Tottenham Hotspur can finish ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal: Gary Neville
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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur celebrates after scoring their second goal to level the match against Manchester United, on Jan 14.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – A patched-up Tottenham Hotspur side’s performance in the 2-2 away draw against Manchester United on Jan 14 has led Gary Neville to suggest that they could finish ahead of English Premier League leaders Liverpool and north London rivals Arsenal.
Despite missing first-team players like Son Heung-min, James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr and Dejan Kulusevski due to injuries, illness or international duty, Spurs dominated proceedings at Old Trafford.
Said Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou: “I am delighted. We played really well... We have had a really rough week off the field with quite a bit of illness and other things. This group of players has been outstanding.”
Tottenham had 63.7 per cent of possession and three times as many shots on target (six) as the home side.
Former United and England defender Neville said on Sky Sports: “If they keep their players fit, they are a certainty to finish in the top four and I think they can get to second and third.
“With those players back and, if they can get through these next few weeks, I genuinely think they can be better than Arsenal and Liverpool this season.
“It might end up being a good draw in the FA Cup against Manchester City. Go out of that and concentrate completely on the league. But they do need to win a trophy...
“For Ange Postecoglou to get to second or third, which they could do if they have a clean run at it, would be something special.”
Spurs host treble holders Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Jan 26.
They sit fifth in the league on 40 points, level with last season’s runners-up Arsenal, albeit having played a game more. Villa and City are three points ahead in third and second respectively. Liverpool top the table on 45 points.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford scores their second goal against Tottenham Hotspur on Jan 14.
PHOTO: REUTERS
At Old Trafford, United got off to a lively start with a goal from Rasmus Hojlund in the third minute. The 20-year-old scored for the second time in as many home games with a ferocious left-footed shot to the top corner.
Richarlison capitalised on United’s poor marking to head in the equaliser from a corner in the 19th minute.
Marcus Rashford put United back on top just before the break after a quick one-two with Hojlund. However, Rodrigo Bentancur cancelled out Rashford’s goal when he scored less than a minute after the interval.
United manager Erik ten Hag said Hojlund and Rashford are beginning to display signs of a potent partnership.
The Dane has scored only two league goals this season while Rashford has four, but the pair appear to be developing an understanding and were involved in the build-up to each other’s goals.
“I hope they keep going with this progress. You see they are coming up with routines – that is what you need,” said ten Hag.
“You need it everywhere but especially in the front line, where there are tight areas and quick decisions have to be made. In a split second you need the right decisions, so you need that intuition.
“When your front players are not scoring, it goes through the whole team. It makes everyone insecure, starting with the front players, because they are of course eager when they’re not scoring and play with less confidence.”
Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur scores to cancel United’s lead a second time.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
However, with United having lost 14 times in all competitions this season, Neville warned that the Dutchman could be “vulnerable” if United don’t develop a coherent playing style soon.
He said: “We need to see a style of play develop in the next few months or else I think the coach will be vulnerable because ultimately the new owner will come in and want to see how we’re going to play, want electricity, want razzmatazz.
“United have historically been box office... They’ve got some exciting, talented players, it just needs to somehow gel in the next few months. I’m talking about patterns and combinations that players can rely upon when they go through difficult moments in a match.
“You rely upon the memory of what you’ve been working on in practice to come out on the pitch at the weekend.
“The last time that I saw combinations of play and a series of passes that looked like they belonged to one another was under Louis van Gaal.
“What I see here is a collection of single passes where a player receives it and seem to have to work out where the next player is, rather than knowing where the next player is.”
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who struck a deal to take a minority stake at United in December, attended the game and was spotted talking to United’s former manager Alex Ferguson, who was seated next to him. REUTERS, AFP
