Manchester United are using Luke Shaw as a centre-back and the versatile defender continues to impress.
Even if Harry Maguire were fit, we expected Luke Shaw to start this game. Shaw was a rock at the back at Wembley against Brighton and has earned Erik ten Hag’s trust in central defence.
This was a different kind of test, up against England teammate Harry Kane as Manchester United visited Tottenham.
Shaw rarely put a foot wrong, always alert to danger and in command of the situations around him. Even for Tottenham’s goal he produced a brave block and could do little about Pedro Porro’s shot.
Shaw’s quick adaptation to the centre-back role has eased an injury crisis which has Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane sidelined.
Erik ten Hag trusts Shaw in the role, and is confident using either Diogo Dalot or Tyrell Malacia at left-back. It is a trust Shaw has earned, starring at centre-back against Manchester City earlier in 2023.
The second half against Tottenham wasn’t the easiest, with the home side surging back to draw 2-2, with United failing to kill off the game.
Shaw can be proud of his own contribution, helping to steady United through a testing 45 minutes.
Harry Kane did provide two assists – but he failed to score past Luke Shaw. He isn’t the first big name Shaw has shut out this season. Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski both failed to find the net in their matches against United when Luke Shaw was at centre-back.
Luke Shaw numbers
Luke Shaw completed more passes (87) than any player on the pitch, completing 93 per cent of them in the process.
As well as playing the ball out from the back, Shaw took set pieces too, also launching a long ball into the box late on to try and find a winner. He had 108 touches in total, with 15 passes into the final third.
There were some impressive defensive numbers. Shaw made 10 ball recoveries, and three interceptions.
He won three of three aerial duels contested, and two of four ground duels. He also won one tackle, made one block and one clearance.
Harry Maguire will push to get fit and reclaim his spot to take on Aston Villa at the weekend. But if he’s not, Luke Shaw is a safe pair of hands.
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