Now that’s what you call a 10 out of 10 performance. Ten years since United last did the double over City; 10 games unbeaten now since our midwinter nadir.

It has been such an unusual Premier League season, even Crystal Palace seem to be aiming for European football, writes Daniel Storey.

We take for granted, at this stage, the wisdom available to us five days a week on Home and Away. But we will not go far wrong taking our life lessons from Summer Bay.

Wayne Rooney offered 5,000 travelling supporters a reminder of former glories but, thanks in part to two goals from new striker Odion Ighalo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s current Manchester United side made another potentially significant step forward.

Eric Dier’s altercation with a supporter following Tottenham’s FA Cup defeat to Norwich is being investigated by the Football Association.

Republic of Ireland coach Mick McCarthy insists he cannot argue with Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho if he does not want to give playing time to young star Troy Parrott.

Attacking absences do not excuse Mourinho’s lament.

“We are time’s subjects and time bids be gone,” wrote Shakespeare — the other one, not Craig at the King Power Stadium.

IT said it all about the predicament in which Manchester United find themselves that their 2-0 defeat to Burnley at Old Trafford on Wednesday night felt like a huge deal for the visitors but, in a very strange way, just more of the same for those home supporters who clogged the exits with ten minutes still to play.

Troy has to go through a process, says Jose.

Manchester United might be able to claim misfortune, if they look hard enough.

Tottenham booked a fourth round trip to Southampton after surviving a late scare in a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.

MOURINHO. Martin Atkinson. Tottenham away. In January. Bring it all on, football; do your worst.

TWO years and three months ago Spurs played Liverpool off the park in a thrilling 4-1 win at Wembley.

Daniel Storey gives his Premier League review.

Could Liverpool become the new Invincibles?

Arsenal and Manchester United, who shared an intense title rivalry in the 2000s, meet tonight withsomething else in common in the 2020s: A continuing and complex challenge to regain that status after losing legendary managers.

Jose Mourinho says Tottenham’s defensive calamities have left him feeling sorry for his attacking players.

May I be the amongst the first to prematurely wish you a happy New Year? All the happier for United’s win at Burnley on Saturday night, of course, which left us occupying the dizzying heights of fifth place.

How very West Ham. The club’s owners twice gave Manuel Pellegrini an ultimatum that he must win his next match to avoid the sack, and twice saw their side win.

You have to admire Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s determination to end up back where he started.

Ireland’s Troy Parrott is set to make his Champions League debut this evening as Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho vows to give his fringe players a chance to impress against Bayern Munich.

Solskjaer enjoys a wonderful return to form

Troy Parrott was handed his Premier League debut — and the match ball — by Jose Mourinho at the end of Tottenham’s 5-0 thrashing of Burnley, and could replace Harry Kane in their Champions League tie against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

The result ended a run of three straight wins for Spurs in that time, and allowed United to move to sixth place.

It was the first day of meteorological winter yesterday, and the temperature had duly dropped on cue, perhaps reminding some at Old Trafford of Ice Station Astana.

Daniel Storey casts his over the Premier League's weekend action.

ARSENAL likes to boast it is 'always ahead of the game.' Maybe they were, once, but now the club is in a mess of their own making having sacked head coach Unai Emery less than halfway through his second season in charge.

Jose Mourinho got a real taste of the size of the job he faces at Tottenham, and fans a taste of their new manager’s incredible influence, as his side came from 2-0 down to beat Olympiacos 4-2 in north London and reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

If José Mourinho did not appreciate the true meaning of the word Spursy before taking over, he surely does now after a topsy-turvy first home game in charge.

Shuffle served up The Killers’ Smile Like You Mean It on the way to the game. The line ‘Dreams ain’t what they used to be’ seemed apt. Spurs have gone for change, a break with all that has been created over five years that brought so much joy to so many. But no trophies. And it seems that is the only measure that matters. So we’d better get on with it.

Mourinho starts as he means to go on at Tottenham...

Respect. It is not just an Otis Redding song, or Aretha Franklin’s cover version.

Gerry Cox No, argues Gerry Cox

Stephen Kenny believes Ireland’s Under-21 European qualification destiny will come down to their final game against Italy.

Daniel Storey asks if Mourinho will change for Spurs or if Spurs will change for Mourinho.

Jose Mourinho has been appointed as Tottenham’s new manager following the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino.

Mauricio Pochettino has left Tottenham Hotspur.

Forget talk of controversial decisions, painful debates over VAR and ongoing confusion over the handball rule; the real headline news at Anfield yesterday was that Liverpool have the drive, momentum, and sheer emotional energy to end 30 years of hurt.

"Blimey. We almost beat the European champions in a game 90% of us had presumed would be heavily lost. And so now, please hold me back, lads."

Kevin Kilbane seems a nice guy.

Statistics don’t always tell the whole story but David Luiz has a right to point to them when he turns up at Anfield with new club Arsenal still being billed as the Premier League’s defensive comedy routine up against the country’s best centre-back, Virgil van Dijk.

Daniel Storey looks back at the opening weekend of Premier League action.