Fit-again James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario were the standout performers as Tottenham secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, ending their long winless run at home and highlighting the ongoing struggles of Ruben Amorim and his injury-depleted squad.
Maddison, who had been sidelined for the past five games, took full advantage of a parried shot by Andre Onana, following Lucas Bergvall’s effort in the first half, to give Spurs the lead. Meanwhile, Vicario, making his first appearance since November 23, was in outstanding form, repeatedly denying Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund, keeping United at bay with several crucial saves.
In a matchup between two of the Premier League’s biggest underperformers this season, it was Tottenham who looked to have finally turned a corner, with key players returning from injury after months of setbacks. The win ended a seven-game wait for a league victory at home and marked a third win over United in all competitions this season, a feat Spurs haven’t achieved since the 1989/90 campaign.
The result lifted Tottenham to 12th in the table, with back-to-back Premier League wins for the second time this season—having previously beaten Brentford and United in consecutive games in September.
United, however, missed several key opportunities, most notably when Garnacho blazed a shot over the bar after being left unmarked in the box, and when Joshua Zirkzee headed wide. Out of possession, United appeared vulnerable and were frequently exposed. With key players like Amad Diallo likely out for the season and a host of others—including Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, and Leny Yoro—on the sidelines, Amorim’s options were severely limited. His failure to make a substitution until the 90th minute underscored the lack of depth available.
Now sitting in 15th place, Manchester United are in desperate need of a spark to salvage their season. With the FA Cup and Europa League becoming their primary focuses, much like Spurs, United’s prospects of a turnaround in both their performances and results don’t appear to be materializing anytime soon.
