Spurs held by ten-man United as De Zerbi's winless start deepens

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on 10 October 2026, a result that leaves both clubs in the lower half of the Premier League table and both managers facing questions about their starts to the season. Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead in the 73rd minute. Rodrigo Bentancur was shown a straight red card in the 78th minute for violent conduct after head-to-head contact with Luke Shaw. Dominic Solanke equalised for ten-man Spurs in the 90th+2nd minute.

Michael Carrick's United are on 6 points from 6 games (1-3-2). Roberto De Zerbi's Spurs are on 3 points from 6 games (0-3-3), still without a win in the league this season. Football365 reported that Carrick was under scrutiny prior to the international break, with United languishing in 12th place after winning only one of what was considered a serene set of opening fixtures.

The match itself was even on the surface. Possession was split 50-50. Both sides had 12 shots. United had 4 on target to Spurs' 3, and corners were level at 4-4. But the expected goals tell a different story: United 0.77, Spurs 1.56. Big chances were 4-1 in Spurs' favour. The reports describe United failing to see out the result despite taking the lead with a quarter-hour left, and ten-man Spurs finding a late lifeline. The raw numbers suggest Spurs carried the greater threat for much of the match, even if the scoreline and shot count look balanced.

Spurs' xG from open play in this match was 1.5, against an average of 0.73 across their earlier 2026/2027 matches in all competitions. Their xG from set plays was 0.06, against an average of 0.61. Their corners here were 4.0, against an average of 8.8 across those earlier matches. Their goals scored minus expected goals in this match was -0.56, against an average of 0.0 across the earlier matches. That is one match, not a trend, but it sits alongside a winless league start.

The contrast with Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham is stark in the record books. Pochettino's 2016/2017 side finished runners-up with 26 wins, 8 draws and 4 losses, 2.26 points per game over 38 games. De Zerbi's Spurs have 0 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses, 0.5 points per game over 6 games. That is a rhetorical statement, not a confirmed Premier League decision, but it keeps the comparison in view.

Spurs' summer signings included Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Tosin Adarabioyo, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Omar Marmoush. Significant departures included Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, Alfie Devine, Kevin Danso, Ashley Phillips and Cristian Romero. Whether that turnover explains the gap between the Pochettino era and now is a question the coming matches will answer. Six league games is a small sample.

For United, the failure to close out a home match against ten men raises further questions about Carrick's position, though sources describe scrutiny and pressure rather than any confirmed change. For Spurs, the late equaliser masks a deeper issue: a side that created the better chances at Old Trafford but still could not win. Bentancur's red card, after Luke Shaw shoved him and he made forehead-to-forehead contact in retaliation, left his team a man down. Solanke's late goal rescued a point. Whether that point is a platform or a reprieve is something the next fixtures will settle.