On Saturday afternoon, no. 11 BYU football traveled to UCF and handled the Knights in a 37-24 victory. With the win, BYU took over sole possession of first place in the Big 12 standings. Below are the updated Big 12 standings along with commentary on the race for the Big 12 championship.
Team
Conference Record
Overall Record
1. BYU
5-0
8-0
2. Iowa State
4-0
7-0
3. Kansas State
4-1
7-1
4. Colorado
4-1
6-2
5. Texas Tech
3-2
5-3
6. Cincinnati
3-2
5-3
7. TCU
3-2
5-3
8. West Virginia
3-2
4-4
9. Arizona State
2-2
5-2
10. Baylor
2-3
4-4
11. Houston
2-3
3-5
12. Utah
1-4
4-4
13. UCF
1-4
3-5
14. Arizona
1-4
3-5
15. Kansas
1-4
2-6
16. Oklahoma State
0-5
3-5
Historically, two-loss teams have been able to make the Big 12 championship game. Two-loss teams typically need to win a tiebreaker to go their way to get in, but there is a precedent to making the championship game with two losses.
Technically, that would leave nine teams with a chance to make the title game. However, the first two months of the season suggest there is a four-way race to the Big 12 championship between BYU, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Colorado. Those four teams have separated themselves from the pack at this point.
BYU and Iowa State are the only two teams that control their destiny. If they win out, it will be a BYU-Iowa State showdown in Arlington. That would certainly be the best-case scenario for BYU, and it would likely be the best-case scenario for the conference as well. Two 12-0 teams would probably translate to two bids in the College Football Playoff for the Big 12.
Kansas State is a legitimate threat to be 10-1 when they face Iowa State in the regular season finale. After surviving a scare against Kansas on Saturday night, the Wildcats just need to beat Houston, Arizona State, and Cincinnati to be 10-1 going into that game.
Colorado has the opportunity to make a run to the title game as well. The Buffaloes are 4-1 in conference play and 6-2 overall. Their upcoming schedule includes home games against Oklahoma State and Utah and road games against Texas Tech and Kansas.
What happens if all four teams are 8-1 and tied for first place? That could depend on who BYU loses to. We will have a complete breakdown of that scenario in the coming days.
For all the work that has gone into widening the ‘small margins’ Mikel Arteta and his players reference so often, Arsenal continue to undermine themselves. Two underhit backpasses sealed their fate in Bournemouth on Saturday night, with Leandro Trossard’s one leading to a William Saliba red card and Jakub Kiwior’s resulting in the hosts scoring a decisive second goal late on.
This 2-0 loss was the third time Arsenal dropped points in the Premier League this season, with each of those occasions accompanied by a red card for one of their players.
Declan Rice and Trossard’s dismissals in the draws against Brighton (1-1) and Manchester City (2-2) respectively were more debatable than Saliba’s here. Even so, Arsenal putting themselves in these positions is not a sustainable recipe for title challengers.
“We’ve kicked ourselves in the foot three times in eight games and we got away with it at home to Brighton and away at Manchester City,” Rice told Sky Sports, the game’s UK broadcaster, after their first defeat of the season. “We can’t make silly mistakes.
“You need all your best players on the pitch at all times. The belief is so high and we will stick together. This is football. Whatever happens, the most important thing is that you stick together and stay in the right direction.”
Some perspective is important.
This was Arsenal’s first away Premier League loss of the calendar year, with Arteta’s side winning 10 and drawing two before their trip to the south coast.
That record stretches back into last season, a campaign that deserves to be revisited properly. While Arsenal were excellent after the new year, speaking in the summer, captain Martin Odegaard said: “It is easy to look at one game but you have to look at the whole season. We didn’t have the consistency to win it. We have to earn it. We know we can improve. That’s what we are working for. It is just small details and how to deal with a long season.”
In 2023-24, Arsenal’s consistency wobbled in relation to how they gifted teams away goals in the first half of the season. It saw them drop seven points at home against Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham as they finished two points behind champions City.
A frustrated Mikel Arteta at the Vitality Stadium (Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
On Saturday, those kinds of wobbles were seen again in Trossard and Kiwior putting Saliba and David Raya in precarious situations.
Arteta was correct in his post-match press conference when saying: “They (the players) have the best intentions. Willy (Saliba) has never done anything like this and he doesn’t do it on purpose, or what happened with the second goal.” It was the first time Saliba had ever been shown a red card in his seven seasons of league football.
He was also correct to call it “an accident waiting to happen not to get the points” after going down to 10 men on 30 minutes when Saliba was sent off for tripping Evanilson as the Bournemouth forward chased Trossard’s wayward ball.
All Arsenal could do for the rest of the first half was react to the situation they found themselves in and survive. They understandably showed more personality in possession with 10 men against Bournemouth than they did against City last month but, once again, a match hinging on split-second decisions is not helping them.
Gabriel Martinelli had a positive impact in his first few minutes on the pitch after replacing Trossard but should have done better in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. His shot to the far post, one that he has despatched many times previously, was telegraphed and proved to be yet another turning point. Bournemouth were 1-0 up mere minutes later after Ryan Christie finished off a clever corner routine Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover would have been proud of.
Jover’s work at set pieces has been one of the key reasons behind ‘small margins’ working more in Arsenal’s favour in recent years. The 18 Premier League red cards received since Arteta’s first game in charge on Boxing Day 2019, five more than any other team in the division over that period, go some way to closing them again but not by themselves.
Sometimes, a plan may not come together as envisioned. Arsenal seemed to be drifting even with 11 men as their midfield trio of Mikel Merino, Thomas Partey and Rice struggled to flow properly.
Rice and Merino had freedom to roam across midfield in that first half-hour but Bournemouth’s aggression out of possession made progressing the ball into that part of the pitch difficult.
Raya concedes a penalty by bringing down Evanilson (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
In his pre-match press conference, Arteta said: “Next week will be crucial to understanding how close (the injured Odegaard) is.” Those two home games against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday and Liverpool next Sunday will likely be too early for the Norwegian to return from the ankle problem that has already sidelined him for over a month but how Arteta sets up his midfield — and now his back four — will be an area of debate.
Ethan Nwaneri came on for what proved another confident cameo. Despite Arsenal already being 2-0 down, he still had a zip to his passing and even took over corner-taking duties from Rice. A start against Liverpool would be unlikely, but Shakhtar’s Champions League visit could provide a decent chance to see how the 17-year-old performs as the side’s creative spark in midfield for longer than the 10 minutes he got here.
In defence, Kiwior stepping in as a right-sided centre-back replacement was expected. He first filled in there during Saliba’s injury absence in 2022-23 and has done so occasionally since. His substitution after the mistake for Bournemouth’s second goal, where the Polish defender’s underhit backpass allowed Evanilson to seize on the ball before he was brought down by Raya, setting up Justin Kluivert to score from the spot, was slightly unexpected, however.
Pre-match, Arteta also said that Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jurrien Timber were all “quite close” to making the matchday squad. White and Zinchenko did so, with Timber missing out. This won’t be an issue against Shakhtar, as Saliba can play, but ensuring Timber is fit for Liverpool could now be vital.
GO DEEPER
Arteta explains Saka absence: ‘There was no point pushing him’
Kiwior did not play badly, other than his error, but trust will be needed in whoever replaces Saliba next Sunday. Timber has built that at both left-back and right-back. If fit, he could be the problem-solver Arteta is looking for, with both the Netherlands international and White able to play either at right-back or central defence.
Just one match into a third block of games this season, Arsenal have already been more regularly stress-inducing than their manager, players or supporters would have liked. Despite all this, even if they lose further ground to Liverpool and City when they play their matches today, it is too early in the season to catastrophise.
How they responded in the absence of their captain last month, with five wins and two draws, showed how Arsenal could adapt to survive in the Premier League. It would be nice, however, if they went one weekend without needing to adapt to absurd circumstances.
Kyron Drones and Bhayshul Tuten had big games rushing the football. Drones opened the game by rushing for an 11-yard touchdown on his first series and finished the first half with two rushing touchdowns, his first multi-rush touchdown game since Pitt a season ago. Tuten had his longest career run of 83 yards for a touchdown to start the 2nd quarter and extended his streak of scoring at least one rushing touchdown a game to nine. Tuten now owns the Virginia Tech single-game record for rushing yards.
2. The Defense
On the first drive, Virginia Tech got a three and out, followed it up the next with a forced fumble from defensive lineman Kelvin Gilliam Jr. The defense held Boston College scoreless in the first quarter and forced a fumble to start the second. This continued to be the story as the Hokies forced five fumbles for the evening. The defense began the second half by giving up three straight scoring drives and eventually got back in rhythm in the 4th quarter. Antwaun Powell-Ryland had an amazing night, finishing with four sacks.
3. Very Efficient First Half
The Hokies were able to move the ball and get stops efficiently in the first half, only allowing 134 yards of total offense from Boston College and gaining 332 yards of total offense. The defense forced four fumbles in the first half and the offense had it going on both the ground and in the air, Kyron Drones passed for 164 yards and a touchdown.
4. Second Half Woes (especially the 3rd quarter)
The team started the 3rd quarter scoreless on offense and allowed a three-yard touchdown run on defense to open up the 2nd half. This season, we’ve seen this be an ongoing problem for the Hokies whether it be the first or second half, the team just can’t put together a complete and good game for all four quarters.
5. Bhayshul Tuten
Bhayshul Tuten continues to lead the way for this Virginia Tech Hokies team, with the way he continues to be a duo threat on offense. Tuten can both catch and run which we saw on display tonight, he ran for 266 yards, three rushing touchdowns, and one reception for a 20-yard receiving touchdown. The more versatility that Tuten continues to show, the more his draft stock and Heisman ranking will continue to rise. Tuten also finished the game with the most rushing yards in Virginia Tech Football history.
Additional Links:
Virginia Tech vs Boston College: Live Updates, Scores, Stats, and Highlights From Tonight’s Week Eight Matchup
Virginia Tech vs Boson College: Hokies Close as 8.5 Point Favorites vs the Eagles
Virginia Tech Football: Three Keys To Victory For The Hokies Against Boston College
I finally got my hands on the Meta Quest 3S VR headset to test it out for our in-depth Meta Quest 3S review, and using the headset has given me flashbacks of using the Oculus Quest 2 – and made me realize how rubbish its visuals were this whole time.
The Meta Quest 3S uses the same chipset and has the same RAM as the Meta Quest 3, meaning it can play all the same VR games and apps as its sibling like the upcoming Batman: Arkham Shadow (it even comes with a free copy of the game). But its most noticeable downgrade is its displays. Instead of the crisp 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye dual-display setup of the Quest 3 you have to make do with the Quest 2’s 1832 x 1920 per eye single display setup, which the Quest 3S is repurposing.
The Meta Quest 3S also relies on the Quest 2’s fresnel lens system instead of the pancake lenses used by the Quest 3. I won’t get into the weeds of how these lenses differ technically, but know that fresnel lenses are bulkier and cause blurriness at the fringes of your field of view.
The Quest 3 is worth upgrading to
Back when I was regularly using my Oculus Quest 2 – which was later rebranded as a Meta Quest 2 – I definitely noticed that the visuals weren’t as crisp as watching a show on my phone or playing a game with my PS5 on a 4K TV. But I’d also often feel that people who were overly critical of the resolution or screen door effect were being too harsh (the screen door effect is when you see black lines over the display because you can see the gaps between pixels).
I had a fantastic time using it and felt (and still feel) it was hands-down the best VR headset for most people at its peak thanks to its solid performance for its super-low price.
The Meta Quest 3 ruined the Meta Quest 2 for me (Image credit: Meta)
But back then the Oculus Quest 2 was my baseline for VR headsets; I had never used another headset before – save for the odd demo at a gaming convention or university fair. Now that my baseline is the superior Meta Quest 3 I finally understand everyone’s Quest 2 visuals criticisms.
That’s not to say the Meta Quest 3S isn’t an excellent VR headset for the price. Starting at $299.99 / £289.99 / AU$499.99 for the 128GB model and achieving what the Meta Quest 3S achieves is nothing to sniff at. If you’re new to VR and haven’t yet been spoiled by better VR headsets, then its issues won’t be as noticeable or annoying.
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However, when weighing up your options between the two Meta Quest 3 headsets, remember it’s not just a matter of picking your preferred storage size as there are some significant other differences to consider.
Top-quality visuals won’t matter to everyone, and when you’re immersed in an interactive experience the Quest 3S’ deficiencies aren’t as noticeable. Just note that if you plan to be a VR power user that hops in a couple times a week at least, and who wants to enjoy Netflix or Xbox game streaming in VR or MR, then the sharper Meta Quest 3 is the headset you should get.
So if you can still find the 128GB Meta Quest 3 before it sells out try to grab it before the discontinued model is gone for good and you have to make do with the pricier 512GB model instead.
What do you call a Big Mac that’s afraid of the dark? A Chicken Big Mac!
Or that’s what you call a Big Mac that has chicken patties on it instead of hamburgers. Which is what McDonald’s rolled out in stores nationwide on Thursday. For a limited time, those who prefer chicken to beef (or simply enjoy McDonald’s McChicken sandwiches) can get a Chicken Big Mac.
The sandwich features two chicken patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese and pickles on a sesame seed bun. Not quite as catchy as the original Big Mac jingle, but close enough.
While McDonald’s is far from my favorite fast food burger chain (Wendy’s rules nationally, In-N-Out crushes regionally), there is a time and place for the golden arches. Is it a time and place of desperation and weakness? Absolutely. But in those moments, a Big Mac and fries are a salty salve for the soul.
There is indeed something special about a Big Mac, from its double-decker presentation to the briny combination of special sauce, pickles and onions. The burger quality is of no consequence, mostly a canvas for condiments. So I was very curious how swapping the beef for chicken would fare.
It tastes pretty much how I expected — like a McChicken with Big Mac sauce. Which is pretty good! You’ll never mistake a McDonald’s chicken sandwich for an elite one from Chick-fil-a or Popeye’s, but there is a certain nostalgia to this style of low-grade chicken patty. And it is indeed elevated by the sauce, pickles and onions. The fact that this is technically a menu item McDonald’s could always serve — they always have Big Mac ingredients and chicken patties — does make this feel a little less special. But it doesn’t make it taste any worse.
Is it better than the original Big Mac? Nope. The sauce goes better with beef than chicken, and it’s hard to beat the original. I didn’t even like the Double Big Mac, which came out earlier this year, as much as the classic Big Mac.
And I’m not chicken to admit it.
Related coverage:
• I tried the Wendy’s Krabby Patty Kollab meal so you don’t have to. Here’s my review.
• I tried Chick-fil-A’s banana pudding milkshake so you don’t have to. Here’s my review.
• I tried Taco Bell’s cheesy street chalupa so you don’t have to. Here’s my review.
• I tried McDonald’s Kit Kat banana split McFlurry so you don’t have to. Here’s my review.
• I tried Wendy’s triple berry Frosty so you don’t have to. Here’s my review.
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Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com and followed on Twitter at @J_Schneider and on Instagram at @JeremyIsHungryAgain.
Sometimes, the perfect fall day starts with McDonald’s before your morning coffee.
At least that’s what I told myself on the brisk, gray walk to my nearest fast food joint Thursday morning. As a recently relocated Floridian, I still don’t know how to dress for Oregon weather, so I was cold, and the cloud of fog in the distance made the golden arches look eerily apocalyptic — but forward I went, tasked with the assignment of taste testing McDonald’s limited edition Chicken Big Mac on the first day of its release.
Actor Ken Page showed his Show-Me State colleagues that a Midwesterner really can make the big time in New York.
On Monday, after a theater career of more than 40 years, the St. Louis native died at the age of 70.
Page, a big man with a bigger smile and a booming voice, was born in St. Louis in January 1954. After high school, he graduated from Fontbonne College before heading to New York City. In the 1970s, he debuted on Broadway as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in a revival of “Guys and Dolls” and as a replacement for the Lion in “The Wiz.”
But he was better known for his role as another feline: Old Deuteronomy in the original 1982 Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats.”
Page played other powerful roles, including the character of God in two productions. He won a Drama Desk award for his portrayal of Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin.’”
Page’s career also took him to the movies. He’s known as the voice of Oogie Boogie in Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and for his role of Murray in Harvey Fierstein’s 1988 “Torch Song Trilogy.”
The film was one of the first to validate a gay man’s desire for romantic love and to raise a child. In a 2013 interview about the movie’s 25th anniversary with the St. Louis publication Vital Voice, Page said it has a time-tested message for young LGBT people:
“I would hope that they would take away from it that their pride starts from within them, not outside of them. It isn’t something that’s bestowed upon you like a magic wand — it’s something that you have to have within yourself. And that means you have to have it with co-workers, you have to have it with your family — whoever. That’s you. And either they can accept you or they can’t but you have to know who you are.”
Home again
Ken Page reprised his Broadway role of Old Deuteronomy in “Cats” at the Muny in 2010.
Page moved back to St. Louis in 2010. He told the St. Louis Beacon he was thrilled to be home.
“I’m just enjoying exploring it because I’ve been away a long time and just coming in the summer. There’s a wonderful restaurant scene. Every time I go out I’m like, ‘Wow this is a great place, and this is a great place.’”
In 2013, Page became the voice of the Muny, greeting guests through a voiceover before the start of a show. In the outdoor theater’s 2006 production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida,” he played Aida’s father, Amonasro. Page reprised the role on the Muny stage in 2016. He donned the Old Deuteronomy suit again in 2010 in the Muny’s presentation of “Cats.”
“Each season, he and I would talk about what shows and what he wanted to do and this was his artistic home,” Muny Executive Producer and Artistic Director Mike Isaacson said.
Isaacson joined the Muny in 2011. He said Page had been a close friend.
“We shared this communal belief, this collective desire, what the theater could be and what it is, and what the Muny means and how it could be,” Isaacson said. “There were times when you could lose your way, and I could always count on Ken to get me back on track.”
Page appeared in more than 45 shows on the Muny stage. But one of Isaacson’s greatest memories of him was his performance as Doc in the 2013 and 2023 productions of “West Side Story.” The character is the conscience of the musical and was a role Page insisted on playing.
Rob Ruggiero directed the musical and gave Page the last moment of the show with the line, “Why do you kids always act like there’s a war going on?” It was a performance that stayed with Isaacson, one that captured Page’s essence on a stage that meant so much to him.
“There was Ken Page standing alone on the stage, looking at his theater, his audience, his community, wiping tears and asking why,” Isaacson said. “And each night, that moment was absolutely genuine and devastating.”
Ken Page with Jennifer Holliday in “Dreamgirls” at the Muny in 2012.
He played Aladdin in the iconic St. Louis institution’s 2012 production of “Aladdin” and appeared in its staging of “Dreamgirls,” starring Jennifer Holliday, that same year.
Page went solo in the spotlight with a cabaret show he debuted in New York and brought to St. Louis in 2014, called “Old, New, Borrowed and Blue.” Of the show, he told a St. Louis Public Radio reporter:
“The level of intimacy with cabaret is the key. To the audience … I say come to relax and have a good time and be in my living room with me, that’s how I think of it.”
Page took turns at the writing desk and in the director’s chair. In 2013, he directed his musical “Cafe Chanson” for Upstream Theater at the Kranzberg Arts Center. Two years later, he directed another of his plays, “Sublime Intimacy,” also on the Kranzberg stage. “Sublime” is a play that nudges us to ask questions about our love lives. He told St. Louis Public Radio during St. Louis on the Air that the idea sprang from a conversation with a friend.
“Well, he said to me, I think there’s a level that some relationships reach that’s extremely intimate. It is like a sublime intimacy. … Most of my sublime intimacy relationships have been with friends. Or, people who were romantic involvements that became friends rather than the other way around.”
Page appeared on the show with Henry Palkes, the play’s pianist and composer, and talked about the elegance of the collaboration.
“What I’ve loved about the process from all ends, the dance, the choreography, the music and the text, is that it has been a completely creative evolution on every level. … We’ve really worked together to make it all tell the best story of each story, if you will. That to me, in my experience as a director, writer or an actor, is the joy of it, getting to work with other creative people and bring one thing into focus in the end.”
In 2019, Page received a lifetime achievement award from the St. Louis Arts and Education Council. In an interview with St. Louis on the Air on the honor, Page reflected on his long career, his beginnings and some of his first memories, performing a puppet show at 5 years old and eventually turning his passion into a career.
“I’ve been very fortunate,” Page said. “Now that I’m at this particular juncture, I can afford, if you will, to look back and really tally, and I think I’ve done OK.”
Watch Page transform into Deuteronomy for the Broadway production of “Cats.”
Manchester United were hammered and humbled by Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, beaten 3-0 as captain Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card.
The match got off in the worst possible way for the hosts as Micky van de Ven embarked on a brilliant run to tee up Brennan Johnson for a tap-in, but United failed to respond as they were dominated on their own patch throughout. Andre Onana prevented the scoreline from being any worse, but Fernandes’ knee-high challenge on James Maddison saw him sent-off right before half-time.
Straight after the restart Dejan Kulusevski volleyed in a second, while Dominic Solank poked in a third for Spurs later on – but the damage had long since been done as United were woeful and booed off the pitch by a section of their fans at full time. Follow all the reaction and updates in the live blog below:
Man United vs Tottenham LIVE
GOAL! 77’ – Solanke stretches to tap in a third goal after a corner (MUN 0-3 TOT)
GOAL! 49’ – Kulusevski immediately scores second after the break (MUN 0-2 TOT)
RED CARD! 44’ – Bruno Fernandes sent-off for knee-high tackle on Maddison
GOAL! 2’ – Van de Ven brilliantly sets up Johnson for a tap-in (MUN 0-1 TOT)
Manchester United FC 0 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur FC
Another dreadful Man United defeat shows ambition is built on little more than delusion
19:12 , Karl Matchett
For Erik ten Hag, a list of dreadful days as Manchester United manager was already rather too long. Quite where this ranks is a moot point, but it was wretched, both shocking and yet familiar. Outclassed by Tottenham Hotspur even before they were outnumbered by them, United again looked an expensive, incoherent mess.
While Ten Hag was serenaded by the Spurs fans with chants of “sacked in the morning”, one of United’s leaders actually did get his marching orders. Bruno Fernandes’ red card was a symptom of United’s problems; passive for too long, they were petulant at times, their attempts to halt Tottenham verging on the desperate, their plans falling apart.
On Thursday, Ten Hag claimed that United had turned a corner. Instead, this season feels a continuation of the last, a campaign that could be littered with ignominies. An eighth defeat in 20 league games at Old Trafford underlines how far they have fallen. United’s new hierarchy can talk of winning the title by 2028 but they are already six points off fifth, in the bottom half and with a negative goal difference.
The table may not lie. Just as Liverpool did last month, Spurs exposed the gulf with rivals. Tottenham have similar immediate aims, of Champions League qualification this season: but whereas United’s looked built on delusion, there seems a realism to theirs.
Another dreadful Man United defeat shows ambition is built on delusion
Gary Neville lays into ‘absolutely disgusting’ Manchester United performance against Tottenham
20:00 , Karl Matchett
Gary Neville slammed an “absolutely disgusting” performance from Manchester United as Tottenham won 3-0 at Old Trafford to increase the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
The dismal hosts fell to their third defeat of the Premier League campaign after just six games as captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for “serious foul play” late in the first half.
Tottenham, who led thanks to Brennan Johnson’s early goal, added two more after the break with Old Trafford emptying rapidly after Dominic Solanke’s third sealed all three points.
It meant there were barely any fans left to boo the team as United fell to successive 3-0 defeats at home in the Premier League, following Liverpool’s comfortable win at the start of the month.
Gary Neville lays into ‘absolutely disgusting’ Man Utd performance against Tottenham
Erik ten Hag told he has ‘no excuses’ as Man United boss claims red card had ‘big impact’ on defeat to Spurs
19:29 , Karl Matchett
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag acknowledged his players were well below the necessary level of performance in their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, but insisted the red card to Bruno Fernandes just before half-time had a “big impact” on the outcome.
Spurs started quickly and were ahead inside two minutes, Brennan Johnson tapping in from close range. And they hardly let up their assault on United’s box for the remainder of the first half, with the hosts managing just three shots and 37 per cent possession in the first 45 minutes, compared to Tottenham’s 12 efforts and 63 per cent.
Despite that, Ten Hag felt his side were close to coming back on terms after Alejandro Garnacho hit the outside of the post and Joshua Zirkzee saw an effort on the stretch comfortably saved, with Fernandes’ dismissal for a knee-high challenge on James Maddison the turning point which prevented his side finding a route back into the game.
Ten Hag told he has ‘no excuses’ as United boss claims red card had ‘big impact’
Gary Neville lays into ‘absolutely disgusting’ Manchester United performance against Tottenham
The dismal hosts fell to their third defeat of the Premier League campaign after just six games as captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for “serious foul play” late in the first half.
Tottenham, who led thanks to Brennan Johnson’s early goal, added two more after the break with Old Trafford emptying rapidly after Dominic Solanke’s third sealed all three points.
It meant there were barely any fans left to boo the team as United fell to successive 3-0 defeats at home in the Premier League, following Liverpool’s comfortable win at the start of the month.
Gary Neville lays into ‘absolutely disgusting’ Man Utd performance against Tottenham
FT – Man United 0-3 Tottenham
18:52 , Karl Matchett
Spurs players talking at fulltime now.
Brennan Johnson first after scoring the opener: “We completely dominated the game, did things exactly as we wanted. We had a clear game plan and did a great job.
“Micky’s one of the quickest once he gets going. The manager demands we be at the back post, the goal like that it’s easy but it’s about getting there first.”
And Micky van de Ven, who assisted his goal in such style:
“We controlled the game, we knew they are quite dangerous on counter-attacks but we controlled it.
“I intercepted the ball and saw the gap. I was like ‘now I’m going!’ and I knew he’s at the second post. I didn’t see the goal because I was falling down the stairs but I knew he put it in!
“We showed we have the quality to play at this intensity all game so it’s a deserved three points.”
FT – Man United 0-3 Tottenham
18:45 , Karl Matchett
Full time stats, Man United 0-3 Tottenham:
Possession 39% – 61%
Shots 11-24
On target 2-10
xG 0.97 – 4.67
Corners 5-3
Bookings 5-3
Red cards 1-0
FT – Man United 0-3 Tottenham
18:37 , Karl Matchett
Spurs up to eighth then, three points behind Chelsea in fourth. Early on still, but they’ll feel happier at being that close to the Champions League spots after being midtable. United down to 12th with a minus three goal difference.
FT – Man United 0-3 Tottenham
18:31 , Karl Matchett
The whistle goes, Man United fans boo, Spurs fans cheer and Gary Neville calls the first-half performance from his former side “disgusting”.
Quite the result for Spurs, a really good performance – awful from start to finish for United, who had Bruno Fernandes sent-off.
90+5’ – Man United 0-3 Spurs
18:28 , Karl Matchett
Final seconds, although Old Trafford is already half-empty anyway. This is back-to-back 3-0 home league defeats for Ten Hag – their last game here in this competition was the loss to Liverpool. Both games could have been far higher-scoring in truth, for the visitors.
Mikey Moore dips inside and almost does increase the scoreline, curling just wide of Onana’s far post.
90+2’ – Man United 0-3 Spurs
18:26 , Karl Matchett
De Ligt sweeps one wide as United give it one more go to find a goal at least – which would stop them dropping to 12th.
Doesn’t look as though they’ll get it. “Absolutley woeful, as bad as it gets” bemoans Gary Neville on Sky Sports.
88’ – Man United 0-3 Spurs
18:22 , Karl Matchett
Time now running down, not fast enough for the home fans and players though. Another chastening outing for Erik ten Hag. United’s wins this season have come over Fulham, newly promoted Southampton and lower-league Barnsley – nobody else.
Onana – United’s best player by a mile today – stops Solanke adding a fourth, with Sarr heading wide on the rebound.
Six minutes added on.
84’ – Man United 0-3 Spurs
18:18 , Karl Matchett
Amad Diallo comes on for Mount, who plays less than a half after coming on as sub himself.
United’s upcoming games are away to Porto and Villa, home to Brentford then away to Fenerbahce and West Ham. Not a routine run, as their four-match unbeaten stretch comes to an end here.
They’ll also drop down a place in the table on goal difference if it stays 3-0.
81’ – Man United 0-3 Spurs
18:15 , Karl Matchett
Dragusin comes on for Spurs and with his first challenge he catches Mount in the head – he’s bleeding and needs treatment. Off the pitch he goes.
GOAL! 77’ – Man United 0-3 Spurs
18:10 , Karl Matchett
That’s that! United’s best period ends in them conceding a third – a corner from the left is flicked on by Sarr and Solanke stretches to get a toe on the ball and prod over the line.
Bergvall took the corner – great changes, Postecoglou will tell us!
76’ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
18:09 , Karl Matchett
Triple change for Spurs – Sarr, Moore and Bergvall on for Maddison, Werner and Johnson.
74’ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
18:05 , Karl Matchett
Porro picks up a yellow card now for fouling Garnacho, who continues to look lively. Double sub for United, Eriksen and Hojlund on for Ugarte and Rashford. Richard Jolly’s assessment from Old Trafford:
“Perhaps United have played better with 10 men, though that is an indictment of their efforts with 11. Casemiro has at least looked a threat in the final third. Manuel Ugarte has gone off, perhaps to spare him a red card. It is an understatement to say he has not been good today, even if the circumstances of United’s performance are a mitigating factor.”
72’ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
18:04 , Karl Matchett
Postecoglou could be thinking about changes here too, given his side have totally lost control – they have no possession, just counter-attacking from time to time.
Werner leads one down the left about 50 yards, beating a defender in the process – but then his cut-back is between three players and he throws his arms up in despair.
Garnacho goes down the other end, tricks his way inside and shoots – deflected wide.
68’ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
18:01 , Karl Matchett
Closest United have come. A lofted ball over the top finds Casemiro running in of all people and he angles a half-volley on the bounce just past the far post.
Rasmus Hojlund is ready to come on for United as they seek a way back into the game.
64’ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
17:57 , Karl Matchett
Mount sends over a free-kick but Vicario claims well. A few more deliveries into the area and the home fans are buoyed once more, urging their team to continue the fight to find a way back into the game.
Spurs have just lost control of the game over the last ten minutes, but they will surely have chances to counter-attack if United push on.
Kulusevski beats Ugarte down the wing and is bundled over – another yellow, for the United midfielder this time.
60’ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
17:53 , Karl Matchett
United have just won their first corner of the game – Martinez won a header and appealed for a handball, but nothing doing. Then there’s another penalty shout – from more players this time – soon after, being Martinez again steers a shot past the post.
Romero did touch the ball with his arm but it wasn’t out or up, so no spot kick.
This is United’s best period of pressure, by which we mean they’ve had a few crosses and one half-hearted shot just wide. Ten Hag on the sidelines wafts his hands around and continues to chew his gum.
56’ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
17:48 , Karl Matchett
Could, or should, be 3-0 – Onana to the rescue with a double save.
Kulusevski takes on two to burst through midfield and feed a brilliant ball to Werner; he shapes up the low shot which Onana gets down for, then the keeper lurches back up to deny the onrushing Johnson from the rebound, too.
52′ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
17:47 , Karl Matchett
Yellow card for Spence for handball; yellow card for Martinez for a lunging slide which took out Maddison.
Richard Jolly at Old Trafford, where the Spurs fans are singing “sacked in the morning” to Erik ten Hag:
“From bad to worse to even worse to…. Manchester United’s afternoon is deteriorating still further, the terrific Johnson setting up Kulusevski to volley in. 1-0 flattered United at half-time. 2-0 could lead to rather more.”
48’ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
17:41 , Karl Matchett
A horror show from United defensively.
Martinez misses a challenge on the halfway line, Dalot lunges in and can’t cut the ball out, De Ligt doesn’t cut out hte cross and nobody at all has run with Kulusevski, as he flicks in the second past the keeper.
GOAL! 47’ – Man United 0-2 Spurs
17:40 , Karl Matchett
That would be a no!
Johnson races away down the right flank, delivers a low cross and finds Dejan Kulusevski – he clips one in past Onana and Spurs are immediately two goals to the good.
46′ – Man United 0-1 Tottenham
17:38 , Karl Matchett
Djed Spence is on for Udogie at the break for Spurs, Casemiro is on for Zirkzee for United.
Let’s see if they have any kind of better approach play, better tempo about their game or better ability to stop Spurs playing through them.
HT – Man United 0-1 Tottenham
17:30 , Karl Matchett
Richard Jolly at Old Trafford:
“Deserved red card for Bruno Fernandes – that was a dangerous lunge at James Maddison – and an increasingly disastrous day for Manchester United, with Kobbie Mainoo hobbling off.”
(Action Images via Reuters)
‘Unstoppable’ Micky van de Ven produces stunning assist with 70-yard sprint
Van de Ven pounced on a loose ball in the Spurs half after Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford lost possession, before the Dutch international surged forward from inside the halfway line.
Van de Ven eased away from Manuel Ugarte and past compatriot Matthijs de Ligt to reach the byline before squaring a perfect low cross to the back post, where a grinning Johnson was on hand to tap into the empty net.
‘Unstoppable’ Micky van de Ven produces stunning assist with 70-yard sprint
HT – Man United 0-1 Tottenham
17:23 , Karl Matchett
Van de Ven beats Garnacho in a foot race down the wing and slide-tackles the ball out of play – that just about sums up the difference between the teams.
The half-time whistle goes and boos ring out, be they for Erik ten Hag, his team or the referee. Could be all three from this home crowd.
Spurs lead, one-nil.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
45+3’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
17:20 , Karl Matchett
United must be amazed they are only a goal behind. Mount goes straight through Bentancur for no reason and is booked.
They have been so, so far off it in this first half, but Spurs have missed two or three really decent openings to add to Johnson’s early strike.
44’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
17:16 , Karl Matchett
A dreadful afternoon gets worse for United who immediately make a change. Mainoo is replaced by Mason Mount – although bizarrely Mount doesn’t come on straight away and the home team play on for a few moments with nine.
They are down to ten though and not looking in good shape today at all.
Five minutes added on.
RED CARD! 42’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
17:14 , Karl Matchett
Bruno Fernandes given a straight red card!
The United midfielder slipped as he changed direction, then lunged into a knee-high tackle on James Maddison who was skipping away from him.
No doubt about the decision, he’s far too high and not going for the ball at all.
United down to ten men.
42’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
17:13 , Karl Matchett
Dalot is carded to make it both United full-backs into the book, dragging down Kulusevski.
The Swede sees a shot blocked by Mainoo just after, as Spurs continue their assault on Onana’s goal – but no second reward for them yet, which will give Ten Hag hope that he can demand a reaction from his team at the break.
This game is like a basketball match at times, both sides looking for passes through gaps from deep to flood forward, but only Spurs are doing it with any productive manner.
40’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
17:10 , Karl Matchett
The first real moment for United – Garnacho batters a volley against the outside of the post.
Rashford’s deep cross finds his fellow winger and he sets himself, then powers a drive which Vicario might have covered, but strikes the woodwork anyway. A warning for Spurs, after their domination of this first half.
Then it’s up the other end and it really should be 2-0 as Timo Werner speeds away from the defence – but one-on-one with Onana, he shoots straight at the keeper who saves.
36’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
17:07 , Karl Matchett
De Ligt has continually given possession away when trying to play out, but he now blocks Udogie as he again bursts through and tries to shoot – it’s over for a corner. Spurs continue pressing for this second goal – and Romero very nearly gets it in spectacular fashion.
A first corner is half-cleared, Porro crosses back in and Romero produces a side-on bicycle kick which flies only a yard wide of the post.
Mazraoui is then booked for a late slide in on Udogie as United continue to fail to get to grips with the pace of their opponents.
32’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
17:03 , Karl Matchett
Richard Jolly at Old Trafford:
“A rather chastening half-hour for Manchester United who, one Joshua Zirkzee shot apart, have not threatened enough, while looking troubled by Tottenham’s pace and creativity. Perhaps Erik ten Hag’s gameplan is to counter-attack, but Spurs have done that better as well as looking the superior side in possession.”
30′ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
17:01 , Karl Matchett
Kulusevski and Johnson link once more around the right edge of the box, where United are just totally unable to shut down the spaces and stop Spurs continually running past them. Maddison’s eventual cross is beyond Werner this time but Dalot is pickpocketed, Maddison shoots – Onana saves.
26’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
16:59 , Karl Matchett
Mazraoui has to lift the ball out from under his own bar as Spurs cut through United once more – Brennan Johnson this time the provider with a low ball, but with Werner lurking it’s the full-back who gets there first and saves his side falling further behind.
Spurs boss Postecoglou must be feeling his side should be at least two up by now – four shots to one, 61% possession, 12 touches in the box to three – all in their favour.
22’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
16:55 , Karl Matchett
Udogie was down injured and needed some treatment, but looks like he’s ok to continue for now. A first really decent opening for United then, as Mainoo is involved and the ball is worked towards Zirkzee in the middle of the box – he diverts the ball toward goal and it’s on target, but Vicario saves.
18’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
16:51 , Karl Matchett
Fernandes fizzes a ball wide for Rashford, who has looked bright in getting forward in this first half, but the winger’s low cross is nowhere near Zirkzee or Mainoo. Easy for Vicario and for Spurs to start again – they are well on top so far.
Udogie now sparks another counter-attack, passes to Kulusevski and he tees up Johnson…and his low finish beats Onana, but hits the post. So close to a second.
14’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
16:45 , Karl Matchett
Udogie and Maddison both break behind United’s back line in quick succession and work chances on goal – the left-back’s effort goes flying over the bar from a narrow angle, but Maddison’s needs a decent block from Onana to prevent a second goal. Lovely exchange between the English midfielder and Kulusevski on the edge of the box to evade Ugarte and the centre-backs.
10’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
16:41 , Karl Matchett
Onana batters the ball forward and Rashford is streaking away behind the defence after bending his run – the flag does go up but he beats Van de Ven and Romero to the ball and shoots low, only for Vicario to save at the near post.
Wouldn’t have counted, but does show United how they might get themselves chances and a foothold in this game. Spurs’ defence is of course very high upfield.
7’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
16:40 , Karl Matchett
United needing to settle, but Spurs are just staying on the front foot as you’d expect – looking to win the second ball at every opportunity and flood players forward. Kulusevki is nominally a third midfielder for the visitors but he’s so high upfield challenging, putting the centre-backs under pressure when he can and forcing the hosts back. Zirkzee has barely had a touch so far.
GOAL! 4’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
16:38 , Karl Matchett
Richard Jolly after that opening goal at Old Trafford:
“Four goals in four games since deleting his Instagram account for Brennan Johnson, proving we are all better off without social media. But what a sensational solo run from Micky van de Ven, covering 70 yards at startling speed, to set him up. What a start for Spurs.”
GOAL! 2’ – Man United 0-1 Spurs
16:35 , Karl Matchett
Sensational start!! Van de Ven wins the ball halfway inside his own half and absolutely blazes his way through the entire United team, squaring brilliantly across the six-yard box and Brennan Johnson is totally unmarked to tap in his fourth in four games!
Never mind that clean sheet, it’s gone after 200 seconds!
1’ – Man United 0-0 Spurs
16:32 , Karl Matchett
Here we go – kick-off! Three clean sheets in five in the league for United, if they manage a fourth then that will be a big positive for Ten Hag to point to – but it’s wins United really need.
Spurs could say the same, of course.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
16:25 , Karl Matchett
Richard Jolly is at Old Trafford for us today – we’ll bring you his insight through the match. Ahead of the game he points out a habit Erik ten Hag is developing with his team sheets…
“Last week, Erik ten Hag benched Marcus Rashford after he had started scoring goals. Now Christian Eriksen has chipped in with three in three games and is only a substitute. No Son Heung-min for Tottenham, which means a first league start of the season for Timo Werner.”
Kick-off on the way!
Man Utd v Spurs – live
16:21 , Karl Matchett
Ange Postecoglou ahead of kick-off now:
“Short turnaround from Thursday and Son just wasn’t right for today so we go without him.
“We’ve had to suffer those things a fair bit, key players missing out – you just have to learn to cope without him.
“Timo Werner is most comfortable there, that’s why we brought him to the club so he gets his opportunity today.
“You’re facing a big club here, an iconic stadium, lots of attention – they are the kind of games you want to be involved in.
“We’ve won the last three so we’re going ok. League form is mixed but performances aren’t bad – it’s a challenging start in terms of results but I’m pretty happy with how we play our football.”
Man Utd v Spurs – live
16:16 , Karl Matchett
Ten Hag adds that Fernandes always ends up as creating the most chances for the team – he’s not worried about a lack of end product from him right now.
“Bruno will work on his form, he’s always working hard, taking responsibility and being captain. The goals and assists will come.”
He’s 11/10 to score or assist today against Spurs, or 8/1 to score the first goal.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
16:11 , Karl Matchett
Erik ten Hag ahead of kick-off:
“We have to kill in front of the goal. We are creating loads of chances but we don’t finish enough.
“I’ll be worried when we don’t create chances. I know we have players who can finish: Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho, Hojlund. Plenty are good finishers.
“Rashford scored there last week so he’s in the right direction and now has to make the last step.”
Man Utd v Spurs – live
16:06 , Karl Matchett
Form this season – all competitions:
Man Utd
LWLLWWDD
Spurs
DWLLWWW
Not too much to take as yet – Spurs’ three in a row have come against Coventry, Brentford and Qarabag. United’s only win against top-flight opponents in their current four in a row was at newly promoted Southampton.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
16:00 , Karl Matchett
It was in the summer of 2023 when Erik ten Hag declared he wanted Manchester United to be “the best transition team in the world”. If he has succeeded, it is probably not quite in the meaning he intended, as the Red Devils enter this weekend following a 1-1 draw with Twente.
His side conceded too many goals on the counter-attack last season, forever looking susceptible to the break. But United are specialists in transition in a different respect. In the third season of Ten Hag’s reign, after 122 games and an outlay of £600m, they remain in transition.
They can seem forever mired there. It may be unfair to judge the Dutchman’s newest team after five league games, before the biggest summer signing Leny Yoro has even made his debut, but they are six points off the lead in the Premier League already. A marquee match against Tottenham is also a mid-table clash, with the sides sitting in 11th and 10th. Lose and the temptation would be to suggest it will already be a 12th successive season without a true title challenge.
Most of that is not Ten Hag’s fault, of course. But the club’s new chief executive Omar Berrada has set the target of winning the title by 2028 to mark their 150th anniversary. Which would require United to exit transition, to trade their inconsistency for the kind of sustained excellence the true contenders display.
United showed signs of it in Ten Hag’s debut campaign, during a run of 40 games that produced just four defeats. Their last six results – two defeats, two wins, two draws – follow a season when their longest unbeaten run spanned five matches.
Read Richard Jolly’s pre-match preview:
Ten Hag’s ultimate goal leaves Man Utd far away in their four-year plan
Man Utd v Spurs – live
15:50 , Karl Matchett
As for Man United, there’s been a lot of talk over Bruno Fernandes’ lack of end product – one assist and no goals so far this term from five games. Nobody for the team has actually netted more than once or assisted more than once in the Premier League, however.
But is Fernandes underperforming in terms of execution, or merely playing poorly and not contributing?
He has a combined xG for the season of only 1.9, not high considering he’s still averaging 3.5 shots per 90, and six chances created isn’t high for him either. Missing three big chances is his biggest downfall so far though – while Zirkzee and Garnacho have missed four apiece.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
15:45 , Karl Matchett
Son hasn’t been Spurs’ go-to man for taking chances this season, but he has certainly been a creative force for them. His four big chances created is the highest in the squad this term, as are his 13 key passes in total.
But in Kulusevski and Maddison they still have two outlets who are laying on the chances and capable of adding goals too – Maddison netted his first of the season last week, though he’s back in central midfield rather than an attacking role now.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
15:36 , Karl Matchett
A big miss to not have Son, but also a big chance for Timo Werner – it’s his first start of the campaign and he has only 38 minutes of Premier League action to his name so far.
The eyebrow-raising pairing of James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield continues, so it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top of that particular battle, with Christian Eriksen removed from United’s engine room this time around.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
15:30 , Karl Matchett
An hour until kick-off at Old Trafford; a win for the hosts today will send them above Spurs and up to eighth. Spurs can go to the same position if they take the three points, while a draw leaves both in the same positions as now, tenth and eleventh.
Not where either one wants to be.
Spurs are ahead of United on goal difference, scoring four more this term, with both conceding five.
Confirmed lineups
15:25 , Karl Matchett
No Son Heung-min for Spurs – and Ugarte makes his first league start for United!
Team news! Man Utd vs Tottenham
15:23 , Jamie Braidwood
Son Heung-min misses out after limping off Tottenham’s win over Qarabag in midweek. He is replaced by Timo Werner, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski also starting in an attacking line-up named by Ange Postecoglou.
Manuel Ugarte makes his first start for Manchester United. He replaces Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee all start.
Team news! Man Utd vs Tottenham
15:20 , Jamie Braidwood
Man Utd XI: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Mainoo, Ugarte, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee, Rashford.
Spurs XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Maddison, Bentancur; Johnson, Kulusevski, Werner; Solanke.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
15:08 , Karl Matchett
Team news coming up in just a few minutes – the big questions will be over whether Ten Hag starts Rashford or Amad on the wings, with Garnacho now looking a likely starter once more.
Whether Ugarte starts in midfield is another debate, while Spurs are hoping for Son to be fit.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
15:02 , Karl Matchett
Ten Hag on his team’s need to control the match today:
“I think it will be a very intensive game,” the United manager said. “It is always against Tottenham. I think it is our style as well, so I think it is going to be a very dynamic, attractive game.
“Of course every opponent has strengths and weaknesses and Tottenham have their strengths definitely. In their philosophy they are very clear, very attacking but that leaves also space, but that is what they take into account. Maybe that can help but you have to be very good against Tottenham.
“If you want to control the game, then you need again a high performance level and then we will create again, I am sure, and then it’s about taking your chances.”
The 30-year-old attacking midfielder joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2020 and is United’s most successful signing since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Fernandes signed a new and improved deal until 2027, with the option of a further year, on the eve of a season that he has yet to set alight. The Portugal international has provided four assists but has yet to find the net ahead of taking on Tottenham this Sunday.
“I think the team brings him now in the situation,” Ten Hag said. “I think he is capable, and he has proven this so many years already in the Premier League that he can create many chances. I am convinced this season he will not do differently. He will come and respond, he will find his form and he is already creating chances, but he will make final passes, he will score goals 100 per cent and it’s just a matter of time.”
Man Utd v Spurs – live
14:45 , Karl Matchett
Erik ten Hag’s ultimate goal leaves Manchester United far away in their four-year plan
It was in the summer of 2023 when Erik ten Hag declared he wanted Manchester United to be “the best transition team in the world”. If he has succeeded, it is probably not quite in the meaning he intended, as the Red Devils enter this weekend following a 1-1 draw with Twente.
His side conceded too many goals on the counter-attack last season, forever looking susceptible to the break. But United are specialists in transition in a different respect. In the third season of Ten Hag’s reign, after 122 games and an outlay of £600m, they remain in transition.
They can seem forever mired there. It may be unfair to judge the Dutchman’s newest team after five league games, before the biggest summer signing Leny Yoro has even made his debut, but they are six points off the lead in the Premier League already. A marquee match against Tottenham is also a mid-table clash, with the sides sitting in 11th and 10th. Lose and the temptation would be to suggest it will already be a 12th successive season without a true title challenge.
Most of that is not Ten Hag’s fault, of course. But the club’s new chief executive Omar Berrada has set the target of winning the title by 2028 to mark their 150th anniversary. Which would require United to exit transition, to trade their inconsistency for the kind of sustained excellence the true contenders display.
Richard Jolly previews United’s next challenge:
Ten Hag’s ultimate goal leaves Man Utd far away in their four-year plan
Man Utd v Spurs – live
14:35 , Karl Matchett
Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou praised the intent of his team after they started their Europa League campaign with an impressive 3-0 home win over Qarabag despite being forced to play with 10 men for 83 minutes.
After kick-off was delayed due to the late arrival of Qarabag’s team bus, Radu Dragusin’s night lasted only seven minutes when he received a red card for a cynical pull on Juninho as Spurs’ last-man.
It failed to significantly knock Tottenham off their stride though, with Brennan Johnson able to score for a third successive match five minutes later before Pape Sarr doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 52nd minute.
Spurs boss Postecoglou was left with some late concerns after Son limped off in the 71st-minute before Archie Gray appeared in pain late on.
Johnson was also withdrawn at half-time after he continued his rich vein of form, but the Australian played down concerns.
“I haven’t spoke to him. He said he felt a bit tired, but I haven’t spoken to him or the medical team yet,” Postecoglou said of Son.
Son Heung-min is hugged by Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou (John Walton/PA) (PA Archive)
Man Utd v Spurs – live
14:25 , Karl Matchett
Erik ten Hag says he respects the critics and even embraces some of their suggestions as Manchester United’s frequently under-fire manager prepares to take on Tottenham.
Sunday sees the stuttering Red Devils welcome Ange Postecoglou’s side four days after their deflating 1-1 draw with FC Twente at an expectant Old Trafford.
Ten Hag was annoyed by United’s mentality and toothlessness in a Europa League opener that followed a frustrating 0-0 stalemate at Crystal Palace.
Those results, but particularly Wednesday’s performance, have increased the noise around United, but Ten Hag has long since learned how to deal with doubters.
Spurs don’t have quite as many absentees to contend with, as attackers Richarlison and Wilson Odobert are the only definite players out through injury.
Son Heung-min went off during the week but Ange Postecoglou wasn’t too downbeat about it, while Brennan Johnson’s substitution was tactical, he added, not through a knock.
There were several changes in their team for the win over Qarabag, though the likes of Micky van der Ven, Dominic Solanke and Son all still played.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
14:10 , Karl Matchett
United are still suffering with some injury issues, in particular in defence.
Leny Yoro is still out for some time and awaiting a competitive debut, while fellow centre-back Victor Lindelof is sidelined. So two are left-backs Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw, meaning Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui continue as the full-backs in Erik ten Hag’s team.
Not too much scope for him to alter things, there, with both playing in midweek too.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
14:05 , Karl Matchett
It’s 11th against 10th today and, while we’re early in the season and don’t need to read too much into that just yet, does hint at the up-and-down nature of these sides.
From five league games they’ve both won two, drawn one and lost two – though Spurs will argue they also won their Europa League opener, while United drew in midweek with Twente.
Much more is expected from both, regardless.
Man Utd v Spurs – live
11:35 , Karl Matchett
Good afternoon and welcome to the Independent’s live coverage of the Premier League – today we’re bringing you Manchester United versus Tottenham Hotspur from Old Trafford, a battle of two sides always seeming capable of more and fighting for European spots for next term, but often lacking consistency.
In Week 5 of the college football season, Colorado Buffaloes two-way sensation Travis Hunter continues to build his Heisman Trophy profile as his team prepares for a showdown against UCF in Orlando. Ahead of the highly anticipated matchup, Hunter sat down for an interview with legendary defensive back and Heisman winner Charles Woodson on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff. The interview highlighted Hunter’s unique role and impact on both sides of the ball, drawing comparisons to Woodson’s own Heisman campaign in 1997.
Hunter, who has been playing at an elite level as both a wide receiver and a cornerback, is averaging an astounding 130 snaps per game. “There ain’t nobody out there doing 130 snaps a game,” Hunter confidently remarked when asked about how he compares to other players currently vying for the Heisman. His versatility and endurance have made him a focal point of Colorado’s resurgence under head coach Deion Sanders.
“My main goal right now is to stay focused on my team and the individual awards will come,” Hunter added.
The interview between Woodson and Hunter was not only a meeting of two football icons but also a passing of the torch. Woodson’s Heisman win came as a rare defensive player who also contributed as a receiver and special teamer. Hunter is following in those footsteps but taking it a step further by regularly playing significant roles on both offense and defense.
Hunter is living the dream of playing the sport he loves, but his journey hasn’t been without controversy. Since entering college football, “Saucy-T” has faced criticism for setting ambitious goals, particularly his desire to play on both sides, a rare feat in modern football. As a standout at Collins High School, he demonstrated his versatility, excelling as both a receiver and a defensive back. When he made the transition to Jackson State University, Hunter remained committed to his two-way playing style, continuing to prove his elite talent on offense and defense.
Hunter is often compared to a small but elite group of players, including Woodson, Champ Bailey, and Jabrill Peppers, who similarly defied convention by excelling in multiple roles. Yet, the physical and mental toll of being a two-way player is immense, and Hunter has consistently risen to the challenge. His ability to play extensive snaps on both offense and defense has set him apart in college football, with many wondering how this will translate to the NFL.
One notable debate centers around which position Hunter will play in the NFL. During a discussion on the St. Brown podcast, former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman weighed in on the subject. Having himself transitioned from wide receiver to cornerback in college, Sherman praised Hunter’s natural defensive abilities but expressed concerns about his potential as an NFL receiver. Sherman suggested that while Hunter is a solid receiver, his route running might not separate him from elite NFL defensive backs. However, Sherman firmly believes that Hunter will reset the market for cornerbacks in the NFL.
Hunter’s response to Sherman’s comments was thoughtful, noting that he once modeled his game after Sherman. As Hunter continues his college career, fans and analysts alike eagerly await to see which side of the ball, or possibly both, Hunter will dominate in the NFL.
Colorado’s matchup against UCF marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs, and all eyes will be on Hunter as he looks to boost his Heisman candidacy further. UCF’s defense will have its hands full trying to contain him, whether he’s locking down receivers as a cornerback or making explosive plays as a receiver himself.
The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, with Hunter poised to once again make headlines. With every snap he takes, his case for the Heisman grows stronger, putting him at the forefront of one of the most captivating storylines in college football this season.
