Live Commentary: Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Good afternoon and welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.


The hosts come into this match having won just one of their last eight Premier League games, leaving them nine points adrift of the top four.

Spurs, meanwhile, have returned to winning ways over the past week and will move into the Champions League places with a third consecutive victory here.

Make sure you don't miss a moment of the action courtesy of our minute-by-minute updates below.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

TOTTENHAM: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dembele; Eriksen, Dele, Son; Kane

TOTTENHAM SUBS: Vorm, Wimmer, Davies, Dier, Winks, Sissoko, Nkoudou

MAN UTD: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian; Carrick, Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Martial; Ibrahimovic

MAN UTD SUBS: Romero, Bailly, Blind, Fellaini, Mata, Rashford, Rooney

90+8 min FULL TIME: Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

90+6 min MAN UTD SUB: A third and final change for United as Marouane Fellaini replaces Herrera.

90+5 min Almost a chance for Rose of all people as he charges into the box, but he turns down the chance to shoot and instead tries to take on Jones, who makes the tackle.

90+3 min This is absolutely crucial that United hold out here. Another late goal conceded would be a huge hammer blow, and would also leave them 15 points off leaders Chelsea - surely an unassailable gap already.


90+1 min Sure enough, there will be six minutes of added time at the end of this match!


89 min Just one minute of normal time remains here, but there should be a fair chunk of injury time after that Mkhitaryan injury.

87 min Safe to say that Danny Rose is not the most popular player in Old Trafford right now. The fans have some choice chants for the Tottenham full-back having seen Mkhitaryan stretchered off.


85 min MAN UTD SUB: Eric Bailly comes on in place of the injured Mkhitaryan.

84 min This does not look good for United at all. Mkhitaryan is strapped on to a stretcher having suffered an ankle injury in that challenge and he will not be able to continue here.

83 min TOTTENHAM SUB: Spurs make a third and final change while Mkhitaryan receives treatment after that Rose foul, with Georges-Kevin Nkoudou replacing Eriksen.

81 min YELLOW CARD! Rose is the latest name in the book for a sliding challenge on Mkhitaryan having been beaten all ends up by the Armenian.

80 min Fellaini has just been sent to warm up by Jose Mourinho, and many fans inside Old Trafford started booing the Belgian. There was a smattering of applause immediately afterwards, but the home fans are clearly unhappy with Fellaini at the moment.

78 min YELLOW CARD! Walker swiftly follows Mkhitaryan in the book for a shirt tug on Rashford.

76 minYELLOW CARD! Mkhitaryan becomes the latest player in the book for a cynical trip to stop a Tottenham counter.

74 min Just over 15 minutes left in this one now and it is still all to play for. This is all about game management for United now, but that is not something they have been particularly good at recently. A second goal would do wonders for them right now.

72 minMAN UTD SUB: The hosts make their first change of the afternoon as Marcus Rashford replaces Martial.

70 minSAVE! Spurs win a free kick in a good position and Eriksen looks to sneak it into the corner on the goalkeeper's side, but De Gea is alert and gets down well to push it away with a one-handed save.

68 minThis one really is set up nicely for the final 20 minutes. United have not been able to see games out very well this season so their nerves will grow as the clock ticks by and their lead remains just one.

66 minTOTTENHAM SUB: Another change for the visitors as Dembele is replaced by Harry Winks.

64 minYELLOW CARD! Seconds after being denied by Lloris, Pogba is shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Dembele.

64 minCHANCE! Another big chance for Pogba, but once again he is denied by Lloris! It is a flowing counter-attack as Pogba plays it out to Herrera before getting the ball back and lashing a first-time effort towards the top corner, but Lloris reacts really well to push it past the post. Moments later there is a penalty appeal against Vertonghen, but the referee waves it away.

63 minOFF THE BAR! It is Pogba who goes for goal from the free kick, and it is a brilliant effort. He swings it towards the top corner with pace and power, but it comes crashing off the woodwork with Lloris rooted to the spot. So unlucky for Pogba.

62 minFree kick to United in a good position here as Pogba goes down under the challenge of Dembele. It relieves the pressure on United, and they may fancy their chances of scoring from here too...

60 minTottenham are on top in this one right now as they push for an equaliser, but with the exception of that Wanyama chance they haven't shown too many signs of troubling De Gea.

58 minYELLOW CARD! Wanyama goes into the book for an aerial challenge of Jones have appeared to catch the United defender with his arm.

57 minTOTTENHAM SUB: Spurs make their first change of the afternoon as Moussa Sissoko replaces Son.

55 minCHANCE! Huge chance for Tottenham to level things up! Pogba completely loses Wanyama when marking from a free kick to leave the midfielder free in the middle of the box. Wanyama simply has to score, but he gets his header all wrong and United survive.

54 minSAVE! Better from Spurs again as they begin to grow into the half once more. They come forward quickly here and Walker flicks the ball back to Eriksen, who has a bit of time just outside the area. He fires a well-struck shot towards goal, but it is straight at De Gea, who beats it away.

52 minA reminder that victory for United today would see them close the gap to the top four to just six points - which will look a whole lot better than the current nine-point gap. There is still a long way to go, but if Manchester City and Spurs - and perhaps later Liverpool - drop points while they win then it will be a very good weekend for United.

50 minAs was the case in the first half, Tottenham are struggling for possession in the opening stages of this half. United have so far done a very good job of keeping the likes of Eriksen and Kane quiet.

48 minPositive start to the half from United here. They have never lost a Premier League home game in which they have been leading at half time, but a second goal will settle a few nerves following their recent run of draws.

46 minKICKOFF: Manchester United get us back underway for the second half at Old Trafford, and what a big 45 minutes it promises to be

45+2 min HALF TIME: Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

45+1 minThere will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

45 min Half a chance for Martial as the ball arrives to him at the back post and he goes for a first-time volley, but he blazes it a long way over the crossbar.

44 min There is a really good battle in the middle of the park between Pogba for United and Wanyama and Dembele for Spurs. They are all big, strong athletic players and it is always a good tussle when they come up against each other.

42 min United's goal really lifted the mood around Old Trafford, but in the last five minutes or so Spurs have come back into it and they are pushing for an equaliser before half time. Alli does well to win a corner for his side...

40 min SHOT! Kane has been quite so far in this first half but he tries a speculative effort here, looking to pick out the bottom corner from over 25 yards. You can see what he is trying to do, but he puts his finish a few yards wide.

38 min Spurs win a free kick in a good crossing position, but United deal with the initial ball before also clearing the second delivery at the near post.

37 minA small slice of history for Mkhitaryan...

36 min SAVE! Spurs hit back after a spell of United pressure following the goal, and De Gea has to be alert here as Son fires one towards goal from outside the area. It is central enough, though, and De Gea tips it over the top.


34 min CHANCE! Another chance for United to double their lead. It is another quick counter after Spurs give the ball away and a cross from the right goes all the way through to Ibrahimovic at the back post. He takes the ball down and gets a shot away, but Lloris is down smartly at his near post.


32 min YELLOW CARD! The first card of the afternoon goes to Valencia for a poor challenge on Rose. That means he will miss the match against Crystal Palace next time out.

31 min How was Mkhitaryan not starting earlier in the season? He has now been involved in four goals in his last four games for United.

29 min First blood to United! It is a first Old Trafford goal for Mkhitaryan and two in a week for the Armenian! Kane gives the ball away in midfield for Spurs and Herrera immediately lays a ball through for Mkhitaryan. He only has Lloris to beat and proceeds to smash a fearsome finish high into the net. No stopping that one.

29 min GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham (Henrikh Mkhitaryan)

27 min SHOT! Poor from Alderweireld as his clearance falls straight to Carrick, who runs on to the ball and powers a first-time effort towards goal from 25 yards. It is a decent hit, but it is always rising on its way over.


26 min Ibrahimovic is given a warning by referee Bobby Madley after he caught Walker with a high foot, leaving the full-back writhing in agony on the floor.

25 min Almost a chance for United to break as Ibrahimovic hooks a pass over to Martial. He races into the box, but gets the ball stuck under his feet and a combination of Walker and Wanyama are able to get it away.

23 min SAVE! Spurs fail to deal with the resulting delivery and, after a brief scramble in the box, the ball comes out to Herrera whose looping effort is comfortably gathered by Lloris.

22 min CHANCE! Another chance for the hosts as Carrick lifts a pass into the box which Herrera knocks back towards Pogba. Pogba steps over it to leave it for Mkhitaryan, but his drilled strike from the edge of the box is crucially blocked by Vertonghen.

21 min Tottenham have edged the possession in this opening 20 minutes, overcoming a slow start to enjoy slightly the better of the game so far. There is very little in it, though, and the best chance has gone the way of United.

19 min SAVE! This time Eriksen goes for goal, and De Gea has to scramble across to palm the ball away having not been in position when the free kick was taken.

18 min Another free kick in a very similar position for Spurs here as they begin to gain a measure of control over this match...

16 min Spurs win a free kick in a good crossing position and Wanyama sneaks in at the back post, but his header down is blocked by Pogba who is able to deal with the danger.

14 min Still no clear chances to report since that early Pogba opportunity. It is a good, even contest between these two sides at the moment.


12 min Mkhitaryan has a shooting chance at the other end, but it is a very ambitious effort as he chests the ball down just outside the area and fires a first-time left-footed volley well off target.

11 min Very nearly a chance for the visitors as a diagonal ball is floated into the box which has Jones very worried. Alli makes a fine run in behind the United defender, but he just can't get on the end of it.

10 min Now it is United who aren't seeing much of the ball, but they are keeping their shape well from the front which is preventing Spurs from making any real progress upfield.

8 min SHOT! Better from the visitors now as they finally do get themselves in possession, but most of it coming deep inside their own half. They finally do manage to break out down the left flank, though, and Son cuts inside before trying to curl on into the far top corner, but it is well off target.

6 min Tottenham are just struggling to get their foot on the ball for a prolonged period of time at the moment. United have settled into the game quicker here.

4 min Mkhitaryan's form at the moment makes it even more puzzling just why he wasn't given a chance earlier in the season. He made that chance for Pogba out of nothing and is suddenly looking full of confidence.

2 min CHANCE! Almost a perfect start for United as Pogba comes close inside two minutes. Mkhitaryan kicks the move off with a smart turn before playing the ball out to Ibrahimovic on the right. The Swede pulls the ball back into the middle for Pogba, but his finish is too close to Lloris. Pogba probably should have scored there!


1 min KICKOFF: Here we go then! Tottenham get us underway at Old Trafford.