Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United: Carabao Cup quarter-final – live | Carabao Cup

Oliver Dungey gets in touch: “When Luke Shaw plays 30+ games in a season, Rashford creates a goal every game and a half; when Shaw spends most of the season on the physio’s table, Rashford’s goal contribution drops to one every 3 or 4 games (or worse…). Sacking 250 employees, hiking the cost of tickets, fixating on the players’ table manners and dress sense is all well and good (if you’re into that sort of thing, which I’m not) but I wonder if they might concentrate a bit more on which players play well together on the pitch?”

Tom: “Organising the Christmas nativity proved impossible this year with 19 donkeys and no wise men.”

Open festive season on Big Sir Jim’s merry men.

United made five changes from the side which beat Man City . Mason Mount replaced by Christian Eriksen. Altay Bayindir plays in place of Andre Onana, Victor Lindelof and Leny Yoro come into central defence. Antony replaces derby hero Amad Diallo.

Tottenham, just two changes from St Mary’s. Pedro Porro back on the right with Djed Spence left, after being so good against Southampton. Yves Bissouma replaces Lucas Bergvall after completing a suspension.

Ruben Amorim spoke to Sky on omitting Rashford and putting Garnacho on the bench: “It’s selection. The players I feel are ready to cope with the demands of playing a strong game. I try to visualise that all week and then make my selection.

“It’s always the same, with every player – not just Marcus. In the end, I have to make a selection and I did that.”

On Garnacho: “He’s been good, like the others. He’s prepared to play the game, I really liked the way he trained. It’s one more option in attack. He’s really fast and good in one-v-ones. We need this kind of ability, and he’s ready to help us.”

Justin Kavanagh is in: “In the week before Christmas, United play a team with a Portuguese ham, Fernandes, and a Turkey goalkeeper, Bayindir. Meanwhile, the supposed wise men have knocked the stuffing out of the club by sacking about 250 employees. “He’s behind you!” And he’s carrying your P45. Season’s greetings from Manchester, one and all.”

Wrote this piece a year ago, hmm.

Being United manager surely more difficult than Spurs, right? No Rashford tonight.

Rick Harris weighs in: “What is being lost sight of in the case of Marcus Rashford is that his numbers are actually pretty good for a winger. Not as good as Mo Salah obviously, but streets ahead of Jack Grealish, Anthony Gordon, and better than Bukayo Saka.”

Even Keir Starmer’s bagman has weighed in: “It’s always difficult for Spurs, isn’t it? I think the Prime Minister’s focus every day is on getting up, delivering the plan for change, delivering on the priorities of the British people, and delivering on the mandate that he was elected to deliver.”

Some quotes via the BBC, that show a backlash to Ange’s comments on his job being harder than anyone’s.

Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary, said: “When we have members working 12-hour shifts of back-breaking labour who struggle to put food on the table, the idea that managing a football team for millions a year is somehow more difficult just underlines how out of touch these people are. They need to understand the world in which their fans who pay their wages actually live in.”

Unison head of social care Gavin Edwards: “Managing a Premier League team is an exceptionally stressful job. But the salary is massive and managers know what they’re letting themselves in for. Health workers and care staff do equally stressful work, but without the huge wages, bonuses or pay-offs associated with Premier League football. That’s why both sectors are struggling to keep hold of their staff and vacancy rates remain stubbornly high, to the detriment of us all and the wider economy.”

The teams

Last time out for these two:

The pre-match press conferences are here.

Preamble