Tottenham Hotspur recorded their second consecutive win at Old Trafford on Wednesday night as they beat Manchester United 2-1 in the Premier League.
Emmanuel Adebayor opened the scoring for the visitors on 34 minutes before Christian Eriksen extended their lead just after the hour.
Danny Welbeck pulled a goal back almost instantly for United, but it was not enough to stop them slipping to a fourth home defeat of the season.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how all of the action unfolded.
Happy New Year to you and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this evening's Premier League encounter between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. Team news will be with you shortly...
UPDATE: There are currently eight other matches being played on what is a busy day of Premier League football and we will bring you those full-time results as soon as they are through. The day's early kickoff saw Manchester City earn an important 3-2 win at Swansea City.
MAN UTD: De Gea; Smalling, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Januzaj; Rooney, Welbeck
Man Utd boss David Moyes has made four changes to his starting XI following Saturday's 1-0 win at Norwich City. Wayne Rooney returns for the hosts, while Antonio Valencia, Adnan Januzaj and Danny Welbeck are also included.
SPURS: Lloris; Walker, Chiriches, Dawson, Rose; Lennon, Capoue, Dembele, Eriksen; Adebayor, Soldado
Spurs make a total of three changes as Tim Sherwood brings in Kyle Walker, Danny Rose and Etienne Capoue. Meanwhile, Paulinho misses out for the visitors after suffering ligament damage during Sunday's comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Stoke City.
MAN UTD SUBS: Lindegaard, Buttner, Ferdinand, Fletcher, Kagawa, Young, Hernandez
SPURS SUBS: Friedel, Fryers, Naughton, Bentaleb, Chadli, Lamela, Kane
The last time that Man Utd and Spurs faced each other was at White Hart Lane one month ago as the teams played out an exciting 2-2 draw in the capital. Wayne Rooney netted twice for the champions on that day to cancel out goals from Kyle Walker and Sandro.
The full-time whistles are starting to ring out around the Premier League. We should have those results with you any minute now...
PREMIER LEAGUE FULL-TIME RESULTS:
Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff City
Crystal Palace 1-1 Norwich City
Fulham 2-1 West Ham United
Liverpool 2-0 Hull City
Southampton 0-3 Chelsea
Stoke City 1-1 Everton
Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Newcastle United
The most significant result there in terms of what it means for tonight's match is Everton's 1-1 draw at Stoke City. Man Utd can go above the Toffees and into fifth place in the table this evening if they beat Spurs by two goals or more. The visitors will go level on points with Everton if they come away from Old Trafford with a win, but their inferior goal difference means that they will only climb one place up to sixth.
HEAD TO HEAD: Man Utd have a far superior record when it comes to previous meetings between these two teams. The Red Devils have won 80 matches compared to Spurs' 38, while there have been 42 draws.
However, Spurs caused something of a minor upset in this fixture last season as they earned a 3-2 victory thanks to a Jonny Evans own goal and strikes from Clint Dempsey and Gareth Bale. That was their first triumph at Old Trafford in 23 years.
When it comes to past meetings at the Theatre of Dreams, Utd again have the upper hand thanks to 55 wins from 88 matches. Spurs have come out on top 12 times, and there have been 14 draws.
Both start this evening:
Around 15 minutes to go until this one gets underway at Old Trafford and it's raining pretty hard inside the stadium. What kind of effect could that have on the match? Both teams like to play quick, surging football and that could make for a very thrilling game indeed.
REFEREE WATCH: The official for tonight's match is Howard Webb. Cue plenty of eye-rolling...
Man Utd boss David Moyes is sure to be delighted with Wayne Rooney's return to the starting lineup. The England international has been the champions' best player so far this season and will need to be on top form tonight if the hosts want to get anything out of this game.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adebayor's rejuvenation under Tim Sherwood at Spurs has been a welcome bonus amid a turbulent few weeks for the club. The striker has scored three goals in his last five games after being frozen out by previous manager Andre Villas-Boas. With his strength and athleticism, Adebayor is likely to cause the Man Utd centre-backs a lot of problems this evening.
The players are just starting to emerge in the tunnel as the get ready to walk out onto the pitch at Old Trafford. Not long to go now.
KICKOFF! The players are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be Spurs to kick us off. Here we go!
It's been a very positive start from Man Utd as they pin Spurs back with some quick and dynamic passing. Welbeck almost had a chance with a ball played over the top, but Lloris was quick off his line to clear the danger.
A chance for Man Utd to open the scoring there as Welbeck is put through on goal, but Lloris is there again to challenge the striker as both players fall down in a heap. The home fans want a penalty, though it would have been a harsh decision had Howard Webb pointed to the spot.
Spurs have just not been at the races so far. The visitors are really struggling to get on the ball and doing anything positive with it. It's all Man Utd at the moment, which is ominous for the away side.
Man Utd get a free kick in a central position around 25 yards from goal, but Rooney can only fire over the crossbar. Still, the hosts continue to put plenty of pressure on Spurs.
This is quite incredible. Man Utd are pretty much camped out in the Spurs half as they probe their opponents with some patient build-up play. Spurs have seen the ball during the opening stages, though they've failed to keep hold of it once they've got it.
CHANCE! Nearly the opening goal for Spurs! They've not been in this match at all. Soldado threaded the ball through to Lennon, but his low effort was kept out by the legs of De Gea. The winger really should have done better there. That's a real wake-up call for the champions.
All of a sudden Spurs are looking very confident. They surge forward again through Adebayor before Rose lashes a wild shot over the crossbar from about 30 yards out. This game needs a contribution from the visitors, and they've just started to give it.
Great play from Valencia down the right as he works some space before delivering a cross into the middle, but Dawson is there to clear the ball out for a corner. The resulting kick is a good one, though Vidic can only head the ball wide. Man Utd are still firmly on top, despite that Spurs resurgence a few moments ago.
Soldado causes a bit of panic inside the Man Utd penalty area as he tries to weave his way through. However, Evans does well to stand his ground, dispossess the Spaniard and get his side on their way up the other end. It's all very even at the moment, though the hosts are still just about edging it.
Man Utd have been passing the ball around with plenty of intent, but there's been little in the way of end product so far. Welbeck has been busy, while Rooney has enjoyed a lot of the ball in the final third. However, that killer pass just isn't there.
Evra flicks the ball through to Januzaj who then slices his cross out of play for a goal kick. The youngster has been very impressive so far for the champions. He's been silky on the ball and tenacious off it.
Something of a half-chance for Spurs as Adebayor hits an opportunistic volley towards goal from 25 yards, but it sails harmlessly wide of the post. Little in the way of goal-mouth action right now.
GOAL! MAN UTD 0-1 SPURS (ADEBAYOR)
Spurs lead at Old Trafford and it's that man Emmanuel Adebayor with the goal! Eriksen floated a wonderful cross in from the right side, and there was the striker to head the ball past the stationary De Gea and into the net. First blood to the visitors!
As expected, Man Utd have responded well to going behind but there's a bit of a stunned silence coming from the home fans. Again, the hosts are showing plenty of invention in their passing and movement, though it's coming to very little in terms on genuine chances.
CHANCE! Almost a second goal for Spurs! Lennon showed a quick pair of heels on the right wing before putting in a delicious cross for Soldado to get on the end of. However, the striker could only flick his shot high and wide while at full stretch.
YELLOW CARD: Wayne Rooney goes into the book for Man Utd after dragging down Dembele as Spurs threatened to break. The England international is starting to cut a bit of a frustrated figure.
Spurs force a couple of corner, but they fail to make either count as Man Utd stand firm to see off the danger. Meanwhile, there will be two minutes of added time.
HALF TIME: MAN UTD 0-1 SPURS
Howard Webb blows the half-time whistle and Spurs go down the tunnel with a 1-0 lead over Manchester United thanks to Emmanuel Adebayor's 34th-minute goal.
The Manchester United players will fell unlucky as they enter the changing room after dominating for large periods of that first half. However, some poor finishing has ultimately cost them. Meanwhile, Spurs have made their chances count.
Man Utd boss David Moyes might need to look to his bench later if the score doesn't change. The Scot has Shinji Kagawa, Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez to call on if needs be.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The players are back out and it will be Man Utd to get us back underway. No changes for either side at the break.
Man Utd have started the second half brightly as they go in search of a quick equaliser. Valencia wins a corner for the hosts, but Spurs clear Rooney's delivery.
The Man Utd fans are really encouraging their side forward at the moment. The players are responding as well with some quick, bustling football. Still, the visitors lead thanks to Adebayor's goal in the 34th minute.
While Man Utd have huffed and puffed for most of the match, credit must also go to Spurs for how they've set themselves out. They've not always been in control of things, but they continue to look compact in midfield. The home side are going to have to work for it if they want anything from this game.
PENALTY SHOUT! The hosts want a penalty but Howard Webb is having none of it! Welbeck surges into the box before being tripped by Chiriches. That could have gone either way, though surely Welbeck should have been booked if the official considered it a dive?
SUBSTITUTIONS: Two changes for Man Utd now as Shinji Kagawa and Javier Hernandez come on for Chris Smalling and Michael Carrick.
Hernandez gets straight into the action as he runs forwards before feeding Januzaj on the right. However, the youngster's cross is a poor one that goes into the hands of Lloris.
SUBSTITUTION: It's Spurs' turn to make a change now as Etienne Capoue is replaced by Nabil Bentaleb.
GOAL! MAN UTD 0-2 SPURS (ERIKSEN)
Spurs now lead 2-0 at Old Trafford as Christian Eriksen doubled the visitors' lead! A quick counter-attack saw Lennon cross the ball in from the right, and there was the Dane to head past De Gea.
GOAL! MAN UTD 1-2 SPURS (WELBECK)
Game on again! Man Utd pull a goal back thanks to Danny Welbeck! The striker was played through on goal by Januzaj, and he was able to find the net with a lovely dinked finish over Lloris.
SUBSTITUTION: More bad news for Spurs as Emmanuel Adebayor is stretchered off. It's not entirely clear what the problem is, but it could well be muscular. Nacer Chadli comes on in his place.
CHANCE! Man Utd are all over Spurs now. Januzaj takes aim from 25 yards, but the youngster can only curl the ball inches wide of Lloris's far post.
Will Spurs be able to hold onto this lead for the final 15 minutes? They've defended well this evening. However, they will be all too aware that Man Utd will crank up the pressure the longer it stays this way.
SUBSTITUTION: Spurs make a second change as Roberto Soldado makes way for Harry Kane.
CHANCE! Close for Man Utd! Januzaj works some space on the right before crossing for Hernandez. The Mexican fails to get anything on it, but Welbeck is there to turn and shoot towards goal from close range. However, he slips at the vital moment as Spurs live to fight another day. It's going to be a thrilling finish at Old Trafford, that's for sure.
Ten minutes of normal time left and it's all end-to-end stuff now. Man Utd are committing plenty of men forward, while Spurs are trying to exploit the gaps that the hosts are leaving. Meanwhile, Moussa Dembele goes into the book for bringing down Cleverley.
CHANCE! Spurs nearly score a third goal following some great work from Lennon. The winger took on a couple of defenders on the left before cutting onto his right foot. He hit a low shot towards the Man Utd goal, but De Gea was able to keep hold of it.
SUBSTITUTION: Man Utd's final change of the night sees Ashley Young replace Tom Cleverley.
CHANCE! Now then! Young chases a ball down and gets to it before Lloris, but the Spurs goalkeeper takes out the winger. However, Howard Webb waves play on before Spurs clear the danger after Young had hooked the ball into the penalty area.
Time is running out for the champions now. They're throwing almost every man forward as the clock ticks down towards the 90-minute mark. Januzaj gets taken down, but Howard Webb books the Belgian for simulation.
There will be five minutes of added time...
OFF THE LINE! So nearly an equaliser for United! Vidic got on the end of Rooney's corner, but his shot was booted off the line by Rose. The defender then had another effort as his header went over the crossbar. It's frantic stuff at the minute.
Just two minutes of added time left. Can Spurs hold on for a second consecutive win at Old Trafford?
FULL TIME: MAN UTD 1-2 SPURS
Howard Webb blows the full-time whistle and Spurs have the points thanks to a 2-1 win over Manchester United! Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen scored the goals for the visitors, while Danny Welbeck pulled one back for the champions. However, it was not enough.
Anyway, that's all from me but don't forget that you can follow all of the post-match reaction from tonight's game right here on Sports Mole so keep your eyes peeled. Thanks for your company and all the best for 2014. Goodnight!
