Anthony Martial’s 81st-minute goal gave Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Premier League title rivals Tottenham on a rainy Saturday at Old Trafford.
Here are three things learned from the game.
One of the biggest issues for United boss Jose Mourinho to address is the lack of creative spark in midfield.
The absence of Paul Pogba has meant they have been bereft of ingenuity from deep but there should be no excuse for that being replicated further up the pitch.
For that Henrikh Mkhitaryan must hold his hand up because he’s gone missing in recent weeks after making such an impressive start to the season.
He hasn’t produced an assist since August 26 – a run of 10 games in all competitions – and the Armenian has just one Premier League goal all season with his performances worsening by the week.
Mourinho’s pragmatic and reactive style means the No10 role in his side is so crucial but whenever Mkhitaryan got the ball in a transition out of midfield he was indecisive and in the moment he did execute was wasteful.
Short of invention and in reality, effort as well, it’s just not working for Mkhitaryan and minutes on the bench is what’s required in the coming weeks.
Mkhitaryan was hauled off just past the hour mark
Pointing out the obvious perhaps but the fixation on Harry Kane’s absence and how Spurs might combat that was justified because the visitors looked a different side without him.
Pep Guardiola’s labelling of Spurs as “the Harry Kane team” is a tad harsh but it’s hard to get away from the fact that they lacked any real attacking thrust or dynamism with first Son Heung-min, and later Fernando Llorente, both struggling to make any discernible impact.
What Kane brings to Spurs is more than just eight goals in nine league games so far this season.
Indeed, the England international can drop in, hit the channels and link up well with Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli to give Spurs fluidity.
Crucially, he also possesses the finishing touch and when the visitors looked the more organised outfit, particularly in the first half, Kane’s presence was missed.
Son and Llorente were caught waiting for things to happen, Kane is the type of player to make things happen and that was the difference at Old Trafford.
Harry Kane missed the trip to Man United with a hamstring injury
Now, this claim comes with assumption he’s fit because when Phil Jones is able to piece himself together and play, he’s everything a centre-half should be.
A master of the basics, Jones is committed and composed, his simplicity more deserving of the appreciation he is afforded.
It’s crazy to consider the fact he’s still only 25 because right now, and based on form alone, he’s not just the best English centre-half but arguably the best in the league.
You only have to look at United’s solidity against Spurs and their unravelling against Huddersfield when he went off as a supporting argument.
This isn’t a knee jerk reaction to his display at Old Trafford either because Jones has been immense all term, rivalling Nemanja Matic as their player of the season so far.
It seems unfashionable to praise him because United fans only seem to show their appreciation for him when he’s not in the side but Jones is a classy operator and in the three-man defence stood solid alongside Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly.
Jones clears the ball in a resolute display for United
