Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer criticises 'weak' Spurs defending after slack marking allowed Manchester United's Anthony Martial to net winner

  • Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer has slammed Spurs defensive work
  • Slack marking saw Manchester United's Anthony Martial score to win game 1-0
  • But Danny Murphy praised Spurs rivals Arsenal and in particular Sead Kolasinac
  • Bosnian scored and assisted for Aaron Ramsey as they beat Swansea City 2-1
  • However Shearer warned: Arsenal's character to be tested when they play Spurs 

Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer has blasted Tottenham's 'weak' defending which allowed Manchester United's Anthony Martial to grab a late winner to beat Mauricio Pochettino's side 1-0.

The former Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers roundly criticised Spurs on the long-running BBC One football show on Saturday evening.

The defeat leaves Spurs eight points behind leaders Manchester City and former England international Shearer didn't pull his punches when analysing the Spurs backline during the build-up to the only goal.

Alan Shearer has criticised Spurs defending on Match of the Day after they lost at Old Trafford

Alan Shearer has criticised Spurs defending on Match of the Day after they lost at Old Trafford

He said: 'Spurs were all over the place. All out of position. They needed to be five yards inside to mark their men. 


'They didn't smell the danger. Eric Dier has got to cover. He has got to expect the danger. He's too weak [during the move]. He's cost them the game', before adding, 'I thought they missed a trick in the week [for resting some of his big names as they slipped to a 3-2 home defeat by West Ham] as the League Cup was their best chance of a trophy.' 

Shearer also expressed surprise the Argentine manager didn't pick summer signing Fernando Llorente and the increasingly-influential Davinson Sanchez.

Shearer criticised Spurs saying they failed to 'smell the danger' in the lead-up to the goal

Shearer criticised Spurs saying they failed to 'smell the danger' in the lead-up to the goal

Shearer accused Spurs of 'weak' defending that allowed United's Anthony Martial to score

Shearer accused Spurs of 'weak' defending that allowed United's Anthony Martial to score

Fellow Motd pundit Danny Murphy was more interested in the reaction of United boss Jose Mourinho at the end of the game after some of them booed his decision to substitute Marcus Rashford after he put his finger to his lips as if to quieten them. 

The former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder said: 'It is hard [for Mourinho] because the neighbours [Manchester City] are playing expansive football. 

'Mourinho is someone who doesn't like being criticised. We're all different.' 

However Murphy was full of praise for Arsenal's Sead Kolasinac after he grabbed the equaliser before setting up Aaron Ramsey's winner as Wenger's men came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 at the Emirates.  

Shearer said Eric Dier of Spurs 'cost them the game' in the build-up to Martial's winner

Shearer said Eric Dier of Spurs 'cost them the game' in the build-up to Martial's winner

It capped a good week for Arsene Wenger's men as they completed a third win on the trot where they came from behind after beating Everton 5-2 and 2-1 against Norwich City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. 

Murphy, who also played for the Gunners arch-rivals Spurs said of Kolasinac who was a free transfer from Schalke 04 this summer: 'He's powerful, he's got a great left foot. 

'I like his positivity. His desire to get forward is good. He sees things. His awareness of other players is impressive. It's nice to see someone in a wing-back position so comfortable on the ball.'

Motd pundit Danny Murphy hailed Arsenal's Sead Kolasinac after scoring against Swansea City

Motd pundit Danny Murphy hailed Arsenal's Sead Kolasinac after scoring against Swansea City

Murphy hailed Arsenal's big Bosnian after he scored and created a goal at the Emirates

Murphy hailed Arsenal's big Bosnian after he scored and created a goal at the Emirates

Shearer was more begrudging, preferring to withhold his praise until Wenger's side plays their next two fixtures. He said: 'We'll find out more about their character in the next couple of weeks. Manchester City away and Tottenham Hotspur at home.' 

Murphy was more critical of his former side Liverpool and their first half showing before they grabbed three second half goals to dispatch visitors Huddersfield Town 3-0 at Anfield. 

He said: 'I was really surprised at how slow they were in the first half. They were slow, pedestrian. Liverpool didn't work Huddersfield hard enough. They didn't ask enough questions of Huddersfield.

Murphy said of Arsenal wing-back Kolasinac: 'He's powerful, he's got a great left foot'

Murphy said of Arsenal wing-back Kolasinac: 'He's powerful, he's got a great left foot'

'But once they got their first goal it was a question of how many goals they would score'. 

However the pair both hailed the quality of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City after they beat West Brom 3-2 at the Hawthorns.  

Murphy said: 'They're a joy to watch. They're all playing with confidence and all playing beautifully. 

'I rate Fernandinho highly. He has a bit of everything. He's always looking to play forward. He doesn't get the credit he deserves. He's a good athlete.' 

Shearer added: 'We're seeing something very special. They're taking the game to a new level.'  

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