Today's clash with Spurs will define mood at Reds for month

UNAI Emery's irrelevant response to the first question from the pitch-side reporter at Old Trafford was telling.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

The Aston Villa coach reflected on the 39 points they had already accumulated. "Not bad," he quipped. What was bad was Villa's game management.

Emery knew Villa threw it away at United, who recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on Boxing Day.

That was chiefly down to Villa's suicidal high line and the only team that has positioned their backline more recklessly is Tottenham.

There was nothing laudable or principled about Spurs inviting Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson to score a hat-trick past them in their madcap 4-1 win in November. Tottenham were down to nine men at 1-1 and emerging with a point was doable against a dysfunctional Chelsea side that almost let them off the hook.

United have similarly profligate forwards. Jackson, Raheem Sterling, and Cole Palmer all have more goals than Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, and Alejandro Garnacho.