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 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nuno Espirito Santo have since been replaced by Ralf Rangnick and Antonio Conte, while Arsenal are the pace-setters in fourth after an impressive run of form from Mikel Arteta’s side, most recently in their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 18:46 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

57 mins: Son delivers a free kick into the Man Utd box but Maguire beats Romero in the air and heads the ball out to the far side of the area. It rolls out for a Tottenham throw in which is launched backwards by Sergio Reguilon.

[12 March 2022 18:44 · Jack Rathborn]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

(PA)

(Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I)

(REUTERS)

[12 March 2022 18:44 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

54 mins: Another quick break from Man Utd sees Pogba find Ronaldo in the middle of the pitch and the forward lays the ball over to Sancho who carries it into the left side of the box. Sancho lifts a cross to the far side of the box where Rashford waits for it to drop. Reguilon back-tracks for Spurs and beats Rashford to the ball, heading it behind for a corner.

[12 March 2022 18:41 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

51 mins: Rashford goes down off the ball and hobbles around for a bit to shake off the knock. He’s fine to continue for now. Ben Davies sends a long ball forward and wins a corner for Tottenham.

They play is short to Reguilon who gives the ball back to Son Heung-min. Son sends it into the box but the ball goes behind for a goal kick.

[12 March 2022 18:39 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

48 mins: Tottenham push up the pitch looking for another equaliser but lose the ball and United look set to break away. Marcus Rashford wins it on the right side and flicks the ball over to Paul Pogba. Jadon Sancho goes flying down the left and as Pogba is about to send it over to him he’s tackled from behind by a sliding Cristian Romero who wins the ball, takes out the man and claims possession for Spurs.

[12 March 2022 18:34 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

Kick off: Cristiano Ronaldo gets the second half underway for Man Utd. The ball is knocked back to the defence and then worked over to the left wing. It’s played up towards Ronaldo but Cristian Romero gets there ahead of him and wins possession for Spurs.

[12 March 2022 18:31 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

Cristiano Ronaldo has become just the third player aged 37 and over to score more than once in a Premier League game after Teddy Sheringham (once) and Graham Alexander (twice).

[12 March 2022 18:26 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

Two goals already for Cristiano Ronaldo. I wouldn’t put it past him getting a hat-trick today.

(AFP via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

[12 March 2022 18:21 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

Harry Kane equalled Wayne Rooney’s record of 94 Premier League goals away from home with his penalty.

(AFP via Getty Images)

(Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I)

[12 March 2022 18:17 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Man Utd 2 - 1 Tottenham

45+2 mins: Save! Jadon Sancho darts inside the box from the left side and has a go at goal but can’t beat Hugo Lloris who dives low to his left and keeps it out.

The whistle goes and Manchester United head into half-time with a slender lead thanks to a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.