Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were forced to share the spoils at Old Trafford as Spurs twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford finally combined to good effect as the hosts made the most of their first-half openings. Spurs were the superior side throughout, and they were more than good value for their point.
The team news generated plenty of buzz among both sets of supporters as both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven returned to Tottenham’s starting lineup. January arrival Timo Werner also made his first start for the club, although Dejan Kulusevski failed to make the matchday squad.
🚨🚨Cuti Romero & Micky van de Ven start together for the first time since November 6th 2023! 🇦🇷🇳🇱🤍 pic.twitter.com/1nkiYBxPkW— The Spurs Watch (@TheSpursWatch) January 14, 2024
Romero and Van de Ven back but no Kulu… pic.twitter.com/ycwdZDTh2Q https://t.co/OAetgOmqjn— 🇻🇦♱ 🏴 (@thfcpio) January 14, 2024
Timo Werner making his Spurs Debut against Man United at Old Trafford. This mf is definitely scoring isn’t he? 😭— Trey (@UTDTrey) January 14, 2024
Richarlison and Werner up front, the linesman is about earn his money— Dubois (@CFCDUBois) January 14, 2024
Man Utd, meanwhile, welcomed Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez back to the bench following lengthy absences.
Martinez and Casemiro are on the bench. Totally understandable when both are returning from long term injuries— 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫 (@UtdEra_) January 14, 2024
The goal-shy hosts took no time to take the lead in proceedings as Boxing Day hero Hojlund scored just his second Premier League goal of the season with a thumping finish.
Hojlund playing like Harry Kane against Tottenham Hotspur, tears in my eyes— B🥤 (@utdbrxy) January 14, 2024
The ball when Hojlund shot it in goal. pic.twitter.com/eNvF0iB5CB— M🍥 (@Mo_utdred) January 14, 2024
The visitors’ response was impressive, however, with Spurs having particular joy from set pieces. They restored parity before the 20th-minute mark as the superb Richarlison continued his rich vein of form by flicking home Pedro Porro’s superb delivery.
Richarlison and Rasmus Hojlund carrying their teams
pic.twitter.com/DO7GtmD3Bg— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1) January 14, 2024
Ange Postecoglou’s vibrant outfit then enjoyed much of the first half, dominating possession and territory. Their wide players, however, proved particularly wasteful in the final third.
Werner squandering that chance, Johnson ballooning and easy 15 yard square pass to Richarlison for a tap in, Romero’s header, although that’s just unlucky. You think it has to go for you one day, but it never does 😂— Adam Nathan (@adamdnathan) January 14, 2024
United, on the contrary, were mightily efficient in the final third and Rashford joined Hojlund on the scoresheet for the very first time. The Englishman bundled past Porro after a slick combination with the Dane and coolly finished past Guglielmo Vicario.
Hojlund and Rashford finally scoring in the same game pic.twitter.com/Wy7QifaRtw— 🌐 (@isoquince) January 14, 2024
Swiftly after United’s second, Werner found himself one-on-one with Diogo Dalot down the left, creating a yard of separation before finishing in typical Timo style… well wide. Romero then rattled the crossbar from another set-piece just before half-time.
Timo Werner taking shots pic.twitter.com/owznbGcgF6— 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐪 (@cfc_farouq) January 14, 2024
Spurs’ response after the break was emphatic. A superb Romero pass set the visitors on their way, with Rodrigo Bentancur crashing home their second equaliser having been found by Werner inside the penalty area.
Romero pass to Skipp in the build up pic.twitter.com/hfRvOCspst— ~ (@lucasltc_) January 14, 2024
Bentancur is some player, he’s so underrated IMO— Tom Garratt (@Tgarratt10) January 14, 2024
Bentancur had a walk inside the box without any sort of pressure.. that is disgraceful defending— Faysal (@elfayz_) January 14, 2024
Spurs’ control was almost total between half-time and the hour mark, with the Red Devils subject to a barrage of Porro corners. Despite the visitors’ threat from set pieces, Erik ten Hag opted to bring Martinez on for his long-awaited return. The Argentine replaced Jonny Evans, who’d done a fine job of defending Porro’s delivery in the second period.
Welcome back Lisandro Martinez ❤️— 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫 (@UtdEra_) January 14, 2024
Lisandro Martinez readying to come on. Let’s hope he is fully fit, as he has a job on his hands… #MUFC— Peter Hall (@PeteHall86) January 14, 2024
A lull ensued in the wake of Martinez’s arrival, with the contest on a knife-edge as it veered into its epilogue. Despite the tension, there was still time for one more debutant as Radu Dragusin entered the fray for the final five minutes.
Dragusin is coming on pic.twitter.com/ImZQNnc4Cy— Christina 🌴 (@ChristinaZandes) January 14, 2024
Radu Dragusin replaces Oliver Skipp, to make his Spurs debut!— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) January 14, 2024
There was little goal-mouth action towards the end of the game, but Scott McTominay had a gilt-edged chance to steal all three points at the death. The Scot’s header, however, flew over and the two sides settled for a point apiece.
And that sums up the game….brings McTominay on and he misses a sitter— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) January 14, 202
if this was a Scotland game McTominay would’ve scorpion kicked it into the top corner— Wayne Farry (@waynefarry) January 14, 2024