Dominic Solanke headed in a stoppage-time equaliser to give ten-man Tottenham a 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Saturday evening, ending a game that had looked as though it would deepen the gloom around Old Trafford instead. It was a point that lifted Spurs off the bottom of the Premier League, and a result that sent United's own supporters home booing for the second time in a day.
A first half Spurs should have won
Roberto de Zerbi's side pressed high and moved the ball quickly from the first whistle, and United struggled to get out of their own half. Solanke, Mohammed Kudus and Conor Gallagher all had chances in the opening 45 minutes and none of them found the net. It has become a habit. For the 18th time in 2026, Tottenham went in at the break without a goal in a Premier League match.
United were lucky to be level at half-time and the home crowd said so, with boos ringing round the ground. Danny Murphy, speaking on Match of the Day, said Spurs had more energy, more quality and more urgency, and that the gap between United's midfielders and their wide players was too big. Senne Lammens kept United in it and then did so again after the restart, denying Savio at one end and getting a hand to a sliding Solanke effort at the other.
Mbeumo scores, Bentancur goes
United improved after the interval and took the lead in the 73rd minute. Bryan Mbeumo strode past Jan Paul van Hecke and angled his shot into the bottom right corner, with Matheus Cunha providing the pass. Spurs now sit as the team Mbeumo has scored the most Premier League goals against, seven in ten appearances.
Five minutes later the game turned again. Rodrigo Bentancur lunged two-footed at Luke Shaw, Shaw shoved him over, and as they got up the Uruguayan planted his head towards Shaw's face. Referee Stuart Atwell had little choice but to send him off. It was Bentancur's first league red card since May 2021, and he is the first Tottenham substitute to be dismissed in the Premier League since Lucas Moura in April 2023.
Solanke, captain for the first time, nods in at the death
With ten men and a goal behind, Spurs kept pushing. In the second minute of added time Sandro Tonali swung a cross in, Solanke got in front of Lisandro Martinez and glanced a header past Lammens. He was wearing the armband for the first time, and it was his first Premier League goal since March. He has now scored four league goals against United, his joint-most against any opponent.
"I wouldn't say it feels like a win," Solanke told the BBC. "In the first half, we played so well. Dominated the majority and should have been a couple of goals ahead." De Zerbi was happier than the scoreline might suggest. "I have seen the right spirit and character," he said, adding that he had kissed Bentancur in the dressing room.
Where it leaves both clubs
Tottenham have three points from six games and have failed to win any of their opening six league matches for only the fourth time in their history. They remain in the relegation zone, above Fulham and Coventry City, and De Zerbi has won only four of his 15 games in charge. They spent about £302m in the summer.
United have six points from six, their fewest at this stage since 1986-87, and have dropped points for the second league game running against ten men. Michael Carrick did not hide from the mood in the stadium. "It's not nice, it hurts a lot because I care about this club," he said. "But I understand the disappointment." Neither manager can claim much comfort, though Spurs at least left with the better of the evening.
Match facts: Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, Old Trafford, Saturday 10 October 2026. Goals: Bryan Mbeumo 73' (Man Utd), Dominic Solanke 90+2' (Tottenham). Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur 78' (Tottenham). Half-time: 0-0. Attendance: 74,129. Referee: Stuart Atwell.
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