Manchester United vs Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick

Follow live coverage as Antonio Conte’s Spurs travel to Old Trafford in a pivotal match in the race to finish in the top four of the Premier League

(REUTERS)

Tottenham travel to Manchester United in the evening kick-off in the Premier League with the outcome likely to be pivotal in the race for a top four finish.

Spurs went down 3-0 at home to the Red Devils last October with both sides under different managers. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nuno Espirito Santo have since been replaced by Ralf Rangnick and Antonio Conte, while Arsenal are the pace-setters in fourth after an impressive run of form from Mikel Arteta’s side, most recently in their slick attacking display at Watford.

Discussion has centred around Conte’s future, which will be decided at the end of the season as the Italian has demaned the club match his ambition with facts and not words: “For sure at the moment there is only one truth - I am committed to this club for another year. For sure it is true that I would like this - to fight for the future, to fight to be competitive, to fight to win and not only to finish fourth in the league, because I repeat, that is not my ambition.

“My ambition is to be competitive and to fight to win. I want this and I know my heart, my soul, my mind wants these things. I hope myself and the club match each other in this situation. For sure, you need in the future to have other important steps and to have ambition. And it needs to be ambition with facts, not only with words.” Follow live goal and score updates, build-up, analysis, reaction and more from Old Trafford below:

Manchester United vs Tottenham Premier League updates

• Bruno Fernandes misses out for United with illness
• Sergio Region replaces Ryan Sessegnon for Spurs
• GOAL! 12’ - Cristiano Ronaldo smashes home opener from range, 1-0
• GOAL! 35’ - Harry Kane penalty brings Spurs level, 1-1
• GOAL! 38’ - Ronaldo has a double, converting Jadon Sancho’s sublime square ball, 2-1
• GOAL! 72’ - Harry Maguire deflects into his own net, 2-2
• GOAL! 81’ - Ronaldo grabs hat-trick with powerful header at corner, 3-2

[12 March 2022 19:12 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 3 - 2 Tottenham

84 mins: That goal was Ronaldo’s last action in the game. Victor Lindelof has been brought on to close out the match for the home side. Lindelof joins Maguire and Varane in a back three with Telles and Dalot on the wings to complete the five when Tottenham have the ball.

[12 March 2022 19:10 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man Utd 3 - 2 Tottenham (Ronaldo, 81’)⚽️

81 mins: It’s not the 90th minute but Cristiano Ronaldo scores again for Man Utd! The home side win a corner that Alex Telles swings into the box. He gets up early above Matt Doherty, meets the ball with a powerful header and fires it into the top corner!

Will that be the winning goal?

[12 March 2022 19:08 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 2 Tottenham

80 mins: Lucas Moura replaces Dejan Kulusevski for Tottenham. Nemanja Matic is hooked for Edinson Cavani in Man Utd’s change. Both managers seem to be going for the win.

10 minutes to play.

[12 March 2022 19:05 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 2 Tottenham

77 mins: Chance! Cristiano Ronaldo is not done yet. He gives the ball to Sancho on the right wing and drives into the box. Sancho slots the ball back to him and Ronaldo pokes one at goal only for Lloris to palm it wide of the near post.

This game does have the feel of a 90th minute Ronaldo winner.

[12 March 2022 19:03 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 2 Tottenham

75 mins: The game is there for the taking now. Manchester United have allowed pressure to build on them, defending deeper and deeper as this went on. Now they have to take control of the ball again if they want to win.

Victor Lindelof was about to come on for United but he’s been told to sit back down. Is Ralf Rangnick preparing a more attacking change, Edinson Cavani perhaps?

[12 March 2022 19:01 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man Utd 2 - 2 Tottenham (Maguire OG, 72’)⚽️

72 mins: Romero chips the ball up to Kane who holds it up brilliantly and gives it back to the defender. Romero squares it to Son who slides the ball into the box for Reguilon. He knocks the ball into the six-yard area and Harry Maguire has to deal with it. He’s running back towards goal and sticks out a leg to intercept but only manages to deflect the pass into his own net!

[12 March 2022 18:57 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

69 mins: Anthony Elanga is brought on for the last 20 minutes or so to give United some fresh legs and a bit more pace in the counter-attack. Marcus Rashford is the man replaced.

[12 March 2022 18:55 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

66 mins: Chance! Manchester United are sat back now and utilising the counter-attack as their main threat on goal. Sancho sends the ball down the right side of the pitch and Ronaldo chases it down. He brings the ball under control, drifts into the box and shoots from a tight angle but forces Hugo Lloris into a decent save low to his right.

[12 March 2022 18:51 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

63 mins: Sancho gets caught on the ball again but is fouled by Romero. United win a free kick on the inside left and Alex Telles swings it into the box towards Ronaldo. He gets a glancing head to the ball but can’t find the target and Tottenham hoof it clear.

[12 March 2022 18:50 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

60 mins: Chance! Lovely work from Tottenham who come alive to nick the ball off Sancho in the middle of the pitch. The ball comes up to Kane who threads it into the right side of the box where Kulusevski picks it up and cuts a pass back to Son. Son shoots first time but curls his effort just wide of the right hand post.