Fred scored the opening goal just after the break for Manchester UnitedManchester United produced arguably their finest performance under manager Erik ten Hag as Tottenham were swept aside in the Premier League at Old Trafford.
The scoreline does not do justice to United's vast superiority as only the brilliance of Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris denied them the truly emphatic victory they deserved.
Lloris made five outstanding saves in the first half alone as United rained in 19 shots on the Spurs goal, which somehow remained intact.
Fred finally broke the deadlock two minutes after the break, his shot carrying a degree of good fortune as Lloris was finally beaten by Ben Davies' deflection, but it was no more than United deserved for a display high on quality and intensity.
United moved out of sight after 69 minutes when Bruno Fernandes curled a precise right-foot finish beyond the stretching Lloris in front of an ecstatic Stretford End.
Victory keeps Manchester United fifth in the table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal, while Spurs miss the chance to move above Manchester City and stay third.
Ten Hag's imprint starts to show
Manchester United boss Ten Hag understandably looked a satisfied man as he marched off the Old Trafford pitch at the end of a triumph that bore all the hallmarks of what he wants from his new charges.
United were sharper, faster and stronger than Spurs from the first whistle, the only concern being they might have been made to pay for not scoring in an opening 45 minutes which saw Lloris mount a one-man barrier of defiance, with outstanding saves from Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford. The lively Antony also glanced the outside of the post with a 25-yard effort.
The passing was swift and accurate, with Fred playing a key role alongside the steadying influence of Casemiro in midfield.
And Fernandes showed some of the qualities that made him such a resounding success when he first joined United, the manner in which he steered his finish past Lloris for United's crucial second a sign of his restored confidence.
If Ten Hag has a complaint, and there will not be many, it will be that a two-goal victory margin in no way reflects just how much better United were than a mediocre Spurs.
When the season started, especially after defeats at home by Brighton and the 4-0 debacle at Brentford, a top-four place in the Premier League would have been a welcome target. If United maintain this target it is well within their compass.
Negative Spurs fall short again
This was an opportunity for Tottenham to show just what a force they could become under manager Antonio Conte. Instead, they produced the sort of stodgy and negative performance that mirrored their demise in the north London derby defeat at Arsenal.
Harry Kane had two shots blocked by David de Gea but there was a lack of inspiration and too much conservatism that meant Spurs got exactly what they deserved - nothing.
Conte has built Tottenham as a counter-attacking side, but here they were so deep they presented United, as they did Arsenal, with the initiative and reduced the likes of Kane and Son Heung-min to bystanders for large parts of the game.
Even some Spurs fans have questioned the somewhat restrictive, cagey, style Conte has implemented this season, and this was further evidence that a side boasting such attacking quality must surely offer more threat than this.
De Gea made one of his crucial saves from Kane seconds before Fernandes sealed United's win. It was undoubtedly an important contribution, but Spurs showed such a lack of ambition that the reality states they only had the brilliant Lloris to thank for not slumping to a much heavier defeat.
Spurs can surely do better than this.
Player of the match
CasemiroCasemiro
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
1de Gea
20Dalot19Varane6Martínez23Shaw
18Casemiro17Fred
21dos Santos8Bruno Fernandes25Sancho
10Rashford
1de Gea20Dalot19Varane6Martínez23Shaw18CasemiroBooked at 52minsSubstituted forEriksenat 87'minutes17Fred21dos SantosSubstituted forMcTominayat 76'minutes8Bruno Fernandes25SanchoSubstituted forElangaat 87'minutes10RashfordSubstitutes
2Lindelöf7Cristiano Ronaldo12Malacia14Eriksen22Heaton28Pellistri36Elanga39McTominay49GarnachoTottenham
Formation 3-5-2
1Lloris
17Romero15Dier33Davies
2Doherty30Bentancur38Bissouma5Højbjerg14Perisic
10Kane7Son Heung-Min
1Lloris17Romero15DierSubstituted forD Sánchezat 82'minutes33Davies2DohertySubstituted forR Sessegnonat 82'minutes30BentancurSubstituted forSkippat 89'minutes38BissoumaSubstituted forLucas Mouraat 82'minutes5Højbjerg14PerisicSubstituted forSpenceat 89'minutes10Kane7Son Heung-MinSubstitutes
4Skipp6D Sánchez11Gil19R Sessegnon20Forster24Spence25Tanganga27Lucas Moura34LengletReferee:Simon HooperAttendance:73,677Live Text
Match ends, Manchester United 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester United 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Attempt missed. Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham Hotspur) header from a difficult angle on the right is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Son Heung-Min with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Lisandro Martínez.
Offside, Manchester United. Fred tries a through ball, but Marcus Rashford is caught offside.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Djed Spence replaces Ivan Perisic.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Oliver Skipp replaces Rodrigo Bentancur.
Substitution, Manchester United. Christian Eriksen replaces Casemiro.
Substitution, Manchester United. Anthony Elanga replaces Jadon Sancho.
Casemiro (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur).
Foul by Luke Shaw (Manchester United).
Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Ryan Sessegnon replaces Matt Doherty.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Davinson Sánchez replaces Eric Dier.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Lucas Moura replaces Yves Bissouma.
Offside, Manchester United. Marcus Rashford tries a through ball, but Bruno Fernandes is caught offside.
Substitution, Manchester United. Scott McTominay replaces Antony.
Attempt missed. Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Hugo Lloris.
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