Manchester United 2, Tottenham 1

Marcus Rashford scored twice as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United spoiled the return of former Reds boss Jose Mourinho with Spurs.

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Rashford scored either side of a brilliant goal by rejuvenated Dele Alli equaliser at the end of a Reds dominated first half to push United up to 6th place in the Premier League.

Rashford opened the scoring after just 6 minutes with an early driven finish that took Paulo Gazzaniga by surprise and went in off his near post after taking a bounce.

Rashford could have doubled that lead after 18 minutes with a free kick that went wide of the same post after Fred was fouled by Moussa Sissoko.

Mason Greenwood tested Gazzaniga 4 minutes later while Rashford’s shot was tipped onto the crossbar from 27 yards out and the England man also forced a flying save out of Gazzaniga as Spurs reeled with Lingard finding his forwards with ease against a disorganised Spurs.

Lingard himself drove one wide after 27 minutes but United were hit by a piece of Dele Alli magic when the England midfielder captured the looping ball as it came off David De Gea who had saved Serge Aurier’s shot.

The ball looped up forwards and Alli belted it on the half volley past De Gea to level the scores.

Sissoko trod on Rashford in the penalty area a minute after the restart after the United striker had outpaced Aurier. He stepped up and put the penalty away, wrongfooting Gazzaniga.

It was the 12th goal of the season for the in-form forward who has now scored 12 times and assisted twice for club and country in his last 13 games.

Aurier’s cross to Son saw the Korean’s shot blocked by Fred as Spurs chased a second equaliser while Daniel James twice forced Gazzaniga into a save.

United appeared to have burnt themselves out in the second half. Their best attack of note was a break with Fred feeding Luke Shaw whose cross for Rashford was cut out as the striker waited for a tap-in.

Aurier, Tanguy Ndombele, and Alli worked De Gea but the Reds held firm for a well earned win and also inflicting a first defeat on Mourinho as Spurs’ new manager.

PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 2, Tottenham 1

David De Gea: 6. Saved from Serge Aurier but was undone by a bit of Dele Alli briiliance.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6. Rationed his forward runs while up against Son Heung-min.

Victor Lindelof: 6. Some hairy moments against Dele Alli.

Harry Maguire: 6. Had a battle with Harry Kane who dropped off deep looking for the ball after being starved of service.

Ashley Young: 6. Not troubled by Lucas Moura.

Scott McTominay: 7. Solid return from injury. Attempted some direct passes into Spurs territory coupled with the occasional foray – assured.

Fred: 7. Extra bite and energy in midfield, some good passing, shot cleared off the line from Son Heung-min, but was taken out of the loop by Dele Alli’s equaliser.

Daniel James: 6. Taken out by Harry Winks and collided with Jose Mourinho as both players slid off the pitch, tested Gazzaniga in the second half as the game opened up.

Jesse Lingard: 7. Forced Serge Aurier off the ball for Rashford’s early goal. Set up several credible goal chances fo the Reds.

Marcus Rashford: 8. Early powerful strike beat Paulo Gazzaniga at his near post after Fred and Lingard combined down the left. Drove a free kick wide, had shots saved and tipped against the crossbar as Spurs couldn’t handle him down United’s left flank. Sent Gazzaniga the wrong way from the penalty spot being being brought down by Moussa Sissoko.

Mason Greenwood: 6. Got little change out of the Spurs central defenders.

Andreas Pereira (on for Greenwood, 80): No time to mark.

Luke Shaw (on for Jesse Lingard, 87): No time to mark.

GOALS – Manchester United 2, Tottenham 1

Man Utd 1, Tottenham 0: 6. Marcus Rashford’s low rasper from the edge of the area took a bounce and went in off the near post after Fred and Jesse Lingard combined to put the United forward through on the left

Man Utd 1, Tottenham 1: 39. Dele Alli reacted first after David De Gea saved Serge Aurier’s shot. He chipped the loose ball over his head and belted it past the Spaniard on the half volley fro close range after foxing Fred.

Man Utd 2, Tottenham 1: 49. Moussa Sissoko trod on Marcus Rashford’s foot in the penalty area a minute after the restart after the United striker had outpaced Aurier. Rashford stepped up and put the penalty away to the right, sending Gazzaniga the wrong way.

MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, Tottenham 1

Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young, McTominay, Fred, James, Lingard (Shaw 87), Rashford, Greenwood (Pereira 80)

Man Utd Subs not used: Romero, Mata, Garner, Tuanzebe, Williams

Goals: Rashford 6; 49 pen

Tottenham: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sissoko (Lo Celso 85), Winks (Ndombele 70), Moura (Eriksen 64), Alli, Son, Kane

Tottenham Subs not used: Austin, Rose, Dier, Foyth

Booked: Winks 13 (sliding foul on Daniel James)

Goal: Alli 39

Referee: Paul Tierney

Attendance: 73,252