Manchester United have to ignore the reaction and make a different decision after Tottenham defeat

Manchester United players arrived at Old Trafford in tribute tracksuits to George Best. Then they were at their worst.

This was United's fourth 3-0 defeat in the Premier League at Old Trafford within a year and already their second of the season. Erik ten Hag can carp on about a debatable red card for Bruno Fernandes until it stops raining in Manchester yet that cannot mask the parallels between the United of this season and last.

Ten Hag's tenuous excuses have long since expired. United were two players shy of arguably their strongest XI and one was among the substitutes. They have won three out of nine games and lost three.

With Old Trafford pockmarked by empty seats in the 84th minute, Tottenham's followers revelled in United's plight. "Can we play you every week?" they requested.

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Many United supporters sang relentlessly. The bigger picture is tens of thousands trudged down the gangway long before full-time. The final shrill was soundtracked to boos.

If Heung-min Son was fit and Harry Kane had remained a one-club man, Tottenham might have inflicted a second 6-1 on United at Old Trafford four years on. They racked up 17 attempts at goal, with ten on target. On the 23rd anniversary of United's 5-3 comeback at White Hart Lane, the only similarity was Spurs went 3-0 up.

In an effort to douse the flames, Ten Hag introduced Casemiro at the interval. He poured his own fuel onto the fire, losing the duel Tottenham countered from to finally change the scoreboard to 0-2.

A combination of Tottenham's mercifulness in front of goal and Andre Onana standing up to James Maddison and Timo Werner had kept the scoreline down until