Manchester United vs. Tottenham: TV Schedule, Live Streaming, Results and More
By on August 18, 2011
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Manchester United got the win they were looking for last week, but they didn't win in the fashion they are accustomed to. Their 2-1 opening match win against West Brom didn't showcase how truly dominant they can be.
That's where they hope Tottenham comes in. Tottenham isn't exactly going to lay down and fall victim to Wayne Rooney and the Red Devils. This is a huge opportunity for them to make a statement. Kicking off their 2011-2012 season with even a draw against Man U would be a phenomenal start.
Rooney is on absolute fire. He's an elite scorer and has been playing as such. If Manchester United is going to prove to the rest of the Premiere League that they are in fact the standard, they are going to have to start making quick work of teams like Tottenham.
On the other hand, if Tottenham is going to show they are a force to be reckoned with, they can't roll over to teams like Manchester United. They've been playing well, but their 5-0 win over Heart of Midlothian would be dwarfed by a win over Manchester United.
Proving that they are worthy of taking the same pitch as Manchester United has to be the focus. It's going to be difficult, as the Man U attack isn't going to make it easy on the back line.
West Brom is fortunate to have only seen two goals hit the back of their net. Tottenham may not be so fortunate defensively.
Even so, Manchester United isn't invincible. They are a great team, but West Brom proves they are vulnerable. Even in the event of a loss, it's imperative that Tottenham doesn't go away quietly.
They take on Manchester City less than a week after this match. An embarrassing defeat could snowball into a succession of losses, handing Tottenham a miserable start to a new season.
You can catch all of the action on ESPN2 and ESPN3 on August 22nd at 3:00 PM EST.
For all of your coverage on this match, stay tuned to Bleacher Report's World Football Page
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Manchester United looked a little shaky in the first half as Tottenham played them to a first half tie. And Tottenham picked up momentum as the half wore on.
The second half was a different story, and it was a story of Red Devil dominance. Danny Welbeck opened up scoring in the second half by heading in a perfect cross from midfielder Tom Cleverly.
Welback then set up the second goal with a brilliant back heel to Anderson in the 76th minute. At that point, Wayne Rooney figured he'd get into the goal scoring action as he put in a header to close out the day's scoring.
It was an impressive win for a Red Devil team that was depleted by injuries.
Rafael Da Silva, Javier "El Chicharito" Hernandez, Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen, and Darren Fletcher are all unavailable due to injury.
That leaves Chris Smalling, summer signing Phil Jones and Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans playing big roles in this match. And while Man U has talent in their depths. They do not have experience.
Man U's starting back five now has the strikingly young average age of 20 years and 193 days. And as a team they average just 23 years. However, any hope that teams may have had at captilizing on early season struggles caused by this youth were likely just forgotten. Man U looked as dominant in the second half of this contest as they did at any point last season.
As for Tottenham, they go back to the drawing board as they just missed a golden opportunity to snap a streak of futility against Man U.. Tottenham has now lost 25 straight matches to the Red Devils, and there is no end in sight for that streak.
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Tottenham is locked in a 0-0 tie with Manchester United as both clubs head to the locker room for halftime.
The Spurs rolled into Old Trafford stadium intent of snapping some ugly streaks. Tottenham has not won in the last 24 matches against Man U. They have not one at Old Trafford in 22 years. And they are certainly putting themselves in a position to do just that. They just need to start capitalizing on their chances.
Both teams have had several scoring chances only to be turned away by the keepers. The Red Devils had the best look of the first half, but Brad Friedel turned in a brilliant save as he to his left to get one hand on a low screamer.
That try came early in the match, and Man U looked superior early in this match, but as the half wore on the Hotspurs began to seize a bit of the momentum.
Tottenham began getting off more shots as the half wore on, and they are taking full advantage of a depleted Manchester United team.
Rafael Da Silva, Javier "El Chicharito" Hernandez, Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen, and Darren Fletcher are all unavailable due to injury.
That leaves Chris Smalling, summer signing Phil Jones and Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans playing big roles in this match. And while Man U has talent in their depths. They do not have experience.
Man U's starting back five now has the strikingly young average age of 20 years and 193 days. It is clear that if Tottenham wants to end their streak of futility against Man U, this is their best chance.
Man U picked up an unimpressive win with a 2-1 victory over West Brom in the opener, but considering their injury situation, you have to say a win, is a win, is a win.
Tottenham's EPL opener was postponed due to riots in London. but they looked better then they have in years in a 5-0 thrashing of Harts in Europa League action.
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If you are looking to catch the remainder of today's Man U game you can catch live streaming action on ESPN3.
Manchester United and Tottenham are on the pitch, battling in the first half as I type.
Tottenham has not won in the last 24 matches against Man U. They have not one at Old Trafford in 22 years. But they have a good chance at snapping those streaks today.
Tottenham is anxious to show the defending EPL champs that they have closed the gap, and they are currently doing just that as they are locked in a 0-0 tie.
Man U entered this match far below full strength. Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael Da Silva are likely to be out of action for this contest.
That leaves Chris Smalling, summer signing Phil Jones and Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans to fill their sizable shoes. That trio definitely brings some talent, but they, understandably, haven't figured out how to function together yet.
Man U's starting back five now has the strikingly young average age of 20 years and 193 days.
Man U picked up an unimpressive win with a 2-1 victory over West Brom in the opener, but considering injuries forcing Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael Da Silva to sit out, I am sure they were happy with it.
Tottenham's EPL opener was postponed due to riots in London. but they looked better then they have in years in a 5-0 thrashing of Harts in Europa League action.
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It took Wayne Rooney just 13 minutes to register his first Machester goal of the new EPL campaign. And that was more than just a goal; it was a statement. Wayne Rooney is ready to rock.
Rooney came into this season in peak physical form. It has left his coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, with nothing but great things to say about his star. Ferguson, as quoted in metro.co.uk:
"He’s [Rooney] been flying in pre-season.
"His fitness is terrific, he has the same energy all the time, he is a restless player on the pitch, he can never stand still. He is a tremendous asset.
"It’s interesting to see how he is combining with [Danny] Welbeck at the moment. Both have done very well together."
And this is all great news for Man U. They are going to need Rooney to be at his physical to survive an opening to an EPL season that sees them struggling with injuries.
Man U picked up an unimpressive win with a 2-1 victory over West Brom in the opener, but considering injuries forcing Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael Da Silva to sit out. It was an impressive win. There absence leaves Man U with a tattered defense.
All of this means their is even more pressure to perform on Rooney's shoulders. And all indications are this is a pressure he is more than ready to handle. This team is going to be leaning heavily on Rooney, and he is going to reward them with a spectacular season.
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Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool has won the EPL championship every year since the 1994-1995 season. Tottenham has a chance to crash that party. And right now, the road to that championship goes straight through Manchester United.
Tootenham has not beaten Man U in their last 24 matches against Man U. They have, however, had much more success against the other top teams in the league. If you take the head-to-head records of the big four plus Tottenham and Manchester City, who came in third last season, Tottenham is only second to Manchester United in points.
That success makes it clear Tottenham is close. They have just one hurdle to cross in nudging their way to the table. They have to beat Man U. They are in an excellent position to do just that as these two are set to meet on August 22nd.
Man U is going into this game far below full strength. Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael Da Silva are likely to be out of action for this contest.
That leaves Chris Smalling, summer signing Phil Jones and Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans to fill their sizable shoes. That trio definitely brings some talent, but they, understandably, haven't figured out how to function together yet.
Man U's starting back five at the end of their lackluster EPL opener, a 2-1 win against West Brom, had an average age of 20 years and 193 days.
The Spurs will realize this is their chance to beat the champs, and they are going to come out focused and ready to roll. Tottenham looks better then they have in years. They are fresh off of a 5-0 thrashing of Harts in Europa League action.
The Spurs' Gareth Bale is set on proving he is the best winger in the world. This will be a great match for him to make a statement. Man U's young back line is going to have a hard time dealing with the pressure he can apply.
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Tottenham is ready to snap their streak of futility against Manchester United. They are not favored, but there are too many signs pointing to this outcome to ignore. Here are the three biggest reasons they will pull off the upset:
Manchester United's Injuries
Man U is going into this game far below full strength.
Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael Da Silva are likely to be out of action for this contest.
That leaves Chris Smalling, summer signing Phil Jones and Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans to fill their sizable shoes. That trio definitely brings some talent, but they, understandably, haven't figured out how to function together yet. It is expecting too much to expect them to be able to hold off Tottenham for 90 minutes.
Consider this: The back five who finished United's 2-1 win against West Brom had an average age of 20 years and 193 days.
Gareth Bale
Bale is at the peak of his capabilities. He has clearly put himself in consideration as the best winger in the world.
His elite level play making and blazing speed puts pressure on even the most battled hardened of defensive lines. Gareth Bale is going to ensure that Manchester United's patchwork defense is tested early and often. And as that defense adjusts to account for Bale, it is going to open up opportunities for Bale's teammates.
Spurs are Due
Tottenham has not won in the last 24 matches against Man U. They have not one at Old Trafford in 22 years. While these numbers initially scream that Man U should win, that is not the case here.
The Spurs will realize this is their chance to beat the champs and they are going to come out focused and ready to roll. Tottenham looks better then they have in years. They are fresh off of a 5-0 thrashing of Harts in Europa League action. And this team is acutely aware that Man U is battered.
They will not let this opportunity pass.
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Machester United begins their EPL campaign battered and bruised. Luckily for them, Wayne Rooney is completely healthy and well equipped to pick up any slack. That is exactly what happened in their opener.
Man U picked up an unimpressive win with a 2-1 victory over West Brom in the opener, but a win is a win. And considering injuries forced Rio Ferdinand , Nemanja Vidic and Rafael Da Silva to sit out and leave a tattered Man U defense, they'll take it.
With the help of Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney was able to muster enough of an attack to help lead Manchester United to victory in the first one. It is clear that Rooney is in mid-season form.
Man U coach Sir Alex Ferguson is full of nothing but praise for Rooney. Ferguson, as quoted in metro.co.uk:
"He’s [Rooney] been flying in pre-season.
"His fitness is terrific, he has the same energy all the time, he is a restless player on the pitch, he can never stand still. He is a tremendous asset.
"It’s interesting to see how he is combining with [Danny] Welbeck at the moment. Both have done very well together."
The two have been deadly pair, and they are going to have to continue to be as they weather the injury storm because it is clear that injuries have left Man U's defense in complete disarray.
Chris Smalling, summer signing Phil Jones and Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans have been forced to play big roles, and this unit is yet to gel.
As long as Wayne Rooney stays upright, Man U should be just fine.
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Though Manchester United didn't put forth their best effort in their opening match win against West Brom, they will prove to the rest of the Premier League that they remain the team to beat in the EPL.
They stand a great chance at repeating and would prove with a big win over Tottenham that they are just as dangerous as ever.
Wayne Rooney is on fire. He kicked in a goal against West Brom, but it's clear he's got a lot more to offer. Rooney just had an incredible run on his trip to America and is one the most explosive players in all of the Premier League.
It's not one player that makes Manchester United so dangerous though. They are stacked with talent and make it incredibly difficult for a team to devote their back line to focusing solely on Rooney with any confidence.
Chelsea may be all the rage at the moment, but Man U is going to silence their critics with this match and show just what sort of offensive onslaught they are capable of.
Obviously the Spurs aren't exactly a powerhouse in the Premier League, but gaining momentum in the three matches before they take on Chelsea on September 18th is imperative.
The Red Devils currently reign supreme and have a huge target on their backs. A performance like the one they put forth against West Brom would without question result in a draw or even a loss against many of their EPL adversaries.
With their first match under their belt, Manchester United is poised for a huge match against Tottenham that forces the rest of the Premier League to take notice.
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Injuries have forced Machester United to field a much younger lineup than was the original intention. And unless Man U wants to limp out of the gates with a slow start, this youth is going to have to start playing like veterans in a hurry.
Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael Da Silva are all set to miss extended time.
That leaves Chris Smalling, summer signing Phil Jones and Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans to fill their sizable shoes. And while these players have all shown promise they also displayed their inexperience in the opener.
Man U picked up an unimpressive win in their Premier League opener with a 2-1 victory over West Brom. This victory came thanks to their still intact and talented front line.
With the help of Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooner was able to muster enough of an attack to help lead Manchester United to victory in the first one, but it was clear that injuries have left Man U's defense in complete disarray.
And that defense is set to face a much stiffer test against Tottenham.
Due to riots in London cancelling their first match, this will be Tottenham's 2011 EPL opener. However, Tottenham comes into 2011 looking better than last season. And a recent strong showing in the Europa League backs up these thoughts.
Tottenham is fresh off of a 5-0 thrashing of Hearts. In that victory Gareth Bale continued to show why he should be considered among the best wingers in the world. He is a play-maker extraordinaire and his blazing speed puts pressure on even the most battled hardened of defensive lines.
Gareth Bale is going to keep the pressure on Man U's defense. This is certainly going to give Man U's youngsters some valuable experience. Rather they can handle it or not, is another story.
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Machester United picked up an unimpressive win in their Premier League opener with a 2-1 victory over West Brom. And that match showcased all the vulnerabilities that a talented Trottenham team will be able to capitalize upon. It looks to me like Tottenham will be able to pull of the upset and prevail in this one.
With the help of Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooner was able to muster enough of an attack to help lead Manchester United to victory in the first one, but it was clear that injuries have left Man U's defense in complete disarray.
Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael Da Silva are likely to be out of action for this contest.
That leaves Chris Smalling, summer signing Phil Jones and Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans to fill their sizable shoes. And while these players have all shown promise, it is expecting too much to expect them to be able to hold off Tottenham for 90 minutes.
Due to riots in London cancelling their first match, this will be Tottenham's 2011 EPL opener. However, Tottenham comes into 2011 looking better than last season. And a recent strong showing in the Europa League backs up these thoughts.
Tottenham is fresh off of a 5-0 thrashing of Hearts. In that victory Gareth Bale continued to show why he should be considered among the best wingers in the world. He is a play-maker extraordinaire and his blazing speed puts pressure on even the most battled hardened of defensive lines.
The pressure Bale is capable of applying will is going to cause serious problems for the inexperienced back line from Manchester United, and ultimately it will lead to a defeat for Man U.
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Manchester United isn't going into this match looking for a win, they are seeking complete domination. Tottenham is a worthy opponent, but the Red Devils have much more to unleash than the one-goal victory they put up against West Brom.
Picking up three points is expected by Manchester United. They've got a fearless attack that is amongst the best in the world and the firepower to completely dismantle the Spurs' defense.
The Spurs obviously don't want to fall victim to a huge defeat. They may be playing a bit conservatively, which makes them easy prey. They can man mark Wayne Rooney all they want, not only is No. 10 bound to still make an impact, Man U has too many weapons to completely contain.
The Spurs will try to keep this match low scoring, but their 5-0 outing against the Hearts gives no indication of what is to come when they take on the Red Devils.
This isn't just a great opportunity for Manchester United to pick up three points in the standings, they can build their goal differential.
Being +1 isn't where Man U wants to be. With Manchester City jumping out to a huge 4-0 victory in their opener, this is the perfect opportunity for them to gain some ground.
Obviously torching Tottenham by three goals is probably out of the question, but winning 3-1 or 2-0 seems like a reasonable goal for the Red Devils. This match isn't just about winning for Manchester United, it's about winning big.
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Tottenham is no slouch in EPL, but they know their limits. Manchester United is one of the best teams in the world, and is playing as such. A draw isn't an ideal start to the season and a win over the Red Devils would do wonders for their confidence, but a draw in this match should be considered a win for the Spurs.
Tottenham can't expect to take down a team as stacked as Manchester United. While they say you need to beat the best to be the best, it's clear that they aren't that caliber of a team yet. Man U isn't the Hearts and Wayne Rooney's foot is unforgiving.
Trying to steal a victory here is a recipe for disaster. It's going to be impossible to completely dispel the Red Devil attack. If they come out and go into full attack mode, the Spurs could easily fall victim to a huge deficit.
The Spurs are no slouches, they just aren't the best team in the Premier League, and that's okay. This is a team who finished 5th in the EPL, which is an accomplishment within itself.
When matched up against the majority of teams in the league, they are obviously going to be gunning for a win; however, in this matchup a draw would be more than proficient.
Proving that they can hang with a team like Manchester United would be enough to consider their beginning to the 2011-2012 season a success.
The Red Devils' attack is going to be a lot to handle for Tottenham. If they can manage to keep the attack to a dull roar and come away with a draw, in no way can they be disappointed with that end result.
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Gareth Bale is the world's best winger.
You can question that all you want, but at the end of the day, it's true.
Don't believe me? Check out what the Welshman did to one of the best right-backs in the world, Maicon.
Sure, Manchester United have a deeper set of wingers with Ryan Giggs, Nani, Park and Ashley Young. None of them are on the same level as Bale.
When he is in-form, Bale is nearly unstoppable.
If he has enough space, Bale can make even the best defenders look foolish. Even though he is on the wing, he has the talent to completely take matches over.
That's not very easy.
Bale is one of the fastest players in the world, and he knows when to blow by his defender. He has the capacity to get down the line faster than anybody, and he uses that speed to his advantage.
On top of his physical ability, Bale is an incredibly smart player. Even though he has tons of pressure on him, he rarely presses the issue. He understands his role in the attack, and he doesn't try to do too much.
Bale uses his speed and his smarts to go to work on the outside. Sir Alex Ferguson will surely have a special defense to try and stop Bale, but I don't think it will work too well.
Bale is second to none, and on Monday, he will have to play like Superman (or, more appropriately, Batman) in order to defeat Manchester United.
Don't be surprised if it happens.
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Wayne Rooney scored a goal in his opening Premiere League match, but you can expect a much more resounding performance from Rooney when he takes on Tottenham.
Rooney is coming off of a trip to America where he routinely knocked in goal after goal. He's on a hot streak and though an EPL game in which a player scores can never be seen as an upset, he's got more to offer.
Rooney gets overlooked in the "best player in the world" debate. Even so, he's an elite scorer and a force to be reckoned with. He can create opportunities for himself even when he's marked and game planned against.
This is the perfect time for him to showcase his dominance. He's the most important player on the Red Devils and needs a big-time performance to maintain his hot streak.
Tottenham isn't a top-notch Premiere League team, but they aren't a bottom feeder either. Rooney knocking in a hat trick wouldn't be overlooked like it was during his trip to the United States.
Another monster match lies ahead of Manchester United. The Red Devils have a chance to take the Premiere league and their season is in many ways predicated off of the play of Rooney. He controls the tempo of the match, the flow of the attack and often times the overall outcome.
This is yet another opportunity for Rooney to shine. Kicking in a goal in a win against West Brom was a terrific start, but we've come to expect more from Rooney and more we shall receive.
--Kyle Vassalo
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Manchester United looked good last week. However, they did look beatable.
Tottenham Hotspur did not play last week due to the London riots, and now they have to open their season against the defending EPL Champions.
Lucky Spurs.
United proved to be the class of the Premier League last year by dominating at home and being consistent on the road. With this match being at Old Trafford, I don't see United dropping any points.
United won 18 matches at Old Trafford last year, and they only drew one. While that will be tough to repeat, I don't think the Red Devils will drop points this early in the year.
Sir Alex Ferguson has proven that he can win with a variety of talent. However, this year's talent seems to be superior to the United teams of the past few years.
People are questioning United's midfield and goalkeeping. The midfield played fine against West Bromwich Albion. David de Gea did not. If he can pick up his play, United won't have much trouble at all.
Also, remember how good United are up top and in back.
Chicharito and Wayne Rooney are arguably the best striker tandem in the world. Even with Chicharito hurt, Danny Welbeck and Dimitar Berbatov fill in nicely.
In the back, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are two of the best central defenders in the EPL.
Granted, the two defenders are nicked up. Still Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are willing to step in to keep the back line as strong as ever.
On the other side of the pitch, Spurs are still trying to figure out if they will have the same team by the end of August. Luka Modric has seemingly left to Chelsea and come back three or four times this summer. Now, even Harry Redknapp thinks it could be a good idea to sell Modric.
Whether that happens or not, that type of uncertainty can ruin a club. Until Spurs have their heads on right, I just can't see them competing with an in-form league champion.
Spurs will play tough. Still, at the end of the day, United are simply too good and too tough at home to drop any points to Spurs.
Manchester United: Like this team?
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