Manchester United v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League team news, line-ups and more today

It was in the summer of 2023 when Erik ten Hag declared he wanted Manchester United to be “the best transition team in the world”. If he has succeeded, it is probably not quite in the meaning he intended, as the Red Devils enter this weekend following a 1-1 draw with Twente.

His side conceded too many goals on the counter-attack last season, forever looking susceptible to the break. But United are specialists in transition in a different respect. In the third season of Ten Hag’s reign, after 122 games and an outlay of £600m, they remain in transition.

They can seem forever mired there. It may be unfair to judge the Dutchman’s newest team after five league games, before the biggest summer signing Leny Yoro has even made his debut, but they are six points off the lead in the Premier League already. A marquee match against Tottenham is also a mid-table clash, with the sides sitting in 11th and 10th. Lose and the temptation would be to suggest it will already be a 12th successive season without a true title challenge.

Most of that is not Ten Hag’s fault, of course. But the club’s new chief executive Omar Berrada has set the target of winning the title by 2028 to mark their 150th anniversary. Which would require United to exit transition, to trade their inconsistency for the kind of sustained excellence the true contenders display.

Richard Jolly previews United’s next challenge:

After kick-off was delayed due to the late arrival of Qarabag’s team bus, Radu Dragusin’s night lasted only seven minutes when he received a red card for a cynical pull on Juninho as Spurs’ last-man.

It failed to significantly knock Tottenham off their stride though, with Brennan Johnson able to score for a third successive match five minutes later before Pape Sarr doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 52nd minute.

Spurs boss Postecoglou was left with some late concerns after Son limped off in the 71st-minute before Archie Gray appeared in pain late on.

Johnson was also withdrawn at half-time after he continued his rich vein of form, but the Australian played down concerns.

“I haven’t spoke to him. He said he felt a bit tired, but I haven’t spoken to him or the medical team yet,” Postecoglou said of Son.

Erik ten Hag says he respects the critics and even embraces some of their suggestions as Manchester United’s frequently under-fire manager prepares to take on Tottenham.

Sunday sees the stuttering Red Devils welcome Ange Postecoglou’s side four days after their deflating 1-1 draw with FC Twente at an expectant Old Trafford.

Ten Hag was annoyed by United’s mentality and toothlessness in a Europa League opener that followed a frustrating 0-0 stalemate at Crystal Palace.

Those results, but particularly Wednesday’s performance, have increased the noise around United, but Ten Hag has long since learned how to deal with doubters.

Spurs don’t have quite as many absentees to contend with, as attackers Richarlison and Wilson Odobert are the only definite players out through injury.

Son Heung-min went off during the week but Ange Postecoglou wasn’t too downbeat about it, while Brennan Johnson’s substitution was tactical, he added, not through a knock.

There were several changes in their team for the win over Qarabag, though the likes of Micky van der Ven, Dominic Solanke and Son all still played.

United are still suffering with some injury issues, in particular in defence.

Leny Yoro is still out for some time and awaiting a competitive debut, while fellow centre-back Victor Lindelof is sidelined. So two are left-backs Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw, meaning Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui continue as the full-backs in Erik ten Hag’s team.

Not too much scope for him to alter things, there, with both playing in midweek too.

It’s 11th against 10th today and, while we’re early in the season and don’t need to read too much into that just yet, does hint at the up-and-down nature of these sides.

From five league games they’ve both won two, drawn one and lost two – though Spurs will argue they also won their Europa League opener, while United drew in midweek with Twente.

Much more is expected from both, regardless.

Good afternoon and welcome to the Independent’s live coverage of the Premier League – today we’re bringing you Manchester United versus Tottenham Hotspur from Old Trafford, a battle of two sides always seeming capable of more and fighting for European spots for next term, but often lacking consistency.