Manchester United vs Watford LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the latest updates as the hosts look to keep up momentum in the top-four race
It may still be the case that Manchester United have only lost once since the 4-1 defeat at Vicarage Road which led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking and Ralf Rangnick’s interim appointment but draws like these are slowly eroding hopes of playing in next season’s Champions League.
Solskjaer’s conquerors Watford, under new management themselves, will celebrate this goalless draw at Old Trafford, even if the point does little to help Roy Hodgson’s side in their battle against the drop. It was yet another afternoon when United had their chances but did not take them.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s form is especially concerning. The Portuguese looked every inch the 37-year-old centre-forward that he is and may be contemplating whether he can stomach a season outside of European football’s elite competition. If he decides not, that may be the best thing for all parties concerned.
United remain fourth, two points clear of fifth-place Arsenal, but have played three games more. And worryingly, this visit of a Watford side sat second-bottom could be viewed as the last in a run of favourable fixtures dating all the way back to early December.
After next week’s derby at the Etihad, top-four rivals Tottenham pay a visit with the return leg against Atletico Madrid following three days later. Even if the subsequent trip to Anfield is postponed due to the FA Cup quarter-finals, as seems likely, Rangnick is entering a defining period. Follow reaction from Manchester United vs Watford below and coverage of Everton vs Man City:
Leeds vs Tottenham: Spurs arrive at Leeds
Tottenham have arrives at Elland Road. Kick off is just under 40 minutes away. How will this match play out?
Leeds vs Tottenham: Head-to-head
Leeds’ only win in their last eight league games against Tottenham came at home last season. Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo all scored as Leeds earned a 3-1 victory at Elland Road.
Despite a 2-1 victory in this season’s reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium Spurs won’t be overly confident going into today’s game. They have only won twice in 13 Premier League away matches at Leeds, in May 1996 and January 2004.
Robert Lewandowski and Poland refuse to play against Russia in World Cup qualifying
Robert Lewandowski has backed Poland’s refusal to play football against Russia, saying he cannot imagine playing the Russian team while the country invades Ukraine.
The head of the Polish Football Association, Cezary Kulesza, announced on Saturday that Poland did not intend to play their upcoming World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final against Russia, due to take place on 24 March, and that talks have begun with Sweden and Czech Republic, the two nations who could potentially face Russia in the final.
Robert Lewandowski and Poland refuse to play against Russia in World Cup qualifying
The Polish national team captain has said he cannot imagine playing against Russia while the country wages war in Ukraine
Leeds vs Tottenham: Poland’s Klich supports Ukraine
The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian state has had ramifications across the world. In football Manchester United have dropped their Russian sponsers and Poland have refused to play Russia in a World Cup play-off match later this year.
Leeds and Poland midfielder, Mateusz Klich, stands by his teammates in their support of Ukraine.
Leeds vs Tottenham: Team changes
Marcelo Bielsea makes two changes to the Leeds side that got battered 6-0 by Liverpool last time out. Mateusz Klich and Rodrigo both drop to the bench with Robin Koch and Diego Llorente back in the side.
Antonio Conte also makes two changes to his Tottenham team. Rodrigo Bentancur is injured and drops out of the squad with Harry Winks replacing him in midfield. Matt Doherty also comes in for Emerson Royal.
Leeds vs Tottenham: Line-ups
Leeds XI: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Firpo, Dallas, Forshaw, Koch, Raphinha, Harrison, James
Tottenham XI: Lloris, Romero, Dier, Davies, Doherty, Winks, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon, Kulusevski, Son, Kane
Leeds vs Tottenham: Bielsa confident his players can turn form around
Leeds boss, Marcelo Bielsa, is confident that his players can avoid relegation by turning around their poor form and starting win games. He says that his team’s effort can not be doubted and that they are creating possibilities to win in every game. Speaking on Friday morning Bielsa said:
These players, they’ve already demonstrated they have the level to play in the Premier League. The style, the model, it has already shown it can work in the Premier League.
“The effort and willingness of the team, it can’t be doubted because they have been the most intense team in their performance in the whole of their two years in the Premier League.
“Of course, every game that we play, I imagine that we have true possibilities of winning.”
Leeds vs Tottenham: Conte on Leeds
Tottenham boss, Antonio Conte, spoke about what he is expecting from today’s clash with Leeds and says that their poor run of form will only motivate them more to earn a positive result against Spurs today. Conte said:
It’s not easy to play against Leeds, it’s a difficult team, they are in a period that they’ve had many defeats, like us, and it’ll be for sure a tough game for both teams,
“We have to try to get the best in this game and it’s the same for them. They have a proper style of football and they have a really good coach – Marcelo Bielsa is a really top coach.
“I remember very well my first game against them (in November), we were losing 1-0 and then we were good to come back and to win the game 2-1. For sure, it will be a tough game but as you know very well, (there are) no easy games in England.”
Leeds vs Tottenham: Antonio Conte ‘totally committed to Tottenham’ despite poor run of form
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte passed a scathing judgment on his club’s recent history in the transfer market, saying they made “big mistakes” that cannot be repeated.
Spurs offloaded four high-profile players on deadline day, including their two most expensive buys and one they bought for £25million in the summer.
Club record signing Tanguy Ndombele, who cost £55million in 2019, returned to Lyon on loan while £42million signing Giovani Lo Celso headed to Villarreal for the rest of the season.
Antonio Conte ‘totally committed to Tottenham’ despite poor run of form
Spurs have lost four of their last five matches
Leeds vs Tottenham: Premier League standings
Tottenham can get their season back on track with a victory today. They are currently eighth in the table but would move above Wolves (7th) if they pick up all three points. Spurs are seven points off the top four but have two games in hand on Manchester United (4th) and are not out of the race despite a terrible run of form.
Leeds are also desperate for points. They are now only three points adrift of the drop zone and could end the day in the bottom three if they lose against Tottenham and other results go against them. The Whites have only picked up one point from the last 15 possible and have been drawn into a relegation battle due to the good form of those at the bottom.
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