Why Harry Maguire didn't play for Man Utd against Tottenham
By Sean Walsh
FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM - Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag did not pick club captain Harry Maguire in his starting lineup to face Tottenham on Thursday evening.
The Red Devils missed the chance to open up an eight-point cushion ahead of the chasing top-four pack by throwing away a 2-0 lead in north London and settling for a draw.
It's been a mixed last seven days for United, who were unceremoniously dumped out of the UEFA Europa League with a 3-0 loss at Sevilla last Thursday, but redeemed themselves to some extent by beating the in-form Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
With first-choice centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane injured, Ten Hag has had to rely on Maguire a fair bit more recently. He started in the Sevilla loss and was at fault for the opening goal at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
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Maguire served a domestic suspension for Sunday's FA Cup game and though he was eligible to return against Tottenham, but Ten Hag confirmed before kick-off he had picked up a 'training injury'.
The United boss instead opted to start with a back four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot. Bruno Fernandes captained the side in Maguire's absence after overcoming an ankle problem of his own to continue an incredible personal record.
Man Utd starting lineup vs Tottenham: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford