Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash between
Tottenham Hotspur and
Manchester United at Wembley!
This would be an attractive enough fixture even without the sub-plots surrounding it as Mauricio Pochettino takes on the club he has been tipped to join in the summer, while his competitor for the job attempts to get one over on him and continue United's recent revival.
There is plenty to look at, so let's start with the team news...
TOTTENHAM STARTING XI: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele; Son, Kane
TOTTENHAM SUBS: Gazzaniga, Rose, Sanchez, Foyth, Skipp, Lamela, Llorente
MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw; Matic, Herrera; Lingard, Pogba, Martial; Rashford
MAN UTD SUBS: Romero, Dalot, Pereira, Fred, Mata, McTominay, Lukaku
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, we'll start with the hosts, who have been boosted by the return of Jan Vertonghen for this match with the Belgian somewhat surprisingly thrown straight back into the starting lineup.
Sanchez drops to the bench as a result, and it is a timely comeback from Vertonghen to resume his partnership with compatriot Alderweireld at the back. Alderweireld has been heavily linked with a move to United himself, of course, and with a price tag of just £25m now, there may be plenty of people on the opposition bench keeping a close eye on him today.
Vertonghen's return is one of two changes from the team which beat Cardiff in their last Premier League outing, with the other seeing Ben Davies replace Rose at left-back.
It is also a very similar side to the one which faced Chelsea in the semi-final of the EFL Cup in midweek, although there are three changes in all from that game as Hugo Lloris also returns in goal.
Son Heung-min starts up front once again in what will be his final game of the club before joining up with South Korea at the Asian Cup, with Pochettino again expect to field a 4-4-2 midfield diamond formation.
Dele Alli plays as the number 10 in that system and is expected to fulfil the same role today, while Christian Eriksen - scorer of an unmatched 19 Premier League goals from outside the box since his debut - and Sissoko will look to provide further creativity going forward.
If they are able to create chances then the likelihood is that they will be taken with Harry Kane up front. The striker has scored eight goals in his last eight league games, and could score in seven successive matches for the first time in his career today.
Kane is also bidding to become only the third Spurs player to score home and away goals against Manchester United in a single Premier League season, following in the footsteps of Jenas (2005-06) and Dempsey (2012-13).
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United, meanwhile, are able to welcome Paul Pogba back into their starting lineup after he recovered from a leg injury sustained against Newcastle in their last league game.
The World Cup winner has been in fine form since Mourinho's departure, scoring four goals and creating three more during Solskjaer's four league games in charge. Only Son - on the opposite side today - has been directly involved in more goals over the same period.
Pogba's return is one of nine changes made by Solskjaer to the team which eased past Reading in the FA Cup last weekend, with Phil Jones and Ashley Young the only two players to keep their places.
In truth, Solskjaer does not have too many other options in central defence with Bailly completing his suspension and Smalling still sidelined, so it was always likely that Lindelof and Jones would feature again here. Young, meanwhile, switches over to the right in order to make room for Shaw's return at left-back.
There are only two changes from United's last league outing, though, with Young replacing Valencia and Jesse Lingard coming back into the side in place of Mata, who drops to the bench.
There is no Alexis Sanchez in the squad at all, though, after his first start since November was cut short last weekend when he limped off with what looked like a recurrence of his hamstring problem. Martial provides the width on the left flank today.
Marcus Rashford leads the line once again, and he has reportedly been told by Solskjaer that he will be the number one striker ahead of Romelu Lukaku, who again has to settle for a place on the bench.
Both are in good goalscoring form under Solskjaer, but Rashford just about pips it having directly contributed to nine goals in his last eight league games scoring four and assisting five. Should he score himself today then it would be the first time in his career that he has scored in three consecutive top-flight matches.
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There are potential match-winners on both sides, then, but the main focus in the build-up to this game as been focused on the dugouts, particularly Tottenham boss
Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine was immediately installed as the favourite to replace Jose Mourinho when United sacked the Portuguese last month and it is understood that he remains the club's first choice to take over at the end of the season, despite Tottenham's reluctance to lose him.
The one thing which does look certain is that United would have to pay big money to prise Pochettino away from North London, with the Argentine having only recently signed a new long-term contract with the club.
Reports so far have suggested that Pochettino is interested, but should he win a trophy with Spurs this season then he may begin to believe that he can achieve his goals right where he is. United certainly have a much bigger budget than Tottenham, but they trail today's hosts by 10 points in the league so Pochettino must ask himself whether it would be a step forward to join the Red Devils.
That elusive piece of silverware could be on the horizon too, with Spurs still in contention on all four fronts this season.
A 7-0 drubbing of Tranmere saw them through to the FA Cup fourth round, they defied all the odds to reach the Champions League last 16, while they are also in the driving seat of their EFL Cup semi-final against Chelsea having won the first leg 1-0 at Wembley in midweek.
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A victory today would also lift Spurs back up to second in the Premier League table, at least until champions Manchester City host Wolves tomorrow night.
The gap to leaders Liverpool is now six points following the Reds' 1-0 win over Brighton yesterday, but should Tottenham win this one then they will remain outsiders in the race with a six-point deficit to make up.
Indeed, victory would see Spurs reach the 51-point mark two matches quicker than in any previous Premier League season, and their form has been good enough to keep pace with the likes of Liverpool and Man City so far.
Spurs have won seven of their last eight games across all competitions, and 15 of their last 18 too, with only two defeats in that time. The last six of those have seen Tottenham score 23 goals at an average of almost four per game.
It has been a perfect 2019 for Tottenham so far with 11 goals scored without reply in their three games, including that seven-goal haul against Tranmere in the FA Cup.
Incredibly, they are also on a club-record run of 25 league matches without a draw, winning 19 of those since their 1-1 stalemate with Brighton on April 17. It is already the longest any team has gone since the start of a top-flight season without drawing a game.
However, Tottenham's last Premier League game here at Wembley ended in defeat to Wolves, and should they lose again today then it would be back-to-back home league losses for the first time since May 2015.
They do not have a good record at Wembley against other top-six clubs either, losing four of their eight such league games.
There is certainly hope for United today, then, and their fans will be feeling a lot more optimistic now than if this match took place a month or so ago.
A mixture of Jose Mourinho's exit and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment has had a galvanising impact on the players, and they look like a completely different team to the one which surrendered so meekly in their last top-six showdown against Liverpool, which proved to be Mourinho's final match in charge.
The players seem to be playing with a lot more freedom under Solskjaer, and it is not just the fact that the Norwegian has overseen five wins from five games which has been impressive, but also the manner in which they have picked up those wins.
The Red Devils have scored 16 goals in those five games and have even started to show some improvement defensively too, with the FA Cup win over Reading giving them back-to-back clean sheets for the first time all season.
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United are the only club to boast a 100% record since Solskjaer's appointment and another win today would see the Norwegian equal Sir Matt Busby's record of winning his first five league games in charge of the Red Devils.
In all competitions, though, Solskjaer is on the verge of surpassing the great Matt Busby, with a win this afternoon seeing him move out on his own as the United boss with the best start in charge of the club.
It certainly will not have done Solskjaer's chances of landing the job on a permanent basis any harm, and should he beat one of his main rivals for the role today then that will only enhance his credentials further.
As impressive as his start has been, though, he is by far the least experienced name on the managerial shortlist. Pochettino is obviously near the top of that, but the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Massimiliano Allegri have also been linked with the role, which recent reports suggest that they are looking at Gareth Southgate and Diego Simeone too.
Solskjaer has also had the benefit of a kind start to life in charge of the club, with his five wins coming against Cardiff, Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Reading. That should not be used as a criticism of him, of course, but today's game is by far his biggest test yet.
United failed to win any of their five matches against top-six opposition under Mourinho this season, so if Solskjaer can pull one off at the first attempt then it would be another feather in his cap.
Of course, such a drastic turnaround in form has also had a welcome impact on the Premier League table, and while United still sit sixth they are now right back in the race for a top-four spot.
Arsenal's loss at West Ham yesterday means that United could draw level on points with the Gunners with a win today, although fourth-placed Chelsea are now nine points ahead after Saturday's triumph over Newcastle.
If United are to close that gap back down to six then they will have to improve a record which has seen them win just four of their last 17 Premier League away games in London, losing nine of those.
The Red Devils have also lost two of their last three matches at Wembley - including defeat in this exact fixture last season - which is as many losses as they had suffered in their previous 15 games at the stadium.
If United are to close that gap back down to six then they will have to improve a record which has seen them win just four of their last 17 Premier League away games in London, losing nine of those.
The Red Devils have also lost two of their last three matches at Wembley - including defeat in this exact fixture last season - which is as many losses as they had suffered in their previous 15 games at the stadium.
PREDICTION! Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Wembley, which means that it is time for a prediction!
This really is an intriguing match, and it will be fascinating to see whether United can continue their recent improvement away to top-class opposition. Spurs are in fine form themselves, though, and we're backing them to scrape the victory.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Spurs 2-1 Man Utd
There was a time when Sir Alex Ferguson's teamtalk prior to a Tottenham game was simply "Lads, it's Tottenham". Those times are gone, though, with Spurs winning their last two Premier League meetings with the Red Devils.
Another victory today would see them back in three on the bounce in the top-flight for the first time since 1960, as well as the first time that they have won successive games against them in all competitions since 1990.
United only lost three of their first 23 Premier League away games against Spurs, but they come into this match without a victory since 2012 and having lost each of their last three.
Indeed, Spurs could this afternoon become the first team since Everton in 1987 to win four successive home top-flight games against the Red Devils.
Tottenham's last visit here ended in a 2-0 defeat with Eriksen scoring after only 11 seconds and Phil Jones scoring an own goal.
The reverse fixture in in August, meanwhile, saw Spurs run out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford as Kane opened the scoring before a brace from Lucas. Never before in the Premier League era have Tottenham done the double over United.
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Right, the players are out and we're just about ready to go. A quick reminder of the team news...
TOTTENHAM STARTING XI: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele; Son, Kane
MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw; Matic, Herrera; Lingard, Pogba, Martial; Rashford
KICKOFF: Here we go! Tottenham get us underway at Wembley!
Trippier tries to bend a cross into the box and it is a wicked delivery, but it is too far in front of Kane.
Spurs are seeing the majority of the ball in these opening exchanges, but many of the passes have been sideways or backwards so far. United are not giving them any time on the ball.
It is a 4-3-3 from United at the moment, rather than the 4-2-3-1 system that Solskjaer has favoured in recent matches. Pogba will still look to get forward from that midfield three, though.
Mike Dean has a long word with Ashley Young, laying down the law. Not sure what that is about, but the referee has seen something he didn't like from the United skipper.
CHANCE! Spurs slice through United for the first time as Son is released in behind before waiting for support. He slides a clever pass into the box for Winks, who then puts a low pass into the middle which is begging to be converted. It goes all the way through to safety, though!
SHOT! The resulting corner is only cleared as far as Winks, but this time he leans back on his shot and blazes it well over from the edge of the box.
CHANCE! United hit back with a chance of their own as Young's cross can only be glanced to the back post by Alderweireld. Lingard is there to collect it on his chest, but he then slices his half-volley well off target.
SAVE! United come forward again, this time on the counter-attack, but Lloris makes a fairly routine stop to deny Rashford, who had Lingard waiting in the middle too.
Another big chance for United on the counter as they are left with a two-on-one, but Martial cannot take Lingard's pass in his stride and his subsequent cross is cleared away.
This has been end-to-end stuff in the last five minutes or so. Both sides are looking dangerous going forward and it is shaping up to be a really good game.
Almost a chance for United as Matic slides a lovely pass through for Rashford, who only has the keeper to beat. The striker's dink bounces wide of the target, but the offside flag is up anyway.
CHANCE! Sloppy from Trippier as he gifts possession to Pogba, who quickly releases Martial down the left. The winger advances into the box and works space to shoot, but his low effort from a tight angle is kept out by the legs of Lloris.
United have looked the more dangerous of the two sides in this opening 20 minutes. They are playing good, attacking football and so far fulfilling their promise of taking the game to Tottenham.
Spurs have struggled to get too much going in attack in the opening quarter of this match. The one chance they created for Winks is the only time they have really looked like opening up this United defence.
Spurs do get themselves into the United box this time as Alli reaches the byline and almost squeezes his pass in to Kane in the middle, but it is well cut out.
CHANCE! Poor defending from United as Kane escapes his marker from a corner and collects the ball on the floor in space. His first touch could be better, though, and that allows the defence to scramble and make the block.
Tottenham have had 58% possession in this match so far, but United have looked most dangerous on the counter-attack so that will suit them fine.
A couple of shooting chances in quick succession for Spurs as first Son turns one down in favour of teeing up Eriksen, who sees his effort blocked by Jones. The ball eventually arrives at the feet of Kane, but he too sees his shot blocked and the offside flag brings an end to that particular attack.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Spurs have the ball in the back of the net, but Kane's celebrations are cut short by the offside flag! Trippier whips a lovely cross into the box for Alli at the back post, and he bundles it back across the six-yard box. Kane is waiting there to tuck it home from close range, but he does so from an offside position.
The big question surrounding that offside was whether it came off Alli or a United defender, but the replay appears to show that the Spurs man got the touch. Correct decision from the officials!
SHOT! Winks again tries his luck from range, but he fires it high and wide of the target with his left foot from 25 yards.
Spurs have definitely grown into this game as the first half has progressed, but they are yet to register a shot on target today. They need more of a cutting edge in the final third.
Bad news for Spurs here. Sissoko goes down off the ball and it looks like his groin has gone. He will not be able to continue.
Well, I stand corrected. Sissoko is going to try to continue here, despite it looking like a muscle problem. Usually you cannot run those injuries off, but perhaps he is trying to last until half time.
He won't, though. Sissoko goes down off the ball and Spurs want United to kick the ball out, but they refuse. Trippier shoves Martial who retaliates in kind, but it quickly calms down.
TOTTENHAM SUB: There is the change as Erik Lamela replaces Sissoko.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 0-1 MAN UTD (MARCUS RASHFORD)
GOAL! Out of nothing Manchester United break the deadlock, right at the end of the first half!
It is a really good goal, with Pogba releasing Rashford with a brilliant pass down the right flank. The striker still has a lot to do, but he fires a pinpoint finish across Lloris and into the bottom corner.
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: TOTTENHAM 0-1 MAN UTD
Manchester United take the lead into half time, then, and they have put in one of their better performances of the season so far.
Spurs are still very much in this game, but they need to show more going forward and tighten up at the back, with United having looked particularly dangerous on the counter with the pace of Martial and Rashford.
The only goal of the game so far came right on the stroke of half time as Marcus Rashford fired his side ahead with a brilliant finish, although the assist from Pogba was every bit as impressive too.
The Frenchman got the ball out of his feet and released Rashford through on goal with a brilliant long pass forward, and from there Rashford did the rest with a fine finish across goal and into the bottom far corner.
Prior to that goal it was Spurs that had created the best chance of the half, with Winks latching on to Son's pass but then seeing his low ball into the box run all the way through when it only needed a touch.
United have created most of the chances, though, and for much of the half it was the visitors who looked most like scoring. Martial, Lingard and Rashford have all come close apart from the goal, and Solskjaer will be very happy with what he has seen so far.
Spurs did have the ball in the back of the net when Kane tucked home from close range, but the offside flag was correctly raised to cut the Spurs celebrations short.
The hosts did not have a shot on target in that opening 45 minutes, though, and they simply need to show more of a cutting edge in the final third if they are to get back into this game.
KICKOFF: United get us back underway for the second half!
Here is the goal which separates the two sides...
CHANCE! There is Tottenham's first shot on target, and Kane should perhaps score! The hosts cut United open on their way into the box and Kane collects the ball on the right side of the area, but his low drive is saved by the feet of De Gea.
CHANCE! De Gea is called into action again here as Alli steers a header from Trippier's cross towards the bottom corner, but De Gea gets down to make a really good save.
YELLOW CARD! Alli is the first player in the book for a trip on Pogba.
Spurs have made a very bright start to this second half and are looking a lot more threatening going forward now. We have a proper game on our hands now!
CHANCE! Chance for United to add to their lead as Young whips a cross into the box which Pogba climbs highest to meet, but his header arrives at a good height for Lloris to make a flying stop.
CHANCE! Pure persistence from Pogba as he collects the ball and drives forward. Initially he tries his luck from range only to see his effort blocked and loop into the air. Pogba does not give up on it, though, and bursts into the box before getting his toe to the ball ahead of Trippier. It almost takes it over Lloris, but he reacts really well to tip it over the top.
United have regained a certain degree of control over the game again now after a bright start to the second half from Spurs. This one is very nicely poised.
CHANCE! Just as I say that, Spurs create another chance as Kane gets in front of Jones to meet Eriksen's cross with a diving header. He is not far out, but he does not get enough on his header and in the end it is a fairly simple save for De Gea.
CHANCE! Another big chance for Spurs as Winks slides a pass down the right for Trippier, who clips the ball into the box. Kane just can't get on the end of it, but Lamela is behind him. The sub appears unsighted, though, and the ball strikes him rather than him being able to get his head on it.
CHANCE! Now it is United who create a really good chance! Lingard slides a pass through for Martial, who bides his time before teeing up Pogba on the edge of the box. Davies just gets a slight block on the ball to take some of the sting off it, but Lloris still needs to make a really smart save down low to his right.
This is a cracking game. It is being played at a really good pace with chances at both ends too. Still more than 25 minutes remaining too!
SHOT! Chance for Spurs to break as Kane shakes off Herrera before finding Eriksen, who also skips away from his marker. Eriksen then opts to go for goal, though, and it is an easy stop for De Gea from a long way out.
CHANCE! Another huge chance for Tottenham as they spring a devastating counter. Kane releases Alli through on goal and he only has the keeper to beat, but De Gea stands up and thwarts the midfielder with a big, big save.
YELLOW CARD! Herrera picks up a yellow card for a foul on the edge of the box. Free kick in a very dangerous position...
SHOT! Eriksen tries his luck on the goalkeeper's side, but sends his effort flashing a yard past the post.
Just over 20 minutes remaining now and there could easily be at least one more goal in this one. Both sides have had enough chances to make 1-0 a surprising scoreline so far!
CHANCE! De Gea is keeping United ahead in this match! Alderweireld darts to the front post and steers his effort towards goal, but De Gea pulls off a brilliant reaction save with his feet!
SAVE! Kane pulls rank from a free kick and fires a decent effort towards goal, but De Gea dives across and plucks it out of the air. Not his most difficult save, but a spectacular one nonetheless.
MAN UTD SUB: Change for the visitors here as Romelu Lukaku replaces Martial.
CHANCE! Another big chance for Spurs, another big save from De Gea! Eriksen floats a pass in to Alli, who does well to take it down and get space to shoot, but he puts his effort too close to De Gea again!
Spurs have had the chances to be ahead in this game, yet alone level. De Gea has made some really good saves, but the finishing from Spurs could also have been better.
SAVE! Pogba tries his luck from range, but his low strike bobbles all the way into the arms of Lloris.
YELLOW CARD! Pogba goes into the book for a high challenge on Alli.
SHOT! Kane collects the ball on the edge of the box and works space to shoot, but he lashes his left-footed effort high and wide.
TOTTENHAM SUB: Attacking change from Spurs as Fernando Llorente replaces Winks.
MAN UTD SUB: United respond to that by making a defensive change of their own as Diogo Dalot replaces Lingard.
CHANCE! De Gea makes another remarkable save with his feet, this time denying Kane after he had been teed up by Llorente! The striker looked certain to score, but again puts his finish too close to the keeper!
CHANCE! This time it is Llorente who should score as he collects a cross into the box, but his shot is straight at De Gea!
There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match.
SAVE! Pogba tries his luck with a snapshot from range, but again it is straightforward for Lloris.
MAN UTD SUB: Late chance for the visitors as Scott McTominay replaces Pogba.
FULL TIME: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
David de Gea, take a bow! Sure, Tottenham's finishing could have been better, but the Spaniard was still brilliant and made no fewer than 11 saves in that second half alone.
Marcus Rashford scored the only goal of the game just before half time, but De Gea was the true star of the show for the visitors today as Solskjaer makes it six wins from six in charge - a slice of history for the Norwegian!
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash as United edge past Spurs at Wembley to extend their 100% start under Solskjaer. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too!
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
