Erik’s hopes for Rashford and Hojlund link-up

Both players scored in the same game for the first time, with Rashford setting up Hojlund’s early opener and then finding the net himself after playing a delightful one-two with the Dane.

The duo were in tune throughout, coming close on several other occasions to creating goalscoring opportunities for each other and their Reds team-mates.

It was no surprise that the pair picked up the most votes in our Man of the Match poll, with Hojlund scooping the award for the first time in Reds colours.

Ultimately United were frustrated as Spurs twice came from behind to claim a point and deny Erik ten Hag’s side victory in the opening league game of 2024.

But the boss is hoping the relationship between his forward duo continues to develop as the Reds look to string together a consistent run of results.

"I hope they keep going with this progress," Ten Hag told reporters in his post-match press conference. "You see they are coming up with routines – that is what you need. 

"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."

With Rashford and Hojlund both starring, and Alejandro Garnacho providing a threat from the right, United frequently threatened to open up Spurs’ defence.

And Ten Hag knows that an in-form attack can have a transformative effect on the whole team.

"That counts for every team," he said. "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. But also defending as they know every goal they concede is then a problem.

"So when you can put out Garnacho, Hojlund and Rashford, and then Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen behind, it must be a threat."