superb, wasn’t he?,” Lineker says of the one Spurs player who truly performed to the best of his ability in midweek.
Former Man United defender Ferdinand, meanwhile, labelled Lloris’ display ‘magnificent’, with Alan Shearer insisting that the long-serving France international was by far and away the visitors’ most impressive performer.
Hugo Lloris shines as Tottenham lose 2-0 at Manchester United
Tottenham’s second defeat of the Premier League season cuts the gap between themselves and United to just four points. Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son barely had a kick against the exceptional Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro. And a lack of creativity in the absence of Dejan Kulusevski once again became a cause for real concern.
“We have to be honest and say that United deserved to win,” a dejected Antonio Conte said at full-time. “They started the game much better than us, and it’s not the first time (this has happened).
“It means we need to continue to work in every aspect, on the pitch, out of the pitch. In this type of game, everyone needs to be prepared for the sporting war. I think we can improve in this aspect.
“It’s a pity because we arrived in a good physical condition despite injuries. United played with great intensity, with great aggression and won a lot of duels. We missed a lot of passes. For us, for sure, it was a negative game.
“I have players who are great men. And, for this reason, I’m disappointed for them. The reality was really tough.”
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