Former Manchester United winger Ben Thornley has conceded that beating Tottenham Hotspur next weekend has become even more important for Jose Mourinho’s men after their loss on Saturday.

Manchester United slumped to their first league defeat of the season when they lost at Huddersfield on Saturday and Jose Mourinho said after the game that his players lacked desire and passion.




Tottenham hammered Liverpool 4-1 at Wembley on Sunday and are now level on points with Manchester United, but are third by virtue of an inferior goal difference at the moment.

With just a point from their last two league games, Manchester United have allowed Tottenham to get close to their heels in the league table and Thornley admits that next weekend’s game at Old Trafford between the two has become a huge fixture.
 


He admits that Manchester United need to get a win over an in-form Tottenham side at home in order to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.  

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Thornley said on MUTV’s Matchday Review programme: “It just makes a mouthwatering game of second v third when Spurs come [to Old Trafford].

“Manchester City are aware from home and hopefully they will slip up and we’ll catch them.

“The most important thing is that we beat Spurs next week as they are hot on our heels.”

Ahead of Spurs, Manchester United will be visiting Wales to take on Swansea in an EFL Cup fourth round clash on Tuesday night.