Tottenham tactic could play into Manchester United's hands

Unai Emery's irrelevant response to the first question from the pitchside reporter at Old Trafford was telling. The Aston Villa coach Emery reflected on the 39 points they had already accumulated. "Not bad," he quipped. What was bad was Villa's game management.

Emery knew Villa threw it away at United, who recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on Boxing Day. That was chiefly down to Villa's suicidal high line and the only team that has positioned their backline more recklessly is Tottenham.

There was nothing laudable or principled about Spurs inviting Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson to score a hat-trick past them in their madcap 4-1 win in November. Tottenham were down to nine men at 1-1 and emerging with a point was doable against a dysfunctional Chelsea side that almost let them off the hook.

United have similarly profligate forwards. Jackson, Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer all have more goals than Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. United's attack was sharper than usual in the second half against Villa, though. New Spurs signing Radu Drăgușin could go straight in at centre half.

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Rashford's reception

There have been groans, cheers at his removal, a smattering of boos and a standing ovation for Rashford this season - and that was before the tetchiness of the away dayers at Wigan on Monday evening.

There is undeniable friction between matchgoers and Rashford. His body language has been a recurring issue all season and he was singled out by more pundits at the start of the week as Roy Keane and Ian Wright despaired at his frivolousness on the ball.

Rashford is still bound