Manchester United respond to Var controversy to dominate Tottenham in second half turnaround

• Man Utd furious as Cavani has goal ruled out for foul on Son

• Son scores late in first half to give Spurs the lead

• United start second half brightly and Fred scores equaliser

• Cavani gives United the lead with well worked goal before Greenwood scores in injury time

Maybe being controversially denied the opening goal was the slap in the face Manchester United needed.

Whether there was enough contact - or deliberate contact - on Son Heung-min to rule out Edinson Cavani’s strike provoked heated and – post-match - quite bizarre arguments especially given the Tottenham player’s theatrical reaction. But it also stirred United who fell behind before deservedly claiming victory through three second-half goals.

Son also scored but Spurs showed little ambition at times – and especially after going in front - in another damning indictment of Jose Mourinho’s conservative, aged tactics even if he predictably saw it differently. Nevertheless they have lost 18 points from winning positions this season while United have won 28 points after falling behind.

Mourinho also made unwanted history. This was the first time he had lost a home league match to United in his career and the first time he has lost 10 league games in any one campaign. More importantly Spurs are now six points outside the top four and the Champions League places. If this was an opportunity they were not bold enough; they were simply not good enough to take it.

Spurs had a week to prepare for this fixture; United had not returned from their Europa League quarter-final in Spain until Friday. But it was the visitors who looked fresher and sharper. It is also now an incredible 23 Premier League away games without defeat for United who closed the gap at the top to Manchester City to 11 points with a game in hand. They will have Champions League football next season. It is unlikely Spurs will.

The result and performance understandably delighted United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani outstanding and a thrilling cameo from Mason Greenwood. For once they did not have to rely on Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford while there was a delicious revenge from the 6-1 loss earlier this campaign.

“We owed Tottenham a proper game - we had that in our minds - and today was much better than last time,” midfielder Scott McTominay later said and that motivation was amplified by the opening 45 minutes. Firstly referee Chris Kavanagh waved play on when Giovani Lo Celso caught Rashford in the face on the edge of the penalty area, much to the forward’s fury, and then a strike by Cavani was ruled out after a Var check.

The Uruguayan swept the ball home, after smart play by Pogba, but McTominay had inadvertently caught Son in the face earlier in the move. Referee Chris Kavanagh was told to check the screen by the Var Craig Pawson and ruled it out even though the contact was minimal and, more crucially, Son had clearly initially attempted to pull McTominay back. The referees’ body, the PGMOL, said McTominay’s action was not “part of his natural running movement” but he had been impeded.

Son’s reaction, also, was dramatic and he then added to that sense of drama by putting Spurs in front in a move that owed everything to a superb cushioned pass by Harry Kane which took down Tanguy Ndombele’s ball into him, took out Victor Lindelof and allowed Lucas Moura to unselfishly square for Son to side-foot past goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

United’s fierce sense of injustice grew. Solskjaer had words with Mourinho on the touchline and they continued afterwards and Cavani angrily tangled with Joe Rodon and was cautioned – one of five United player yellow-carded – before they dominated the second-half. United drew level when they worked the ball through the centre of the Spurs defence with Fred slipping a pass to Cavani. His shot was parried by Hugo Lloris but Fred sent the rebound high into the net for his first goal in almost three years.

It opened up and, twice, Dean Henderson showed his worth with quick feet. When Serge Aurier’s shot was deflected to Son, who drove the ball through Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s legs, the goalkeeper diverted it away with his right foot and then he did so again as Kane cut inside and tested him at his near post.

But it was United pressing and showing intent with Lloris diving low to his left to turn away Fernandes’ dipping shot before Pogba attempted to back-heel the ball home only for it to strike Dier.

Finally the breakthrough came and it was United who claimed it with Fernandes poking the ball to Greenwood who delivered a first-time inswinging cross that was met by Cavani with a typical, trademark diving header to beat Lloris. It was clear how much it meant to the 34-year-old who Solskjaer said he is attempting to persuade to stay. “He’s contemplating and thinking hard and long as to what he wants to do,” he said. “I want him to play in front of a full Old Trafford scoring a diving header like that.”

Spurs attempted to hit back and went close when Cavani tried to clear, under pressure, only for his header to strike his own post. In fairness substitute Moussa Sissoko would have had an easy header to equalise if he had not done so. Cavani had made an decisive contribution at both ends and there was another when. deep into injury time, he found Pogba who turned the ball across the area to Greenwood. The striker can finish and his right-foot drive was simply too powerful for Lloris, beating him at his near post. What a response from United. This time it truly was a knock-out blow rather than a glance.

05:27 PM

FULL TIME

An excellent second half from United which Spurs seemed to let happen to them. That Var controversy will disappear thanks to the efforts of the players and whatever OGS did to make them turn up at half time. Really impressive by United.

05:26 PM

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!

GREENWOOD WRAPS IT UP!!!

Spurs 1 Man Utd 3

Pogba is amazing. He beats two players easily with skill, balance, and strength, then sprays the ball out to Greenwood, who absolutely drills a shot into the near post.

05:24 PM

90 mins+5 - Spurs 1 Man Utd 2

Shaw takes a late foul from Aurier, who is just frustrated. It's clumsy and that should give United time to run down the clock.

05:22 PM

90 mins+3 - Spurs 1 Man Utd 2

Cavani wins man of the match but I'd give it to Shaw, Wan-Bissaka or Pogba personally. Fred has been decent too actually and he's just drawn a foul in Spurs' half which will allow United to waste a heap of time. Spurs have offered nothing in this second half.

05:20 PM

90 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 2

United playing some excellent one touch passes as they move up the pitch, slowing the game down and keeping Spurs chasing.

Fernandes is subbed for Matic for the final minutes of injury time.

05:18 PM

88 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 2

Spurs pushing for the equaliser now but United look to be in control.

05:15 PM

85 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 2

OFF THE BAR! SPURS HIT THE BAR! Lindelof clears instead of leaving the ball for the goalie and the corner that comes from it is almost turned into the net over Henderson. I think Cavani may have headed that last to stop it going in.

05:12 PM

82 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 2

Aurier tries to retaliate straight away with a low, bending shot towards the far post but drags it wide. AND HERE COMES GARETH BALE.

[Welsh dragon sirens sound over North London]

05:09 PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!

CAVANI!!!!!

Spurs 1 Man Utd 2

What a goal this is. Lindelof to Wan-Bissaka to Fernandes, who beats a man with a cheeky nutmeg, Greenwood hits a cross to the back post and Cavani jumps across the ball to head it into the opposite post. Brilliant play.

05:08 PM

78 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 1

Fernandes has hurt himself, rolling his own ankle... wait a minute. No he hasn't. He's at it. Having lost the ball he decides to go down and claim a foul from a tiny kick on his ankle. Booooo. All these players have been at it today.

05:05 PM

75 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 1

The corner is curled in, headed out, Sissoko boots back in, Aurier misses with a bicycle kick from six yards. He was offside anyway.

United move forward, Greenwood attacks off the right wing, onto his left foot and HOLY HELL THAT'S CLOSE. A shot blasted at the near post hits the side netting.

05:03 PM

73 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 1

Rashford is subbed for Greenwood, who comes on with some instructions for Fernandes. Another quick United move sets up another shot for... Fred. He hits a defender and Spurs break.

Kane is played in on the left, fakes to cross, sets up teh shot and then drills it to the near post. Henderson reads it and blocks with his feet on the line. Great goalkeeping.

05:01 PM

70 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 1

Fernandes starting to get more involved in this half. United had one shot on goal in the first half and have had seven so far in this. It's a completely different performance, with more energy, desire, fluidity, movement. Should have started like this. Spurs have barely been in the second half.

04:57 PM

67 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 1

Great ball by Pogba. His weight of pass, dribbling, movement, everything has been so good today. Fernandes comes across to take the corner, United players want a penalty they aren't getting. Shaw keeps the move going, the ball is chipped into the area, Pogba can score here! What a waste! He's gone for a silky back heel when really he ought to have finished simply with a side foot.

04:54 PM

64 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 1

Rashford spots space in behind the defence, makes the sprint and then pulls up a little. He seems to be OK. Wan-Bissaka steps in to win the ball at half way, plays it to Fernandes and he manages to work space for a shot on the left foot which Lloris turns behind.

04:52 PM

62 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 1

Lo Celso is replaced by Moussa Sissoko, which will put Ndombele higher up the pitch. Sissoko goes into The Engine Room, which is Football Men language for 'the double pivot'.

04:51 PM

60 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 1

Pogba has been brilliant so far. United passing at a higher tempo, attacking with intent and speed, showing far better movement up front.

Spurs win the ball back and counter, have men over, Aurier makes a nice run into the box, the ball bounces to Son, he takes a shot low at goal and Henderson saves superbly with his feet - just like De Gea - at the near post.

04:47 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL

UNITED EQUALISE! And it's... Fred?!

Spurs 1 Man Utd 1

United have been excellent in this half to sar. Fernandes, Fred, Rashford all link on the edge of the box with one touch passing, Cavani makes the run behind, shoots low to draw the foul and Fred smashes in from three yards. Var says onside.

04:44 PM

55 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 0

Moura takes a great first touch to drive through the middle and I think ordinarily McTominay would have flown into a tackle to take him out but instead lets him run to avoid a second booking. Moura messes up the pass anyway so it's a good decision.

United attack now with Pogba and Wan-Bissaka. Pogba plays an early cross around the near post for Cavani but he can't finish.

04:41 PM

52 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 0

Hojbjerg goes down after playing a pass and may have jarred something in his knee or ankle doing it. He goes down and kicks the ground in pain but is soon back up and running. To be fair, I think you could drive a car onto the pitch and run him over and he'd try to play on.

04:40 PM

50 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 0

Shaw takes a magic first touch to control a high pass sent his way on the left but has to go backwards after making it. He then sends one of the best passes I think I've ever seen a left-back play - honestly - to put Pogba in behind at the back post. He volleys at the goalkeeper from a tight angle but it's saved.

04:38 PM

48 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 0

In case you thought the players might come out calmer for the second half, Ndombele is fouled after about three seconds of the restart.

Kane tries to Cantona-chip Henderson but is nowhere close to pulling it off.

04:35 PM

KICK OFF 2

We're back!

04:28 PM

PGMOL statement on why the goal was disallowed

"It wasn't part of McTominay's natural running movement and was careless."

04:27 PM

Micah Richards

"It's an absolutely ridiculous decision. It's spoiling football. That's never a foul."

04:26 PM

Roy Keane

"If that's a foul it's time to go home".

04:26 PM

Mourinho's player instructions

You'll presumably have seen that Amazon documentary where Mourinho tells the dressing room they need to be "a bunch of c***s" - Son's play acting from the hand off is a direct example. If he hadn't gone down then the goal would have stood. Aaaaaand if he'd just stayed on his feet and got involved defensively, he might have been able to stop it in another way.

04:23 PM

Reaction to the Var call

Well that’s disappointing to say the least. Any person who’s played football, at any level, knows that’s never a foul. Embarrassing decision. Brilliant by Pogba and Cavani! #TOTMUN

— Stephanie Roche (@StephanieRoche9) April 11, 2021

No pen for Newcastle at Burnley yet a FK for that!!!! 💩 https://t.co/CQMiw7524S

— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) April 11, 2021

That felt like a VAR cop out. Should've been a goal or a second yellow, easy decision is to go down the middle

— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) April 11, 2021

My tv is moments away from being on the patio in 100 pieces #var 🤯

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 11, 2021

Cavani must be delighted to have that killer run ruined by McTominay's slap on Son. And it did look a deliberate smack in the face.

— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) April 11, 2021

04:20 PM

HALF TIME

Controversial scenes again! A fairly even match so far. United are furious their goal hasn't been allowed.

04:18 PM

45 mins+2 - Spurs 1 Man Utd 0

Players claiming for every single tiny possibility of a foul now. United pushing for an equaliser.

04:16 PM

45 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 0

Pogba does magical things sometimes. He's just held off three players and gone past them all with two touches of the ball, keeping United's attack moving forward. Rashford is starting to get wound up by Son's dramatics as he falls to the floor under minimal contact protecting the ball for a goal kick.

04:14 PM

43 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 0

Gary Neville on Solskjaer:

"He looks furious. I played with him for eight years and I saw that look once."

04:13 PM

42 mins - Spurs 1 Man Utd 0

Rodon goes down howling as Cavani tries to get across him to reach a cross at the near post. Cavani's not happy with it and Rodon reacts angrily. Dier comes across act as body guard.

Cavani is booked.

04:11 PM

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!

SON SCORES!

Spurs 1 Man Utd 0

There's your narrative! This goal is all about Kane's touch. Lindelof misses a fairly easy touch but that might just be the spin on the ball. Moura is played in, decides to square it rather than shoot one v one and Son slots low into the other side of the goal.

04:10 PM

39 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Spurs manage to keep hold of the ball for a bit as Solskjaer complains to the referee about that decision. Kane tries to make something happen in the box but his low cross finds nobody ready to add a finishing touch.

04:08 PM

Var check

The referee is going across to have a look at this one. McTominay is on a yellow card already as well. Big decision coming up...

NO GOAL! That's crazy. Maybe it's fair actually. I don't know. If that's a foul then Lo Celso's elbow on Rashford is a penalty.

04:05 PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!

CAVANI SCORES!

Spurs 0 Man Utd 1

Out of almost nothing, Pogba manages to engineer space to thread a pass into Cavani's well timed run, and he finishes superbly through Lloris' legs. However, Var are checking this. McTominay accidentally caught Son in the face in the build up, and he's still rolling around the floor as though it's a bad one. It isn't. But if that is a foul, then the goal won't stand.

04:04 PM

33 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

More of the same from United. They're not offering enough in the final third and Spurs aren't struggling to deal with them as they come forward. Rashford gets an elbow in the mouth from Lo Celso - accidentally - and play stops. He wants a free-kick he isn't getting.

04:01 PM

30 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Gary Neville's pointed out the lack of movement in the final third for United. There are too few forward options, players stood still, nobody breaking into space and it's too easy for Spurs to block. Everything having to go sideways or backwards. Cavani keeps dropping deep rather than staying up top and letting the other forwards run into the space that creates.

03:59 PM

28 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Cavani's not quite metaphorically on the ball here. Every pass is going backwards and when United's game is reliant on quick vertical counter-attacks that's not great, he looks like he needs to play a few games in a row to get sharp.

03:56 PM

25 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

United aren't clicking in the final third yet. Too many moves breaking down early, players not looking quite sure of where their teammates will be.

03:54 PM

23 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Tottenham enjoying quite a bit of attacking possession at the moment but not really creating any chances. United don't mind that as it allows them to counter quickly.

03:51 PM

20 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

There's a foul at the corner, Spurs try to break quickly, and McTominay takes zero prisoners in his slide tackle on Ndombele, wiping him out and drawing a pained yelp as he does so. Yellow card. Told you he was fired up.

03:48 PM

17 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Good move by United. A long ball over the top from Fernande, Pogba runs in behind, wins the header, Cavani takes a brilliant touch to set up Rashford but he takes an extra touch and gives Dier the chance to slide in and block. Corner.

03:47 PM

15 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Feels a bit like both teams are still figuring each other out. It's a bit stop start, lots of energy, both teams look hyper organised.

United stroking the ball about now.

03:44 PM

12 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Ndombele is such a player. He does so many tiny little things with his body and takes these quick touches that make opponents stand an extra yard off him because it's so unpredictable.

03:40 PM

9 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Pogba catches Aurier in the jaw by accident and play stops for a minute while he recovers. There was no intent to hurt him so nothing comes of it.

03:37 PM

6 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Reguilon goes on a run up the left wing, gets a little knock off balance and then falls to ground a few steps later. He thinks he should have a free-kick but doesn't get it... and United try to move up the pitch. Both sides using a high press.

03:34 PM

3 mins - Spurs 0 Man Utd 0

Fast start from both teams! Spurs put a great move together to find Moura in a bit of space on the right but Shaw recovers quickly and gets a block in. Maguire might have hurt himself completely missing a tackle during that... but Son shoots wide as a corner comes out to the edge of the box.

03:32 PM

KICK OFF

United get the game started.

03:28 PM

Here come the players

McTominay looks fired up and ready to go. He's been absolutely brilliant this season, could even be their player of the year (if it weren't for Bruno Fernandes, obviously).

03:23 PM

Roy Keane going hard on Aurier and Dier

Dier described as not good enough at centre-back and Aurier labelled a "car crash". God I love Roy Keane.

03:19 PM

Jose Mourinho pre-match

I don't look to other results because I cannot control them. It's about us. I know the guys tonight are going to give everything they have.

When I lost badly I never have that feeling of revenge, it's it happened once, it won't happen twice. The reality of difference between the two teams is not five goals. There is no point in looking back to that match.

03:12 PM

Pogba on the left

I quite like this new use of Pogba as an inside left. Shaw always overlaps to join in attacks anyway so it gives Pogba a bit of room to move inside the pitch and pull strings from advanced central areas. Needs to track his runners today though to avoid Shaw being left two v one against Aurier and Lo Celso.

03:10 PM

OGS pre-match interview

Is Henderson your first choice?

"Dean's had good momentum, played really well, we carried on with him today. De Gea played Thursday night and travelled, Dean had more of a rest."

Will you take motivation from last game vs Spurs?

"We have to use it as learning. If you give Tottenham the spaces and the game they want they're a very very very good team. We just have to correct the mistakes we made and focus on today."

02:48 PM

Joe Rodon not sure aliens exist

During a Q&A session last week Bale revealed he believed aliens existed, while Rodon is “on the fence”. “You don’t know what’s out there. Nobody does. I’m on both sides,” he said.

02:47 PM

A meta take on today's result

Opinions will be formed depending on what happens in this game and those will turn into headlines and articles written on websites like this one by writers like myself and the two who authored this one:

• Defeat for either Manchester United or Tottenham will spark inevitable crisis narrative

No matter what happens, I'm not going to suddenly think Solskjaer is rubbish or that Mourinho has lost it. OR WILL I?

02:33 PM

Starting lineups

Here are the teams for this afternoon/evening's game. I think 4:30pm might count as evening.

Alderweireld on the bench for Spurs... that's quite a big decision. Rodon and Dier are the centre-back partnership and I might be proven wrong but Cavani will be delighted to see that.

01:54 PM

Tottenham vs Man Utd

Hello there! Welcome to our liveblog for Spurs vs Man Utd, Mourinho vs Solskjaer, Sunday's big game. As much as I'm sure we'd all love this to be an end-to-end attacking battle, I have a feeling Mourinho may squeeze the absolute life out of it purely because of how important this match is. Spurs cannot afford to lose if they want Champions League football, which is about the only way they can possibly keep Harry Kane happy now that there are loud noises bouncing off the walls that he wants to bail if they finish lower than fourth.

The other important factor is the humiliation Mourinho would feel losing against his old club and the increasing narrative that he's midway through the disaster point of his usual three year tenure. The Special One has already started calling out players for not being good enough, rightly pointing out that he has won everything and they have won nothing. Perhaps he's the one who knows what he's talking about.

Something he doesn't seem to know is what his best XI is. No matter who gets typed into the team sheet, the performance is entirely unpredictable from all but Kane. If Mourinho is to stay you'd really think Spurs have to do a lot of work in the transfer market to match what he wants. A recent change to a 4-4-2 seemed like more of a statement from Mourinho about leaving players out than any desire to make a tactical change so I'll be interested to see what system he uses today.

Solskjaer finally seems to be getting a bit of respect for the work he's done at United. Players are improved, the team is much better than it was, the football is half decent... he's done what a manager is supposed to without upsetting anyone along the way, even when let down by individuals.

So with all this drama behind the scenes, all the excitement in the build-up and the consequences of Spurs losing, it should be entertaining. Should. Please be entertaining.

Kick off is 4:30pm.