Talking Points: Tottenham 1 United 3

Heung-Min Son put Spurs in front shortly before the break, just five minutes after Edinson Cavani saw a strike cruelly disallowed following an intervention by VAR.

Fred then found the net to level early in the second period, before Cavani added a second with a diving header and Mason Greenwood rounded off the result in the dying moments.

Below are the essential discussion points from a memorable afternoon at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…

MOMENT OF REFLECTION

As has been the case at all games this weekend, a period of two minutes' silence took place prior to kick-off to pay respect to the Queen and Royal Family following the passing of His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on Friday. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

RIGHTING WRONGS

After just four league defeats this term, the reverse fixture against Spurs back in October was one of the few sore points as far as our league form is concerned and no doubt the Reds had that in the back of our minds when kicking off against a Tottenham team looking for their first Premier League double over United. This spirited comeback win will help put the disappointment from earlier in the season behind us.

MORE VAR PAIN

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked totally shocked when referee Chris Kavanagh awarded Tottenham a free-kick after Edinson Cavani struck what appeared to have been a 35th-minute opener. The decision, following a consultation with the pitchside monitor, was bizarre to say the least, as in the build-up Scott McTominay’s outstretched arm brushed Heung-Min Son as he tried to fend off the South-Korean but it was never intentional and there was barely any contact.

THE RECORD GROWS

United have extended their club record run of away league games unbeaten to 23 (W15, D8). In doing so they have drawn level with the second longest run set by Arsenal between August 2001 and September 2002. The only stretch longer than that was 27 matches, also set by the Gunners between April 2003 and September 2004.

CAVANI MAGIC

Edinson’s exquisite diving header was the 10th goal he has had a hand in for the club having scored eight himself and assisted two. Incredibly five of his finishes have been headers, with only Everton striker Dominic Calvert Lewin having scored more (six) this season with his head before today.

FABULOUS FRED

Fred always contributes a tremendous amount to United on the pitch, but not usually in the form of goals. As Cavani drove into the area, having been put through by Fred, the Brazilian was positioned like an instinctive striker – ready and waiting in the six-yard box to tap in after seeing his team-mate’s effort saved by the keeper. That goal is Fred’s first of this campaign and only his second for the club in the Premier League, after scoring against Wolves in September 2018.

SEASON HALF CENTURY

The game against Spurs was our 50th of this campaign in all competitions and when you remember the season only started in September because of delays due to the pandemic, it puts into perspective just how gruelling a schedule it has been. Since kicking off against Palace to start our season we have reached half a ton of matches in 204 days, meaning an average of just over a game every four days and that doesn’t even take into account international breaks.

UP NEXT

Attentions will now quickly turn to our Europa League quarter-final second leg on Thursday. The Reds go into the match against Granada at Old Trafford with a two-goal advantage, as we bid to reach the last four for the second season in succession.